Emily Richey is a graduate of Pace University NYC. She has written and edited for multiple online platforms, including Love What Matters. She spends her free time petting stray cats.
‘Your hands are so small,’ he said. ‘There’s a reason for that.’ I told him everything. He took my atrophied hands in his and never let go.’: Interabled couple shares powerful love story
“Boys dared their friends to ask me out as a joke. Who would actually want to date the disabled girl? There was a voice in my head screaming I was a burden.”
‘Being told you’re lying and faking is a different type of pain. For years, I thought I was the only one.’: Chronic illness warrior ‘proud to be disabled’ after 5-year fight for diagnosis
“Living undiagnosed is a never-ending spiral of suffering, heartbreak, and hurt.”
‘She was found in an elevator at 4 months old. Her teeth had never been brushed. I was a pile of tears on the floor.’: Special needs family adopts daughter with Down syndrome
“This little girl couldn’t be more than 20 pounds. She was sickly skinny and nonverbal. How could she be 6 years old? What had she been through? She smiled, her tiny teeth caked with thick plaque. I marveled.”
‘I suddenly blurted out, ‘Boys, you know we’re a team, right?’ It’s impossible to know what lies ahead.’: Family shares foster care journey, ‘There’s NOTHING we can’t handle together’
“What if we’re biting off more than we can chew? What if my children resent us for it later? Holding our breath, we wait.”
‘Your dad is gone.’ I didn’t break down or cry. For the first time in months, I felt relieved.’: Woman urges ‘take advantage of time’ after losing father 10 days after cancer diagnosis
“That last night, I said my goodbyes to him for what felt like the tenth time and prayed endlessly for his suffering to be put to rest.”
‘Through tears, she said, ‘Tell her I love her. Tell her I didn’t give her away because I didn’t want her.’: Mom of 5 shares powerful open adoption, ‘We’ll forever be grateful for her sacrificial love’
“They were both crying when we walked in. I knew in that moment, I’d spend the rest of my days championing the courageous story of this woman.”
‘I made the leap. I’d come face-to-face with the reality ‘life is too short.’ It was time to live that cliche.’: Woman urges ‘life is beautiful’ after medical miracle
“With the grace I was given to retain my life and 72% of my mobility, it was time to dive into something my heart yearned to do for years.”
‘Are single people allowed to foster?’ Something in me clicked. I was so nervous my hands were shaking.’: Foster mom says ‘my heart will be broken, but in the best way’
“I had so much extra love in my heart. As I picked her up, I just knew. My life would never be the same.”
‘Am I having a stroke? My kids aren’t old enough to call for help. God, don’t let me die!’ Something was really wrong.’: Mom diagnosed with MS says ‘my life is still everything I dreamed of’
“I could no longer push my daughter in her stroller. ‘Let’s drive the two blocks to the park.’ I was falling apart. I couldn’t imagine life without legs that didn’t work.”
‘He’s so cold.’ She ripped off the blankets, just watched him breathe. I could see she was scared to tell me.’: Mom shares son’s Angelman Syndrome journey, ‘He constantly defies the odds’
“He was so yellow he looked like an old-school baby doll. He was labeled ‘Failure to Thrive.’ Those three words were a punch in the gut. I felt like I failed my newborn.”