“I was around 19, taking college classes, when I got mononucleosis. So I dropped out while recovering. And I immediately received a draft notice. I flunked my physical because of the mono, and because one leg was a little shorter than the other. I also … Continue readingVeteran still deals with impacts of Vietnam War
“I was 23 weeks pregnant when Ari was born. She was a micro preemie, and weighed just 1 pound, 4 ounces. Because her lungs were very premature she couldn’t breathe on her own, so she was intubated. Then they did a trach, and then a … Continue readingMicro preemie has come long way in 5 years
“Buffalo Bayou Kayak Tours posted on Facebook that they were looking for guides. They wanted someone who knows stuff about nature and history. And I was like, that’s kind of up my alley. I’ve been an information buff the majority of my life. And I … Continue readingKayak tours connect people to history, nature
“I was kind of embarrassed about liking to draw when I was a teenager. I didn’t want to tell my friends, ‘Hey, when I’m not hanging out with you guys, I’m in my room drawing Disney dogs.’ I figured they’d think I was weird. “As … Continue readingPainter feels lucky to have art in her life
“Growing up, there was a lot of chaos and turmoil in my home. I had two drug-addicted parents. And when I was 8, my mom started dealing drugs. People were coming and going. There were a lot of unsafe activities. There was alcohol. There was … Continue readingMagical life blooms after challenging start
In the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, there were many posts about pets gone missing or strays wandering into yards. Not all were of the four-legged variety. Laura Brown Anderson’s 1-year-old parrot, Clark, went on an hours-long adventure after accidentally flying out the family’s front door. … Continue readingParrot reunites with owner post-storm
“I was in my late 20s, and I was having real bad headaches, muscle problems, stiffness, and some paralysis on my left side. I ended up in the hospital. They didn’t know if it was polio or encephalitis. “It was a tough thing to go … Continue readingBowling life helps keep her young at heart
“Alicia was my fourth child, my littlest one. She was like a little porcelain doll. We pretty much centered ourselves around her. She was my kids’ pride and joy. She wanted anything, she got it. She was going to turn 2 last July. Then in … Continue readingBlessing box: ‘Her story doesn’t end here’