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 chances of conceiving are zero.’ I could also lose my husband. We couldn’t catch a break.’: Couple births baby with Down syndrome while husband battles cancer, ‘She was the missing piece of our puzzle’
“I got a call I could have never expected. ‘The doctor thinks I may have cancer.’ Our dreams and future slipped out of our grasp. I looked at that little stick and thought, ‘Maybe things are looking up after all.’ But I just had this feeling deep down in my gut something wasn’t right.’”
‘THEY CALLED A CODE BLUE!’ He started screaming and grabbing the sides of his head. ‘It hurts!’: 8-year-old survives AVM brain rupture, ‘He’s still a fighter’
“A text came through that said, ‘Get to the hospital now.’ I thought it was a typo. His dad carried his limp and lifeless body into the hospital. I was shaking and screaming. ‘No! Not my baby, not my Ricky.”
‘She may not survive surgery.’ For 9 days, her chest remained open. She wasn’t the baby I expected.’: Mom has photo shoot in ICU before preemie passes to ‘make each day beautiful’
“Her body was too small to close over her swollen heart. Piles of machinery overwhelmed her metal crib. I hesitantly brought a small box into the ICU. Inside was a blanket and matching hair bow. I was shocked by how stunning she looked.”
‘I can’t wait to hear him cry!’ Everything was okay. Until it wasn’t. I will never forget the panic in the room.’: Bereaved mom starts company to ‘honor a life only 2 days young’
“The room was silent. Shortly after, the commotion from the NICU team began. I screamed. I yelled. I cried and sobbed as my husband sat next to me, holding my hand, feeling emotions I can’t even imagine as he watched his baby and his wife fall apart in a matter of seconds.”
‘All of a sudden, he was quiet. ‘Is this when the monster started growing?’ The terror waited around the corner.’: Mom loses son to brain cancer, ‘He was so happy to be a part of our family’
“I like to go through my pictures of Aiden. The people in them have no idea what is coming. I always slow down as I get close to the day he was diagnosed. Maybe I’m trying to stop it from happening.”
‘We believe she can’t see.’ I held her tight as she screamed. I’m not letting them take my baby alone.’: Baby diagnosed with ‘ultra rare’ Canavan Disease, ‘I WILL save my child’
“I held her down while they poked the biggest needle I had ever seen into her back. The acid was destroying the white matter of her brain. That’s when it hit me. ‘There’s no cure.’”
‘There was a shooting downtown.’ I fell to the floor. I just knew it was my husband.’: Widow loses husband to accidental shooting, ‘Life is meant to still be enjoyed’
“My husband gave me a quick peck and was out the door. Something was wrong, so terribly wrong. I saw the news pop up. ‘There’s been an accident.’”
‘It’s twins.’ They needed to perform surgery on my placenta. I saw a little 3D hand on the screen and it broke me.’: Woman births sons with TTTS, ‘My boys are my miracles’
“I felt sick, dreading whatever news the next scan might bring. One of our babies had a major brain bleed. I burst into terrified tears. Although I was pregnant with twins, I might not end up with any babies at all.“
‘Comments about immigration ripped my heart out. Then we made a decision. Now comments are personal.’: Transracial family creates kids activities to celebrate other cultures, ‘People matter’
“The Facebook comments were no longer about others. ‘Someone needs to do something.’ I had to empower our family. It wasn’t enough to just read books.”
‘Get off the toilet and deliver her!’ My boyfriend grabbed a shoelace and blanket. There was nothing they could do.’: Woman celebrates rainbow baby after loss, ‘She is everything to me’
“I woke up bleeding. I didn’t want to believe it was happening. ‘You need to prepare to deliver your daughter.’ I grabbed a towel and placed it down on the bed. I was only 22 weeks pregnant.”