Love is the true bond for family, not biology. It’s often insulting for people to ask adopted children, “Who are your real parents?” More often than not, the answer is their real parents are their adopted parents. Not their biological parents, with whom they may have a distant or nonexistent relationship. When a young woman...

“You’re adopted” is a common schoolyard insult. Once examined, this retort might seem a little confusing. After all, adoption is a long, stressful, and expensive process, a testament to how wanted and love that child is. However, the subtext is extremely hurtful, especially when it’s weaponized between siblings. “You’re adopted” sounds like “you’re different, and...

Comedian and actor Chris Rock, 57, is known for his award-winning HBO specials and comedy albums, and his popular sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. He has also hosted the Academy Awards, in 2005 and in 2015. [1] But it’s his presenting at the 2022’s Oscars that has made recent headlines for all the wrong reasons. Namely,...

Robert De Niro is an Oscar-winning actor known for films like The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Awakenings. He is famous for his depictions of violent and stern characters, and later on, cantankerous old men. Meanwhile, the real-life De Niro has won awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Obama in...

Jackie Chan is an actor, stuntman, and director well-known in Asian and American cinema. He is also a renowned philanthropist who had famously declared to give half of his assets to charity after he died. [1] In his confessional memoir Never Grow Up, he opened up about his personal life, including his nouveau-famous days when...

In 2016, Jennifer Aniston’s mother, Nancy Dow, passed away at the age of 79. Dow was also an actress and she suffered from poor health for a while before her death. She had a stroke in 2011, then another just a year later.  “It is with great sadness that my brother John and I announce...

Despite all of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, many celebrities struggle with difficult home lives. This was definitely true for Melanie Griffith. In 1995, the actress was a single mother to two children. She was suffering from substance abuse and the aftermath of three divorces. Then she met Antonio Banderas while they starred in...

In August 2010, Rachelle Friedman Chapman’s world changed forever. At her bachelorette party, one of her friends playfully pushed her into the pool and caused a freak accident. Rachelle hit her head on the bottom of the shallow pool and injured her spine. She hasn’t been able to walk since. A year later, the paralyzed...

You’ve probably heard the myth that if a couple sleeps apart, their relationship is doomed. It’s the supposed first crack, the first sign that all is not well between the couple. But in reality, this is far from the truth. [1] So many happy couples slumber apart, a decision that actually helps and strengthens their...

Emma battled cancer for most of her life. At seven months old, she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor and her family has left no stone unturned to help her. When she was six, she and her family visited Boston for her treatment, which led to an unpleasant encounter. Brent Gehring was carrying his...

Kristin Lammert has spent three August 25s in the delivery room in the past six years. Her first daughter, Sophia, was born on August 25, 2015. At that point, Sophia only shared her birthday with the family rescue dog, Koda Bear. But three years later, Sophia celebrated her birthday by meeting her sister Giuliana for...

According to the World Health Organization, about one in 1,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the world every year. [1] But Savannah Combs gave birth to twin daughters with Down syndrome, an insanely rare phenomenon. “It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she said. “For every 1,000 twin...