“On days I didn’t work, I spent the whole day on the couch. When I managed to get to the grocery store, I felt like a robot that had powered down. My brain just didn’t work.”
‘Only middle-aged men get that disease.’ I was only 22 and my body was falling apart.’: Woman with Ankylosing Spondylitis becomes wellness life coach
It’s Hard Letting You Go—Please Be Patient With Me
“My once missing front tooth child with dirty knees is now ready to put on a cap and gown and fly. I gaze at you with wonder, as tears form and a smile parts my lips, for I know your future is nothing but bright.”
‘Do you want to be my friend?’ They’d laugh and walk away. There were unwritten rules to friendships.’: Nonbinary person shares autism diagnosis
“I remember thinking, ‘How is it so easy? Do you just go up to someone and say you want to be friends?’ I didn’t understand what I was doing wrong.”
‘My sons see themselves in the pages of books we read. But what about everyone else?’: Mom starts inclusive ‘Kind Kids Book Club’
“My sons are knights on horseback, dinosaur keepers, doctors, pilots, sidekicks, heroes. What about different cultures and countries, strong girls and women, and people with disabilities? The little things matter.”
‘I was out of town when I got the call. ‘Pack your stuff! We have a baby coming! She was induced this morning!’: Single mom adopts son from brave birth mother after emotional journey
“It dawned on me I was sitting in a hospital room waiting on a 21-year-old I’d never met to progress past 3 centimeters. She was alone in her room telling no one, not even family, what she was doing. She was in the midst of a decision that would change at least three lives forever.”
‘I’ve been in pain every day for a year,’ I confessed. This was more than a headache.’: Woman with kidney disease ‘proud to be an advocate’
“When 3 o’clock approached, I’d start bracing myself. ‘No one gets headaches at the same time every day.’ Just because an issue is in your head doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
‘Isabella has potential…but is easily distracted.’ I am not stupid. I am neurodivergent.’: Woman diagnosed with ADHD urges ‘representation matters’
“When I looked in the mirror, I felt broken. Now, all I see is a small angel who needed someone to nurture her mind.”
‘After a life of pretending to be normal, I finally let myself be me.’: Woman diagnosed with autism, ADHD as an adult
“It felt my identity had been built up like a Jenga tower. I started removing bricks and at the same time, I was piling new bricks on top. It led to a complete collapse. I broke.”
‘I was the youngest person in the waiting room with a walker.’: Chronic illness warrior says diagnosis proved ‘how strong I really am’
“I couldn’t lift my leg to get in the shower. I was 29 years old, feeling like a senior citizen. My family had to help me do everything. I was no longer myself.”
‘What are you going to DO about it?’ mom asked. I wasn’t popular. But I DID know how kindness could look.’: Young woman creates ‘Let’s Be Kind Day’ for community
“I decided to have an event where we could all focus on one thing we have in common: the ability to be kind.”