“I remember walking into the church on a warm June day and seeing my husband’s casket at the end of the aisle, draped with the American flag. Like so many of us before you, you gained membership into a club nobody wants to join, and on top of that, the whole world is watching. I promise you will come out of this on the other side one day.”
‘You woke up Kobe’s wife and went to bed a widow. Today, you’re going to do something no wife ever wants to do.’: Widow pens open letter to Vanessa Bryant on day of Kobe Bryant’s memorial service
‘I didn’t understand the phrase ‘unconditional love’ until I met my kids.’: Dad shares touching video montage of fatherhood, ‘I will cherish this job forever’
“The harsh reality is I won’t be around forever. One day I’ll pass away just like Kobe Bryant, but his memory, just like our videos, will live on. I hope one day my kids will look back at this footage and remember, without a doubt, this dad absolutely loved his boys.”
‘How could this happen? I thought things like this only happened to older moms or if it ran in your family.’: Mom of baby with Down syndrome finds community of support, ’She was made for us’
“’She has a few markers that are consistent with Down syndrome.’ I felt like someone told me my entire family had just died. I felt like I was in a nightmare. ‘I’m not equipped to handle this.’ I listened to my nurse talk about her twin brother with Down syndrome. I couldn’t believe it. That was the first moment where I felt, ‘Maybe I can do this.’”
‘As we waited at checkout, I gasped. ‘I’m so sorry. I just miscarried,’ I managed to say, tears falling from my eyes.’: Woman recalls touching act of kindness after miscarriage, ‘It’s been 20 years and I still tear up’
“I remember being so excited for my due date. Then we went to the doctor and saw our baby, but no heartbeat. Suddenly, it was over. My jeans fit again. I stored the congratulatory letters in a box. Friends told me to ‘move on.’ Weeks later, I was shopping when a woman pushing a newborn in a carriage walked by. I started to cry. Another woman turned around and gently smiled. ‘It is so tough. 20 years later, I still wonder what that child would have been like.’ Tears fell from my eyes.”
‘Flesh was hanging off the roof of his mouth. ‘Your son has no immune system to fight this.’ We were trapped inside the house for months in total isolation.’: Mom to medically complex, autistic sons urges ‘find your village’
“His lesions were so severe he couldn’t eat. Rashes covered his entire body. We had to inject him with Pedialyte every 15 minutes just to keep him from passing out. In the midst of trying to be a normal family of 3, we suffered 3 miscarriages. Here we were, emotionally and physically exhausted, still yearning for hope. Little did we know, after 11 pregnancies, baby B would surprise us with blood in his diaper at just 2 months old. We knew something was terribly wrong.”
‘This boy is never going to be up for adoption. Don’t get too attached.’ It was too late. I was in love with him.’: Foster mom fights for her adoption journey, ‘This is what I waited for, prayed for’
“My daughter was 12 and I still wasn’t married. My hopes of having children dwindled away. Suddenly, the cutest little 3-month-old boy entered my life and instantly stole our hearts. ‘His aunt wants to adopt him.’ They dropped a bombshell on me. ‘I have been his mommy. Nobody else was there through the sleepless infant nights. It has been me all this time, loving him.’ I felt like my heart had been shattered.”
‘Mommy, I don’t want you to die! Mommy, why did Kara kill herself? Didn’t she want to see her Mommy anymore?’: Woman spreads loved one’s ashes in Paris, ‘The city of love, the city you will now forever be a part of’
“I stand there for a moment, clutching those two bottles in each hand, silver lids removed. I’m angry. I’m sad. ‘Why did you do this, Kara? Why?’ I need you to know, as devastating as The Decision has been for all of us, I will fulfill my promise to you. I bet you didn’t know it would force me back here, to a magical place I equally loathe and love. But here we are. It’s been 340 days.”
‘Today I listened to two women complain about how ‘disgustingly fat’ they were. Their children were RIGHT THERE. And so were mine.’: Mom shares powerful plea to end cycle of bullying, ‘Our children are hurting’
“‘Did you see what she’s WEARING?’ ‘She got fat!’ ‘God, she should date guys her age!’ ‘WHY doesn’t she just wear a bit of foundation?’ My children were right there.”
Bride Left Empty Chair To Honor Late Son; Groom Stops Vows To Introduce Guest Who Took The Seat
During the wedding ceremony, the groom had his bride turn to look at that chair that she’d reserved for her late son — only it wasn’t empty anymore.
‘I’d get married at Taco Bell and wear a piece of string around my finger if it meant spending the rest of my life with the person I adore.’: After abusive relationship, woman says marriage isn’t about material possessions.
“I had it all — the cars, the house, the material things. When I got married, I ignored all of the glaring red flags and thought maybe he would change. The truth of the matter was he was not the right person for me. I had no idea how to get out. I felt stuck. What would I do if I left? It took me a while to realize my happiness was worth so much more than any financial security or material comfort.”