Posts by: Colin Balfe

Colin Balfe is the Founder and Chief Content Officer of Love What Matters. Colin was inspired to start Love What Matters after his mother passed from Ovarian cancer. Through his grieving process, he saw the need to connect a like minded community around a deeply personal storytelling platform. He's proudest of the communities within LWM, strangers united by powerful and impactful experiences, underserved people connecting around mutual challenges, hopes and dreams. These communities include Adoption, Mental Health, Infertility, Addiction, Grief, Special Needs Parenting, LGBTQ+ and many more.

‘I still remember where I was standing. A 19 year old girl wanted to chat. Something didn’t feel right. Then we saw her from a distance.’

“We knew there was a 72 hour waiting period where the birth parents minds could change and so could our world.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 05, 2019

‘I called my mom to tell her about my dream. ‘Maybe you’re pregnant.’ I took a test. Two faint lines.’: Woman with alopecia elated over surprise pregnancy after public miscarriage

“In a Target bathroom, I took a pregnancy test. I just knew. I cried by myself in that stall, holding my belly, hoping everything would be okay this time. I kept the secret from my husband for 3 days to surprise him.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 04, 2019

‘I found out the Friday before Thanksgiving.’: Women shares journey with invasive dual carcinoma

“They gathered around me, each taking turns cutting off locks of my hair to send in for a wig. I was always the one cutting my kids hair. I never thought I would be put in the chair. As I sat, I cried alone as my eyelashes fell out into my weeping eyes.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 03, 2019

‘Help me get daddy out!,’ she begged. ‘He won’t like being dirty.’ I took her to see his grave. She started digging up the dirt, crying her little heart out. We sobbed until we had no more tears to cry.’

“She was 3. That was the last time I took her to his grave. She told me her ‘heart hurt too’ much and she didn’t want to go back. She asks if our family can die and ‘be a star in the sky with daddy.’ I go straight into Mommy mode and reassure her we can’t be stars. It’s not our time.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 02, 2019

‘My girls and I were headed in. This young man jogged up behind us. ‘After you,’ he says, a big smile on his face. ‘Thank you,’ I respond, surprised, ushering my kids through the door.’

“I look back at this kid and his mom, and I’m overcome with an urge to compliment HER. Because she is obviously doing something very, very right. So I did. I looked deep in her eyes. And then coolest thing happened.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 02, 2019

‘You should’ve worn a condom,’ the nurse uttered over the phone.’: Woman learns to live with herpes and strives to help others

“’I have something I need to tell you in person,’ I texted him. He was too busy. He gave me no other choice. ‘I tested positive for herpes,’ I typed. Sent.”

Colin Balfe - Apr 01, 2019

‘I was finally ready to ask for a divorce. Then I found out I was pregnant. I was shocked. ‘Well I have to tell my husband.’ It felt like we were living separate lives.’

“I didn’t think I was going to make it. My husband was with me. I told him he was going to figure out how to be a great dad. He had to trust himself, and find who he needed to help raise our daughter. My breaking point was when I caught him lying to my face.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 28, 2019

‘The door is locked and the person has been in there a long time.’ I knocked again, harder this time. No answer. I ran in to see a half naked man slouched over on the toilet.’

“At that moment I found myself yelling to him, ‘YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN THIS’ over and over again.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 28, 2019

‘I made eye contact with the nurse, recognition and worry spread across her face. Through shaky tears I said: ‘I think my water broke.’ Dr. stupid then said: ‘Oh no, she just peed her pants.’

“About half way to his work my nose began to tickle and I felt a sneeze coming on. After a couple of large huffy inhale’s of air, it exploded. Absolute horror washed over me. I can’t do this. This…. is…. too…. much.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 26, 2019

‘Who the f*ck are you sneaking around with?,’ he screamed. Before I could answer, he threw the phone at my head. I had to hide my eyes from my son. ‘I can’t let him see me like this.’

“He bugged my bedroom to be able to hear everything I did, and every conversation I had. Eventually, he convinced me to move in with him. ‘I don’t want to lie to him.’ I would apologize with tears flowing down my face.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 26, 2019