“I’d crawl into bed, face swollen and knuckles bloody. By December of Freshman year of college, I weighed 90 pounds and fit into size 12 kids jeans. I started taking laxatives to purge – some nights 30-40 at a time.”
‘In the darkened kitchen, I ate pints of ice cream, boxes of candy, and whole packages of cookies.’: Woman battling mental illness says ‘I overshare so our kids know they can ask for help’
‘Who’s that?’ I turn the camera to reveal not one, but two babies. ‘We kept it a secret Dad!!’: Mom to 5 surprises dad battling prostate cancer with newborn twins, now family of 9
“I was scared to tell him about my pregnancy. Only 5 months before, I had just delivered my 5th child via c-section. He thought we were nuts. ‘Let’s hope it’s a girl this time.’ When the time came, we sent pictures of newborn Bertie, yet again another boy. But we still had a secret to reveal to everybody.”
‘Were you baked too long?’ Tears ran down my face. ‘You’re EXTRA black.’: Transracial adoptee urges ‘family comes in all different ways’
“’Is she an exchange student? HOW is she your daughter?’ FAMILY comes in all different shapes and colors.”
Sweet Second Child, My Attention Is Always Divided—But My Boy, I See You
“I see you growing and changing right before my eyes. Your teeny tiny baby-ness is slipping away, and you’re learning so, so much. It excites me and breaks my heart all at the same time.”
‘You need to get her to the hospital, but it might not be enough.’ I didn’t know how close to death she was.’: Mom says adoptive daughter is ‘walking miracle’
“She was almost a year old and weighed 9 and a half pounds. She didn’t have much strength left. I knew I’d move the world to save her tiny life.”
‘I received a call. ‘We have a 14-year-old boy. He really needs to leave the home he is in.’: Single mom becomes foster parent to help other families battling addiction, adopts teenager
“After a 3-day binge, I told my husband he needed to choose. He could go to rehab and get sober, or he needed to leave. He chose to leave. I was a single mom with two heartbroken little boys. I knew I wanted to help other kids out there going through the same thing.”
‘I wanted you to graduate without worrying about me.’ It had spread to his brain.’: Woman describes grief of losing both parents to cancer
“After finals, my family came to visit me on campus. My dad was very somber. ‘I didn’t want to hide this from you.’ I can’t describe the pain.”
‘She’ll never walk or talk. Her future is unknown.’: Mother details journey with daughter’s rare chromosomal disorders
“The thing I hate hearing the most is, ‘You just need to wait and see.’ She’s so rare the doctors don’t know the answers to our questions.”
‘I shouldn’t have yelled so much. I should have been more patient. I should have let them let loose.’: Mom reflects on e-learning experience in wake of school reopening crisis
“With only 5 more days left in my kids’ school year and their return to brick and mortar in the fall, I’m looking back. I didn’t savor more of the days, moments, and precious, never-can-I-get-it back time with my children.”
‘Her 9-pound body flopped back lifelessly. She died in my arms at 2 weeks old.’: Mom shares daughter’s journey with rare genetic disorder
“My husband grabbed her from my hands, tossed her over his knees, and started CPR. ‘Please hurry,’ I begged dispatch. I will NEVER forget that night.”