Stronger Relationships Survive

The strongest relationships have the power to survive whatever life throws at them. 

Read the stories below to see how other couples have survived.   

Has your relationship beat the odds? Have you overcome a rough patch here and there?  Tell your story HERE.

For Sickness and in Health

Marriages are usually tested with time. However my husband and I have been tested with adversity. I was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease, and suddenly I was on dialysis. The only cure was a transplant and my blood type made it almost impossible to find a donor. Through all of this our marriage grew stronger. Such a burden on a young couple has the potential to create extreme stress. My husband was still working full time, but also having to take care of a very sick wife for 8 months while on dialysis. This entailed many doctor appointments, dialysis treatments, I suffered many seizures, high blood pressure, hospital stays, and lost over 40 pounds. There were many nights that I wasn't sure if I could continue on. Thank God for a faithful, dedicated, and God-fearing husband. I received my Transplant in 2008, suffered a stroke 2 months later, and a total hip replacement 1 year later. Through it all, my kidney function has remained stable with no sign of rejection. Two years later, God has blessed me to bear our first child, Elijah C. Harris was born 5/3/2010 in good health! We have been married for 6 years now and have endured a lot. Our dedication to each other has been a testimony of what God can do in our marriage, and we are truly blessed to have each other in our lives.

~ Melonie

Premature Survival Training 

My husband was in Washington state completing his Air Force Survival Training when I went into labor with our first child. I was living in Florida at my parent's home and our plan was to relocate to England prior to the birth. Our son, Beau, was born about 3 months premature at MacDill AFB on Valentines' Day and his start in life was tenuous at 1 lb. 12 oz. Although my husband Wally wanted to return immediately when he got the news I told him he should complete the training, as there really was nothing he could do other than visit the hospital daily as I was doing. He completed the training and returned to Clearwater about a month later. Beau was still on oxygen and he was tiny but thriving. He was discharged from the neonatal unit a few months later on portable oxygen. The Air Force would not allow him to fly so my husband had to go to England on his own. He was very distressed being separated from his family and attempted to get a humanitarian discharge which was denied. This time was difficult as I was new preemie mom and, of course, I missed Wally every day. I even wrote to the president and there was a presidential inquiry about this situation. Due to so much red tape we were forced to wait it out. Luckily, I had the support of my family and friends. Eventually the 3 of us reunited in England for our first overseas tour and lived there for 3 years where our daughter was born with a little less drama. Wally continues to be a solid father to his children and loving husband to me. Beau is now 23 and our marriage continues into it's 25 year.

~ Laura 

Long Distance Love 

Although my boyfriend and I are quite young, we have been through a lot in our three year relationship. We lived in the same place for almost a year, when I decided to move 400 miles away to attend a University. I decided this because I knew he was also moving about one thousand miles away to attend college. Our relationship started out great, but about 4 months into it I started to become untrusting, attached, and needy. It wasn't until around the time I moved that I realized WHY I was this way, and that I could change my behavior. My boyfriend and I had some rough months, and I also had an issue when I told him "i love you" and he told me that he wasn't ready to say that. I nagged him about that for about a year of our relationship.

The transition into a long distance relationship went smoothly, although it was hard to see him only every few weeks. When he moved to Texas, over a thousand miles away, it became hard. We went without seeing each other for 7 months because we were just too busy and time wouldn't allow it. We finally saw each other, and it was emotional. He finally told me he loved me, and we were happy. It was hard to keep our relationship going, but we did. It has been two years that we've lived over a thousand miles away from each other, but we survived an "almost breakup" and we have a plan to be together when I graduate. We have developed excellent communication skills and we get along so well. We are very loyal to each other and we have never trusted anyone as much as we trust each other, even when we are a thousand miles apart.

~ Arielle

Blended but Still Whole 

In March of 2007, God blessed two single parents to fulfill a much hoped for dream, to find that special someone that could make their life complete, or be their soul mate. You know bringing two families into one is just like it sounds, a miracle. We not only had to stop thinking like single parents with no emotional responsibilities to another adult but learn to share ourselves with children we did not help bring into this world. To make a long story short, we took five girls, three boys, three granddaughters and blended them into one family: oh did I say a total of five separate households? My wife and I represent three cultures as well as three nationalities, talk about culture shock. God however gave us lots of examples in which to draw from and be aware of; you know my family is a much stronger unit for it. Through the last four years we have learned to live above all, laugh despite of and love regardless of what may get in our way, even if its ourselves. "In it to win it" BLENDED BUT STILL WHOLE.

~ Vernon

I Guess It Is Meant To Be...

My husband and I met in the 9th grade. Shortly after we had our 1st daughter (of 4). Somewhere around 10 years together, we were introduced to crack cocaine. To make a long story short, we lost custody of our daughters. No one thought that we wold be able to beat our addiction together. We were told in order for us to get and stay clean and sober we would have to leave each other.
In July 2007, we both went into drug treatment. And we have been clean (together) ever since, which is a little over 3 years now. We have changed our lives in ever aspect!! He has started his own, very successful business, and I also work, and go to school full time, persuing my degree in Nursing. I also volunteer with other addicts. If we can help even 1 person not have to go through the pain and suffering that we endured while in our active addiction, then we feel as though we are doing God's work!!

~ Chastity

The Power of Love 

My girlfriend and I have been through some very difficult times. She has two kids from a previous marriage, as well as I. We both have experienced hardship from each others past marriages. Her kids are very distant to me to the point that they will put such high demands on her to prevent us from spending quality time together. My former wife has gone to the point where she has done everything in her power to keep me from our daughters, to include lying. The one thing I have seen with my beautiful lady I am with now is a strength in love that I cannot explain. We both have been to the point of just plain out walking away from each other, but once better judgement prevails we realize that our love is very strong. Again it is something that I have never seen or for that matter comprehend. We both have been through extreme hardships, but still love each other very much. I hope to one day be able to overcome these problems and we can grow even closer to each other.

~ Nathan

Stronger Than Ever

My Husband John & I just celebrated 25 yrs married. Many say we beat the odds. John is an alcoholic & I am an addict. Over the Summer of '10 our marriage hit rock bottom. I left him & started seeing someone else. He found out about it. I left him because I felt I no longer loved him. I was lonely for a long time while he was busy courting the bottle. This is when I started drug abuse & became a full blown addict. I moved out, left him & our kids (13 & 17) & went to live with my Dad. In Sept John's brother was getting married in NY & he flew up there to be an Usher & be part of the celebration. While he was there he had an affair of his own. It was then I realized I missed him. I was also jealous of this other woman which meant I still must have feelings for him. Upon his return we decided to give our marriage another try. We started talking a lot (instead of arguing). We started going out on "dates". With our 25th anniversary approaching we decided what could be a better time to renew our vows? We fell in love with each other all over again. I decided I needed help with my addiction so I started going to AA with him as well as NA on my own. With our children a part of the ceremony we renewed our vows in the same chapel our oldest son married in! John just celebrated 4 months sober & I am almost a month clean. With a brand new start we begin the next chapter of our lives together. And so they lived Happily Ever After!!

~ Tina