“In December 2019, I suffered a stroke and seizures that put me in a comatose state. I was on life support. My family was devastated and confused as to why all of this was happening to me. “The team of doctors taking care of me … Continue readingMom needs kidney for future with daughter
(4 of 4) “Everything I see and hear makes me think of Weston. It’s hard to pick out a specific memory since they are all important to me. “My husband, Chris, and Weston loved hunting together. They built a gaming PC together. Then Weston picked … Continue readingTaking care of son ‘best job I ever had’
(3 of 4) “Weston got sick all of a sudden. It happened so fast that we feel like we didn’t really get to say goodbye like if he would have been ill for a while. “He had a good checkup on a Friday, and he … Continue reading‘Missing him is such a sad thing’
(2 of 4) “I knew that some kids with EB would die young, so I was always concerned. But I never wanted Weston to miss anything, worrying that it would be his last school party, last band concert, last time bowling. “Some kids with EB … Continue reading‘It was sad each time a finger became useless’
(1 of 4) “Weston was born with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. It’s a rare hereditary skin disorder that’s incurable. His skin was very thin and fragile, and it would blister easily. Things that wouldn’t even scratch us could tear his skin. “He wore bandages daily … Continue readingRare skin disorder never-ending battle
“2020, and with it COVID-19, caused severe strife and strain in many people’s lives. From the loss of a loved one or a job, to financial issues, it was definitely a tough year. For some of us, though, 2020 didn’t create any problems that weren’t … Continue reading‘I finally started taking care of myself again’
“‘We have to let our hearts break.’ I heard Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal bishop of Washington, D.C., say this recently. And whoa, I felt that. For me, 2020 started in a state of grief. Just a few months prior, I lost my sweet love, Daniel, … Continue reading‘Grief is a blessing when I allow myself to sit with it’
“The pandemic hit the gig worker very hard. Normally, as a magician, I would be wrapping up a busy season of magic shows for parties. But no parties means no need for entertainment. “I usually perform for the Houston Children’s Museum and for private children’s … Continue readingMagician adapts to online shows during pandemic
“When the initial shutdown began in mid-March, I was seven months pregnant, and my sister was due to deliver her first baby any day. It was a time full of excitement, of course, but also a lot of uncertainty — the uncertainty of what was … Continue readingFirst-time mom performs balancing act in pandemic
“When my husband and I walked into labor and delivery, I knew our lives were about to change forever. But I had no idea the world would be shut down when we left the hospital with our girl. “Sloane Pepper was born on March 16 … Continue readingShe’s raising her first baby during pandemic