Sonia Beltz is a former digital editor for Love What Matters based near Dayton, Ohio. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Iowa. In her free time, you can find her writing, reading, or researching random historical facts online. Follow her on Instagram at @skatbel.
“‘Are we adopting a baby?’ There wasn’t a hint of concern in my entire body. Adoption was the hardest thing my family ever went through, but it made us stronger.”
“‘I am so proud of you, and I love you.’ She hung up on me. I didn’t believe her at first. At 1:38 a.m., I received the email. ‘I am about to jump off the Market St. bridge…’”
“My daughter was so upset. ‘All the kids will make fun of him!’ She began to cry. Each time I look at that picture, my heart melts because I remember the lesson learned that morning.”
“‘This is not normal period pain.’ I stopped working, stopped going out, and stopped talking to anyone.”
“’Are they trying to turn us off to being foster parents?’ My anxiety was through the roof. The judge made eye contact with us both. ‘Wow.’ We could not hold back our tears.”
“‘It’s okay, Mommy’s here.’ Your eyes roll back as every muscle in your body tenses. The monitor starts beeping as your oxygen levels drop. You have 50 or more seizures in a day.”
“Alcohol never left me, broke up with me, or rejected me. By the time I realized I needed to slow down, the brakes were off, and I had no control.”
“The harder I tried, the more I knew I didn’t fit in. I was hated by those who were supposed to love me, and I hated myself. If I can thrive, anyone can do it.”
“A beautiful, exciting life awaits filled with love and possibility.”
“‘R*tard’ and ‘lunatic’ became my ‘pet names.’ We still haven’t received a call for an ‘official diagnosis.’ So, I started my own research. I don’t want other children to suffer as I did.”
