“‘Mac’s been waiting for you.’ As hard as it was going to be to lose him, watching him like that was even harder. I knew I didn’t endure this for nothing. One day I’d go back and make a difference within those hospital walls.”
‘He went to heaven exactly the time we thought he’d be in the car heading home for the holidays. I hope Mac sees I kept my word.’: Sister starts nonprofit gifting hospital gowns to kids battling cancer
I was crying when my sweet son said, ‘Take deep breaths mama. Remember this pain is a good pain!’ It was just what I needed to hear.’: Mom of 2 recounts asynclitic birth story
“The baby was pulling my cervix along with him, and it was acting like a rubber band around his head. I could hear the concern in my birth team’s voices and I knew he needed to get out ASAP.”
I Survived A Traumatic Brain Injury After My Parents Were Pressured To Pull The Plug On Me
“The doctors suggested if I was to ever wake up, I would NEVER walk or talk again and would be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. But my parents had hope.”
‘Her oldest son Patrick asked if I would adopt him and become his other parent forever. Of course, I said yes.’: LGBT woman shares journey through blended family, step-parent adoption
“It was supposed to be a happy day, but I had so many fears about something going wrong. I think Patrick did, too. Both of us sat in the courtroom holding each other’s hands. Jen had to keep reminding us everything was going to be okay.”
‘Will my brother ever talk?’: Mom to son with Down syndrome shares embracing ‘the unknowns’
“It was an innocent and valid question, but it’s moments like these that hit me in the gut.”
‘We went from barely knowing each other to ‘co-parenting’ a child who desperately needed stability. We consider ourselves ‘Sister Moms!’: Two foster families come together for support, advocacy
“Our friendship has allowed us to be each other’s support, to cry when things get tough, to encourage when one is feeling weary. We do our best to create memories for our kids that they can cherish forever.”
‘How many kids do you have?’ For years, this question was a trigger. Like lemon juice in a fresh wound, it stung.’: Birthmother shares adoption grief, making peace with others’ opinions
“Now I allow the other person an opportunity to hear a new perspective, gain a new depth of understanding, or judge me based on what little information they’ve amassed. Either way, I’m a mama to three girls, but one of them doesn’t live with me.”
‘We are at capacity, babe.’ Two months later, Mike asked if I’d gotten her info. We’d never adopted a teen before, we were terrified.’: Family of 11 shares foster care, adoption journey
“She would contact her workers monthly asking if they had found her a family yet. She was desperate for a family to love her and call her own.”
‘It’s not a big deal. He’ll grow out of it,’ the nurse practitioner told me. I fought with the hospital to admit him immediately.’: Mom of two special needs boys shares accepting diagnoses
“The excitement and determination were swept away with grief. This incurable disease is marked by developmental delays, atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum, difficulty controlling muscles… and death.”
‘These two boys have entirely different stories, yet they are so fiercely meant to be bros.’: Mom reflects on adoptive son’s journey
“Some days he asks about his birth mom; other days I remind him how much she loves him. Some days he tells people he’s adopted; other days he wonders why he wasn’t born from my tummy.”