Nerds Republic

A photo of a tiny baby surrounded by hundreds of syringes has started making the rounds online. That description makes the situation sound a bit scary, but you can rest assured that there’s nothing creepy going on here.

It’s actually a photo that honors the struggle that many women go through when they want to start a family.

This photo was submitted to Sher Institutes’ Facebook page by a client named Angela.

Facebook / Sher Institutes

That’s because she went through hundreds of needles before she finally got pregnant. Now, she has a beautiful baby girl.

(via ABC)

Conceiving through in vitro fertilization (IVF) as Angela did can require hundreds of hormone injections. Angela underwent the IVF process multiple times over the course of a year, and she says that her doctors had to use a crazy amount of needles throughout the process.

It’s a tough and painful endeavor for women, both physically and emotionally.

When Sher Institutes shared her photo, more mothers came forward.

Facebook / Ravda Dickard

This sense of solidarity helped them share all of their painful, nerve-wracking, and triumphant stories. The women found solace in knowing that they weren’t alone in this fight.

They also shared photos of their beautiful children, all of whom were conceived with the help of IVF therapy.

Facebook / Lynette Collins-Barrett

Facebook / Maureen Kotecki Lemmer

Facebook / Danisha Diaz

Facebook / Megan Bonner Hauze

Eventually, Angela’s IVF treatments worked, and she had a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She encourages other women who are going through this process to “hang in there.” Judging by these stories, all of that risk is worth the reward.

We like to think that people grow out of being bullies, but humanity never ceases to disappoint. A woman in Michigan encountered this problem the other day while waiting to buy a coffee at her local Tim Hortons.

When you’re waiting for coffee, especially with a toddler, the last thing you need is two complete strangers insulting you for no reason.

WXYZ Detroit

Dianne Hoffmeyer of Fort Gratiot, Michigan, was out with her small child. She was there to pick up some donut holes as a treat, as well as some much-needed coffee after a few sleepless nights taking care of her teething baby. It was a pretty typical situation, but things quickly turned ugly.

Two middle-aged women behind her began to openly mock Hoffmeyer, insulting her appearance and weight. Hoffmeyer heard them say things like, “Oh look at her hair, it’s nasty looking and the roots are coming through.” They even said that “the whale needs to eat.” That one stung, as Hoffmeyer had recently lost 177 pounds and was trying to continue losing weight. She could feel the tears welling up as she approached the counter. “I don’t know the women,” Hoffmeyer says. “I don’t know why they would choose to say something like that.”

All these two wanted to do was go out for a few treats.

ABC Action News

After hearing those insults, what might you have done? Would you have ignored them and run away? Would you have turned and confronted the bullies? It’s a very awkward situation to be in, but Hoffmeyer handled it brilliantly — and effectively.

Instead of slinking out of the store or turning on the women, Hoffmeyer told the cashier that she would be paying for their coffees. The cashier, who had heard the insults, was shocked, but agreed to set up the transaction. After making the purchase, Hoffmeyer sat in her car and wept, but she doesn’t regret her decision.

Even recounting the incident is painful for Hoffmeyer, but she’s glad that she took the high road.

WXYZ Detroit

She said that she wanted to set a better example for her daughter. And her actions worked. The bullies shut right up, and they haven’t been seen in that restaurant since. Much to her surprise, Hoffmeyer has been gaining attention and support from all over.

So what would she do if she were to encounter the cruel women again? “I’d like to buy them another cup of coffee,” she says with a slight smile. She says she’d like to sit down and discuss how their words made her feel, and why they felt the need to be so senselessly mean to a stranger.

Watch Hoffmeyer tell her story:

video-player-present

Remember, dear readers, that words can hurt. Think about that the next time you want to say something mean for no reason, whether in person or online.

Twenty-six-year-old Emma Murphy has two young children and was in a relationship for two-and-a-half years. She described (and still describes) her former partner as the “love of [her] life.”

Sadly, things turned sour, as her partner had several affairs and, even worse, physically abused Murphy. Needless to say, Murphy, like many people in abusive relationships, stayed for a while without knowing what else to do. Under her partner’s manipulative behavior, she believed that the abuse was her fault.

Then came the final straw, when Murphy decided to not only leave her abusive partner, but to speak out on the behalf of all women, especially women with children. She hopes her words and her story will inspire others to get out of dangerous relationships.

Watch Murphy’s emotionally wrenching video below.

Facebook / Emma Murphy

Abuse hurts everyone and leaves lasting scars — not just the physical kind. While men can also be victims of abuse, the majority of domestic abuse victims are women. If you or someone you know is concerned about abusive relationships, or have questions, you can contact the organizations below immediately for more information:

The Help Guide offers advice for people in abusive relationships, with special advice tailored for women, men, and LGBTQ people.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers 24/7 help with abusive and violent partners.

RAINN offers resources for sexual abuse and assault.

Domestic violence is a terrible reality, but there are many ways of raising awareness about it:

In 2003, when she was in sixth grade, Skye Gould’s mom, Stephanie Skylar, would pack her a lunch to bring to school each day. That’s not too uncommon, but Stephanie also included a note with each and every lunch she packed. These “Lunchbox Letters,” as they came to be known, were special notes between mother and daughter that included not only a variety of topics, but also a special advice section. Skylar would leave her daughter with pieces of wisdom that would stick with her for years.

The Lunchbox Letters were collected and kept in this shoebox for a decade.

Advice From My Mom

Back then, the plan was to collect all the letters and put them into a book. The original plan might have just been a scrapbook, but in 2014, Gould took it a step further and turned the collection of letters into a website called Advice From My Mom. The site showcases all the letters, as well as commentary from Skye, now an adult.

Advice From My Mom

On creating this project a decade later, Gould says, “I hadn’t re-read the notes until I began this project, so a lot of my reflections and commentary are based off how the letters have affected me without me really consciously knowing it. Words impact us this way; sometimes they resonate with us beyond what we even thought was even possible.”

The whole project started with a simple idea.

Advice From My Mom

The first official Lunchbox Letter, which encourages the then-shy Gould to be more open with her schoolmates.

Advice From My Mom

Many of her mom’s pieces of advice encouraged Skye to be friendly, instead of competitive, with her female classmates, and encouraged friendships with other girls.

Advice From My Mom

In middle school, many girls feel the need to tear each other down, and Gould says she experienced her fair share of mocking from the other girls. But she also says that, thanks to her mom’s encouragement and support, she now has many close female friends that she respects and admires. She says, “[My mom] used the letters to remind me to stay confident and tough.”

Of course, there were always bumps in the social road, and Gould’s mom supported her through those, as well.

Advice From My Mom

Advice From My Mom

The notes also reflect what was going on in Gould’s family in 2003.

Advice From My Mom

Advice From My Mom

Shortly after finishing sixth grade, Gould’s family moved from Ohio to Florida. At the start of seventh grade, Gould would have to face a new set of challenges.

Advice From My Mom

Yet even though many letters touched on larger issues, they also show the family’s day-to-day habits.

Advice From My Mom

Advice From My Mom

(It looks like Gould took her mom’s advice!)

Today, Gould says that these letters were an integral part in shaping the young woman she’s become, and she will continue to carry the lessons of these letters throughout her life. She was also able to distill the letters to their core pieces of advice, like valuing your family and friends, trusting your instincts, and working hard to achieve goals.

Sometimes, the advice was just fun.

Advice From My Mom

(via BoredPanda)

These letters might seem private, but Gould wants to share them with the world. They’re expressions of love, support, and concern that parents and guardians the world over have expressed towards their kids. Yet somehow, seeing the words in writing can cause us all to remember them more clearly.

Since Gould’s mom put those words of encouragement and love into writing, they’ve become immortalized, and Gould wants others to read them the way she did so long ago. “What words have our loved ones told us over and over that we need to be reminded of? How can we forever eternalize this advice and pass it along to others?”

We think this is a pretty good way of eternalizing the beautiful connection between moms and daughters. You can see the entire collection online, and learn more about the project on Gould’s website. Gould also wants to learn about how other people have hung onto valuable advice from loved ones, and you can start the discussion on Facebook and Twitter.

Athena Krueger was a lifelong planner. She had a successful career in software sales and a happy marriage. Her next plan was to become a mom.

Sadly, her plan was thrown for a loop when she discovered a painful lump in one of her breasts just 15 weeks into her pregnancy. The lump was discovered to be cancer, and was already aggressive.

Cancer during pregnancy is extremely rare, but is more prevalent in women who have children later in life.

KARE11

Amari, whose name means “precious gift from God,” was delivered by C-section eight weeks prematurely so that Athena could undergo chemotherapy.

While some of the treatments appeared to work, the cancer continued to spread throughout her body, and it seemed all hope was lost. Athena, a woman of great faith, decided that she wasn’t going to let terminal cancer stop her from expressing her love for her family.

In her final weeks in hospice care, Athena planned a lavish, over-the-top party for Amari’s first birthday. The event was one that she had struggled to see, and the only one she would ever see. She planned the whole thing, invited hundreds of family and friends, and decided to enjoy herself.

The party, which saw some 300 people in attendance, was Alice in Wonderland-themed, with Ben playing the part of the Mad Hatter.

Courtesy of Stephanie Windfeldt

Her doctors advised against leaving the hospital, but Athena knew this was her only chance to celebrate a birthday with Amari.

Courtesy of Stephanie Windfeldt

She attended the party, which was held on May 2, and had a blast. The party allowed her to see all of her family and friends, and spend time with her husband and daughter outside of the confines of the hospital.

The party was a great success.

Courtesy of Stephanie Windfeldt

Athena and Ben with Amari.

Courtesy of Stephanie Windfeldt

Athena and Amari with Athena’s brother.

Amari’s actual birthday is on May 5. Athena lived to see it, but she passed away the following day. She died peacefully at home with her husband, having lived to see and accomplish what she most desired. She died on her own terms, and with the happy memory of her daughter’s first birthday, at the young age of 33.

Interviews with her family and friends show that Athena will be remembered as a faithful, determined, and loving woman.