“Even after 7 years of marriage, a baby was the furthest thing from my mind. I felt like I was being left behind. ‘How can a teacher not want kids? Am I a good person?’ The idea of having kids was terrifying.”
‘When are you hopping on the baby train?’ I didn’t want a baby. I wanted to spend my money on traveling and selfish things, not diapers.’: New mom says motherhood is ‘easily the best thing to happen to me’
‘My child’s teacher tossed a grenade into my well-manicured world. ‘Stella reminds me of a girl I used to teach.’ Once I saw the images, I knew.’: Mom advocates for daughter with Williams Syndrome
“As I walked to my car, I couldn’t type those words into the search bar fast enough. Williams Syndrome. I was completely blindsided. That’s when I left the old version of me.”
‘Your baby LOOKS sick.’ His lips were blue and he’d lost 4 pounds. We hadn’t realized he was slowly fading.’: Baby diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, ‘His diagnosis doesn’t define him’
“He’d been nursing nonstop and drinking large amounts of water. He woke up soaked. ‘His hands and feet are freezing.’ It was 75 degrees outside. His body was attacking itself.”
‘You don’t even like kids.’ But there they were, two pink lines. I laughed. There was no way I could raise a girl.’: New mom shares reality of motherhood, ‘It’s okay not to love every second’
“It wasn’t that I didn’t like kids. It’s just I never felt motherly enough. I was still selfishly self-absorbed. ’Maybe my career is my main focus.’ It’s funny how things change, isn’t it? She changed me.”
‘Was her due date correct? Something’s off.’ The cord was wrapped around her neck 5 times. She was completely red.’: Mom births baby with Williams Syndrome, ‘There’s no shortage of love’
“I helplessly lay there, shivering as alarms were sounded and ‘Code Blue’ was called. The world started to go black around me. All I could hear was, ‘Heart problems, elfin appearance, intellectual disability, love of music.’ She was so, so small.”
‘You’ll need a transplant. There’s no telling how soon.’ My skin turned yellow and I had NO energy. I was running out of time!’: Woman receives liver donated by mom, ‘I wear my scars proudly’
“I watched myself fade away, becoming sicker every week. It felt like I waited FOREVER for the perfect match. I had scabs everywhere. My kids grappled to understand what was happening to their mommy.”
‘It’ll be difficult for you to get pregnant.’ I gave him an out. ‘No way, let’s adopt!’ There was no doubt in my mind.’: Couple moves to Africa to adopt daughter, ‘We’re exactly where we need to be’
“We picked up the phone. ‘There’s a 17-month-old girl.’ We felt like we were racing time. Then COVID hit. We wouldn’t be able to take her home. ‘Why don’t WE go be a family with her?’ It seemed like a no-brainer.”
‘Will I be able to have a family?’ The rooms were filled with old ladies. I knew in my gut it wasn’t good.’: Breast cancer survivor inspires others, ‘I look forward to a beautiful future’
“I saw the hospital number on my cell. I grabbed my phone. ‘Monique, I’m so, so sorry.’ Questions flooded my mind.”
‘A tumor had taken over my entire femur. ‘All signs are leading to cancer.’ They removed 60% of the muscle in my leg. It was torture’: Cancer survivor says, ‘I found the power to keep fighting’
“I spent 3 days wide awake because I couldn’t stop hallucinating giant, juicy spiders crawling over me. I had to sleep with my feet in ice buckets. My skin felt like it was on fire. This was all ‘normal’ in the chemo world.”
‘I can’t do it alone.’ Guilt rained down on me. My daughter clasped my hand. ‘I love you, Mommy.’ That was the moment I decided I deserved true love.’: Mom navigates life after divorce
“I found a tiny, one-bedroom apartment and we ate dinner with dollar store utensils. Our lawyers were mean. We were mean. I cried in the shower a lot. I wasn’t going back. I wasn’t going to feel guilty for showing my daughter what type of love she deserved too.”