“By the time I was 21, I had my fourth child. I thought that was enough, so I wanted to get my tubes tied. But my doctor kept telling me, ‘You’re too young for that.’ Instead, he introduced me to Norplant, which was this birth … Continue readingBirth control decision leads to loss of sight
“When my oldest daughter was a teenager, she always thought she would adopt. Over the past three or four years their family has taken in about 12 foster kids. They adopted two little boys and will be adopting another little girl, probably next year. They … Continue readingGrandmother reflects on adoption, foster children
“I’ve gone through some stuff people shouldn’t have to go through. I was abused for six years by my uncle and my cousins. The hardest thing about it was that I didn’t understand why I was the one getting hurt. Like why did they choose … Continue readingShe supports others going through tough times
“I’ve done a lot of volunteer work: homeless shelters, soup kitchens, all sorts of stuff. I worked with elderly people for a couple years. I’ve been involved with activities to assist kids. Just anything where I can help people. “One day, I’d like to work … Continue readingFrom sexual abuse in childhood to helping others
“I had just turned 16 and was living in Puerto Rico when my sister sent for me. She needed my help to take care of her baby boy. “New York was such a big culture change for me. I was crying day and night. I … Continue readingKindness of stranger helps save the day
“He’s 8 months old, and he never cries. He’s just happy all the time, smiling and playing around. “I’m lucky. Normally babies cry for everything, for no reason sometimes. The only time he cried is when he fell, because he’s starting to stand up now. … Continue readingFour sons keep mom busy and happy
“Around midnight, we suddenly came under heavy mortar and artillery fire. Generally, the Viet Cong would rain down on you before they’d try to overrun and take your position. So we were well aware that this was just the beginning of a long night for … Continue readingVietnam War hero falls on grenade for his men
“I’m a single mom. I’ve never been married. I was with his dad for six years. Then I was with another man for nine years, but we split up recently. “Now I’ve decided it might just be easier to raise him on my own. Because … Continue readingSingle mom commits to raising son on her own
“I’ve always been in the medical field. I used to work in assisted living homes, helping elderly patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. For the past nine years, I’ve worked with kids who have mild retardation and adults with autism.” What’s the most important skill for … Continue readingShe learned patience while caring for patients
Being active in the community comes natural for these sisters. Participation in student clubs and service groups has kept them quite busy in recent years. Their latest endeavor is to volunteer/foster with A Life to Live, a local non-profit organization that saves the lives of … Continue readingVolunteer sisters keep busy for their community