Reaching a 50th birthday is a milestone to many, but to Kandy and her family, it was cause for a HUGE celebration. When Kandy was born in 1963 with a diagnosis of chromosomal translocation, her family knew her life expectancy might not be the same as her non-disabled peers. But after fifty years, Kandy* is…
Darlene* believes, “You have to trust in God, because He can take a bad situation and turn it into good.” Being born two and a half months premature and weighing two pounds and seven and a half ounces could easily be considered a bad situation. Darlene’s seventeen year old mother heard the doctors say her…
Having spent many years with teenagers in the role of teacher, I have to admit I like them. One moment they are frustrated (with their peers and the world) and emotional about it, and the next they are wise (beyond their years) and witty. Much can be learned from these young adults . . ….
On this eighth anniversary of the deadliest and most destructive hurricane in America’s history, Hurricane Katrina survivor Jennifer* shares her story of devastating loss. She might have lost almost every material thing in the storm, but she gained a closer relationship with God. *Her real name is used with permission. Dreams Come True…
If you haven’t read “Please Forgive Me, Part 1” about Rochelle’s struggle with abuse, please read it before reading the conclusion to her story. Rochelle’s story takes the same path as many victims in that she too separates from her abuser and takes him back several times before making her final break. Enduring the Abuse…
Rochelle* has known more years of abuse than years without abuse. What was “learned” at a young age formed an image of what to expect in relationships with men. * A pseudonym is used to protect her privacy. Can I Go, Too? A family car accident when Rochelle was six years old caused her step-father’s…
As a mammographer of 25 years, Tracie*strongly believes in having an annual mammogram to detect the early signs of breast cancer. All of those years of experience caused her to prepare for the worst, in case it ever happened to her. And in July of 2011, her worst case scenario did happen. * Her real…
Last week I wandered into a Barnes & Noble to use up some time before picking up my youngest son from acting camp. Bookstores are dangerous places for me: money-wise and generating new ideas-wise. One book caught my eye because of its simplicity. After reading it, I believe it might become of one of my…
“First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes baby in the baby carriage,” the childhood saying goes. Julie* found love, then they married, but the baby carriage was the elusive part of the equation. * Her real name is used with permission. Years of Waiting and Wanting Three years of marriage bliss led to dreams…
Not managing her stress and allowing fear to rule her life has caused Dani* to experience significant health challenges over the course of her life. Her challenges began when her older brother was killed by a drunk driver. Dani was just nine years old. She remembers her family ‘living in a place of loss’ after…