If you think life is treating you badly, "There is ALWAYS someone worse off than you."

You are not alone unless you choose to be. Have faith, ask questions, cherish existing family and friends. Know you are strong enough to handle anything that comes your way. You are strong - wisdom comes with experience. Make faith your foundation, love your strength, trust your guide, bind with passion and patience - You will survive and with grace.

Disowned because of misunderstanding, estranged from immediate family. Dad, Mom and sister now dead while my brothers think me insane and a lier as we remember differently. Still not speaking to me, my door will always be open to my brothers and their children.

If you think life is treating you badly, "There is ALWAYS someone worse off than you."

I know of what I speak. Our household is rather unique. A mixed race couple, disabled mom with five children, all born prematurely at the end of my first trimester, none expected to live. We had already survived the miscarriage of a boy, and were elated when we had a little girl born live, but she began crying constantly and inconsolably. After several tests they found she could not breathe if she were asleep. Despite all efforts to help her, Meagan died when only 4 1/2 month old. No time to dwell miscarriages overtime of two sets of twins, and a set of triplets.

Estranged from my family by misunderstanding, support came from my husband and his family, but my relationship with them had to be earned. Slowly this was accomplished. Over the years, we were blessed with five more children, of those five, three developed Cerebral Palsy which resulted in two of the boys permanently in wheelchairs.

Enough, time for school. Daddy is in med school and working. Mommy stayed at home to take care of the kids - 0-3 programs, then kinder-garden, then after third son - night school. All while working on marriage, the parenting of five kids and a dog, all in a two bedroom basement apartment. Traveling daily to four different schools, then taking someone to work and back.

Every little thing became therapy. Sitting, standing, toileting, holding things, moving things, feeding, sleeping any activity of the day became something to overcome. If someone was able to do something you helped someone who could not. Older kids helped the younger. Those could move would help those who could not. Everyone learned to work braces, wheelchairs, positioners and feeding aids. The neighborhood was a good area but turned into a daily ok coral by the time we moved. Shootings and gang fights became common, so we moved. Today all have become young adults of whom we are very proud. Everyone lives at home, in our home. Darrell, Daniel and Marinna help care for their brothers and at times, me.