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 felt like I was the only person I knew who was experiencing anxiety. So, why is it something no one wants to talk about?’

I stopped saying, ‘I’ll take care of myself when’ and started saying, ‘I’m taking care of myself because I deserve all of the love for myself that I share with others.’

Colin Balfe - Mar 15, 2019

‘I love you to the moon. See you tomorrow.’ But tomorrow never came. ‘Paula, he was in an accident. He’s dead.’: Woman loses husband in motorcycle accident

“It was one of Noel’s friends. The friend who is supposed to call if anything bad were to happen. I answered with a laugh. ‘Hi, what happened now?’ He was a great rider and it seemed impossible that one day he was here and the next he was gone.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 15, 2019

‘It’s funny how a 2-sentence email can change your life forever. ‘I need to speak with you about a unique situation. Please give me a call.’: Couple adopt triplets born at 30 weeks

“My husband and I had been married for over 10 years and due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment shortly after college, we were unable to conceive children of our own.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 15, 2019

‘I had to leave my 5-month pregnant wife behind. I was completely alone. ‘Am I cut out to be a dad?’ I showered and climbed into bed. Then it began. ‘THUMP, THUMP.’

“‘Does she even miss me? Is my wife going to love me after this long separation? Would I be able to provide for my family?’ My heart started beating louder. LOUDER. I started sweating profusely. It was 4 a.m. I began to panic.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 14, 2019

‘I knew he had Down syndrome. I asked ‘Why us?’ His eyes were almond-shaped, his ears were tiny and low-set, and he had a sandal-toe gap.’

“Knowing what I know now, I believe he was trying to prepare me for what was to come.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 14, 2019

‘My OB walked in to ‘talk about our little guy.’ My heart had that feeling when you’re on a roller coaster about to go down a big drop. ‘Well this is the day,’ I thought to myself. ‘D day.’

“Anesthesia took over. Before I knew it, I was back in my hospital room as if nothing had happened. In reality, a lot had. The surgery took place with baby still in the womb.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 14, 2019

‘That night started with a date and a bottle of wine I remember already being open. It had been 11 years. It was time to deal with it.’

“There are only two people who know exactly what I remember. Me, and a compassionate police detective. Late one evening, an email popped up with the name of that person’s ex-wife. The thing was, I became obsessed.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 11, 2019

‘I will never forget her eyes. She looked directly at me, shouting to get the doctor. ‘What’s going on, what’s happening?’ ‘The cord is hanging out of you.’ ‘What does that mean?’

“I’m rolling down the hall looking at lights in the ceiling as I go by. I wake up and Jade’s standing there with Layla. But something isn’t right. I’m keeping a secret from everyone.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 08, 2019

‘It was massive, like carrying a lemon inside my boob. ‘Not me,’ I said. ‘No way, I have no family history of it.’ Now I was faced with another alarming decision. Boobs or no boobs?’

“I asked the doctor, ‘What happened to flat?’ He replied, ‘I thought you might change your mind.’ As I sat there blinking in awe, I thought to myself, ‘This guy is nuts, I can’t even speak.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 08, 2019

‘How do you know when date night is over? When your wife tries to talk to you but her speech is so slurred you can’t understand her, and you realize half her face is drooping.’

“He asked me, ‘Is everything ok?’ I tried to answer him, but weird sounds came out.”

Colin Balfe - Mar 07, 2019