“Another day, another sob fest about something that broke his little heart. I will painfully admit, I don’t always handle his sensitivities in the most patient way. ‘Mommy, I’m disappointed I didn’t get a date with you today.’ But there’s not one part of me that wants to ‘toughen him up.'”
‘Baby, I need you to stop crying about everything,’ I said to my 4-year-old son, followed by a heavy sigh.’
‘The doctor is in his Battle Dress Uniform and is straddling me on the exam table. The surgeon told me, ‘you have the best cancer.’ I would learn later how wrong he was.’
“We lived on a military base where my husband was assigned as an active duty Marine. On a day which had started just like every other day of my life, my life changed forever.”
‘I was 15 years old when I found out I was pregnant. I woke up one day, went to my email to see a subject line: ‘Looking for Bonnie Perry?’: Teen mom’s reunion with daughter she gave up for adoption
“I almost threw it away unread, because I was certain it was another detective wanting my money. But I opened it, and read: ‘I am Bonnie’s sister. My mother would like to talk to you.’”
‘There’s a problem in our relationship.’ My father stopped the car. I had an instant sick feeling. In a blink, my hero was gone.’: Woman overcomes abandonment issues, sexual trauma, ‘I can finally stand tall after 36 years’
“At age 13, I fell into a relationship with an older man. He carefully groomed me and became the father figure I was missing. He showered me in gifts and affection. But there was a price to pay. He would follow my school bus and watch me get off. He controlled my every move. Every week, I prayed I’d be the long-lost child reunited with her daddy.”
‘I have a dirty little secret. We all had it. It started out innocently enough. It was the worst 3 weeks of my life and I don’t wish this torture on my worst enemy.’
“It was May of last year. My oldest had earned perfect attendance and we were so proud and excited. My husband and I work full time and we have 3 kids, so the fact that everyone had been healthy all school year was incredible. Life was good. And then, it invaded our life.”
My Daughter Was Born Without Eyes, But She Is The One Teaching Me To See
“I saw her in my dreams with big brown eyes. ‘I think she may be blind.’ Not only was she completely blind, but she also didn’t have eyes! To actually not have eyes seemed impossible. We went home thinking that blindness would be Evely’s only struggle. Boy, were we wrong.”
‘I couldn’t sleep laying down anymore, I couldn’t laugh without gasping for air. I was dying. I was 22 and writing a will in case anything happened to me.’
“I was so busy moving forward I wasn’t even aware my mind was stuck. A few months afterward, the actual nightmares began. I would try to sleep and flashbacks and memories bombarded me. I cried every night for weeks. I knew I needed help.”
‘I wanted to find my biological parents. My mom told me ‘no.’ It was a closed adoption. Soon after, a mail order DNA test caught my eye.’: Woman ‘stuck between 2 worlds’ embarks on search for family names
“On top of being adopted and feeling different, I WAS different. With my dark hair, green eyes, and short stature, I stood out. I remember looking at pictures, my family laughing about how all their noses matched. I couldn’t participate in the conversation. I felt like an outsider. My husband and I decided it was time. I sent it off.”
‘We were about to see our baby. We were filled with so much hope. But our world was about to come crashing down. The lab tech was very quiet. I thought she was having a bad day.’
“The doctor said our daughter wouldn’t be able to feed or dress herself, she would be a ‘burden to society’ and would most likely ‘end up in an institution.’ I believed him. He pushed for termination and never once told us anything positive. We couldn’t be more proud of the little lady she is.”
‘I was a prisoner to thinness. I’ve gained 75 pounds. But something miraculous happened.’: Woman overcomes eating disorder after sexual trauma
“I was 6 when I wore my first bathing suit in a beauty competition. I was 8 when my dance instructor told my mom I was too chubby. I was 15 when I became addicted to diet pills. After seeing myself go through so much to bring my children into the world, I now know that worthiness is my birthright.”