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.
‘I started preparing for another childless Christmas. I got a text. ‘Are you still interested in adopting?’ My heart stopped.’: Couple adopts after infertility battle, ‘It felt like a dream’
“I told everyone a little one would join our family before Christmas. As we sat around the table, it hit me I might just be wrong. I was standing in the kitchen with my family, saying our goodbyes when I got a text from our agency. Now my heart was beating faster than ever.”
‘I don’t see a baby.’ The screen didn’t look right. There was just a blur and it was fuzzy. My whole body became hot.’: Woman gives birth to miracle baby, ‘I’m forever grateful’
“I was bloated from the chemotherapy and chunks of my hair were falling out. I was ill and exhausted. As defeated as I felt, I wasn’t ready to give up hope for our happy ending.”
‘We’d never even taken care of a baby before. ‘By the way, they’re nonverbal.’ Our whole life changed in an instant.’: Woman shares foster parent journey, ‘I’ve loved every single one like my own’
“For the next 3 years, I was their mom and they were my kids. They were a part of our family. All of our hopes and dreams unraveled with a single court hearing.”
‘There’s no cure.’ He had cysts on his brain. We were at a dead end. I was beyond devastated, but I had to fight.’: Mom advocates for son born with hearing loss, CMV, ‘He’s made me stronger’
“He suddenly had microcephaly, and none of us understood why. I was terrified. He was so tiny and fragile. All of this was because I contracted a virus while pregnant. I felt so guilty.”
‘The test was positive.’ My heart stopped. The world came crashing down around me. I thought my life was ending.’: Man diagnosed with HIV becomes advocate, ‘My world is brighter’
“All I could think was, ‘I’m going to die.’ How would I tell my parents and friends? I found myself sitting on the beach, staring into the ocean. I wanted to throw myself in and not come back. I wanted this pain to be gone.”
‘That’s enough to knock out a horse.’ I sobbed, begging the nurses for help. I can’t blame them. I was pregnant junkie.’: Woman recovers from drug addiction, ‘There’s always hope’
“Without the pills, I was sick. I couldn’t afford to be in withdrawals and take care of a baby. On my first Mother’s Day, I tried heroin. The emptiness I felt was unbearable. I had to fight for our lives.”
‘It’s rare and aggressive.’ I wanted to be aggressive right back. I wanted to survive.’: Breast cancer advocate celebrates 10 years cancer-free, ‘I’m right where I’m meant to be’
“They chipped off a piece of tumor. I thought, ‘I might be staring right at cancer.’ My world turned upside-down. Could this really be happening? I felt the urge to do something.”
‘That’s impossible.’ It felt like someone was touching a cold spoon to my calf. Half of my torso went numb. Everyone was stumped.’: Woman diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, ‘You’re not alone’
“I’d scratch and pinch at the sides of my stomach. ‘Is this in my head?’ I experienced cold spots on my legs. When I moved my neck, I’d feel a rush of electricity through my legs. It was invisible to everyone but me.”
‘You knew they weren’t yours forever. Why’d you let yourself get so attached?’ I couldn’t help it. I was made for this.’: Woman details foster care journey, ‘We’re just getting started’
“I was there for her first smile, first bath, first words. Nothing prepared me for giving ‘my’ child away to be adopted by someone else. Rocking her to sleep for the last time was the hardest thing I’d ever do. I was sure I’d shatter completely.”
‘I know it’s gone, I just know it.’ I sat in the back room, alone and bleeding. The guilt hung over me. We needed answers.’: Woman shares journey to rainbow baby, ‘Your grief is valid’
“I felt like I failed my husband, who had dreamed of being a dad. I was embarrassed to call our family and friends. How do you tell them, ‘Never mind?’ I didn’t want to be pitied. I wanted my life to return to normal.”