WELCOME TO BE THE MISSING PIECE 14 "SPREADING KINDNESS ONE PIECE AT A TIME"
Our Visitors Stories
Rose Horne - Milford, CT
You may say my missing piece is my beloved Mom, Rose. She was always there - or just a phone call away - but life changes things. As I grew older, my Mom also became my dearest friend. I cherish the countless fun times we had together - so many smiles and laughs and so many conversations - we somehow never ran out of things to talk about! And sometimes it was just a visit without many words at all, just being there for the other. I will always hold dear memories of my Mom and how she supported and loved me unconditionally and endlessly. We didn't see eye-to-eye on everything but respected each other's beliefs and listened and learned from each other. My Mom passed away earlier this year. Even during the most difficult days, she had grace, courage, faith, a reassuring smile and a loving, beautiful heart. The kindness, compassion, understanding, and generosity she demonstrated throughout her lifetime always filled the hearts of her family and friends, including mine. Now, as my Mom is no longer by my side, you may say she is my missing piece. But to me, she is still that essential piece that endures. It's the piece that makes me, me, and my heart whole. - Submitted By: Debbie Horne
Charlie Barrett - Berlin, CT
Becoming a mother has changed me in ways I’m still discovering. It has softened me, strengthened me, and stretched me into someone both entirely new and more fully myself. This journey didn’t begin with certainty—but it has led me somewhere more beautiful than I could have imagined. There was a time in my life when I wasn’t sure if I wanted to have children. I loved being around them—spent much of my teens and twenties babysitting—but the idea of having my own child felt distant, intangible. At best, I was uncertain. That uncertainty deepened as I navigated significant health challenges throughout my late teens and early twenties. Quietly, I began to wonder if having children would even be possible for me. In October 2020, I married Chris, and the idea of starting a family became more real. Then, in August 2021, Chris was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Once again, we found ourselves wondering if having children of our own would be possible. Fast forward to December 2022: Chris was healthy, and we found out we were expecting. On a peaceful Tuesday morning, at 10:26 AM on September 26, 2023, our son, Charles Barrett, came into the world. To say my world shifted would be an understatement—but it shifted in the most lovely way. I fell in love with someone I had been creating for nine months, and that love was immediate, profound, and all-consuming. I stayed up until 4 AM the night he was born, simply watching him breathe, in absolute awe. Since then, Charlie has taught me more about myself than I ever could have imagined. I soon realized he was the missing piece in my life all along. Because of Charlie, I’ve discovered a strength I didn’t know I had—both physical and emotional. I’ve learned that I am capable, resilient, and completely devoted. Nothing will ever come between me and my son. People often don’t talk about how terrifying it is to love a child so deeply. To have your entire heart living outside your body, wrapped up in a tiny human who doesn’t yet understand the enormity of that love. There’s no armor that can protect you from the vulnerability that comes with parenthood, but the love is so powerful, it eclipses fear. As I step into this next chapter of my life, I know it will be filled with both immense joy and inevitable heartache. But because of everything I’ve faced and because of this extraordinary little boy, my missing piece I know I can face anything. Charlie gave me something I didn’t even know I was missing unwavering faith in myself. I will forever be grateful for this missing piece. - Submitted by Taryn Barrett
Virginia Czaplicki Clinton, CT
“My mother has always been a strong example and inspiration in my life. She has helped shape the person I am today, always leading with love and patience. Her compassion for others has taught me the value of kindness and empathy, reminding me that even the smallest acts of care can make a lasting impact. What I treasure most is her ability to listen and offer thoughtful feedback. Throughout adulthood, I find myself still turning to her for advice and guidance, and I am truly grateful that she is always there to offer support.” - Submitted By: Sara Pierson
Angie Hillman - Livonia, MI
When I think of all of the pieces that have made me who I am, at the top of the list is my relationships with my sisters, Angie and Amy. We were always connected by more than family and a name that started with “A”. We grew up as the best of friends. We shared rooms, we traded clothes, we sang and danced together, we laughed, we fought — throughout our whole lives we had a guaranteed friend in each other. As we grew, we counted on each other to be a sounding board, an unconditional support, and best friends —we truly never lost that purpose. In 2021, our whole world was changed when we suddenly lost my sister Angie to a pulmonary embolism. The moment I found out, it felt as if a literal piece of me was missing. However, as I worked through my grief I realized, it’s not missing, I just have to know where to look for it. I can hear her voice in those moments when I need her. I can see her expressions so often in my own and Amy’s. I can see the legacy of kindness she left in her nieces and nephew as they navigate this world of adulthood. We all miss her physical presence so profoundly that it is sometimes palpable. Her piece of my heart will never be filled, but I have found comfort in the memories we made. The piece has begun to be mended with friendships, family, my kids and our nieces; with the relationship with my parents and the unwavering love of my sister Amy. I continue to manage my profound sense of grief by looking for people and experiences that help fill the hole. No one thing can completely make up the piece she left behind, but I try to fill it in with the beauty of both old and new friendships that remind me of the love and joy this life has to offer. Amy and I continue to honor Ang with our sisterhood and faith in each other and in the foundation we’ve built for so many years — she’s always a piece of our past, our present, and our future as we keep her memory alive. - Submitted By: Andie Fabian