Liz Norden

Stoneham, Massachusetts

My mom is a super woman without a cape. She raised us 5 kids on her own, having to work 3 jobs just to make ends meet. In 25 years I can honestly say my mom never complains (unless one of the dogs make a mess!) When I was 17 years old my mom got diagnosed with cervical cancer, they scheduled surgery a week later for a radical hysterectomy.  Not giving us much time to prepare and I truly believed I was going to lose her. Scared to death she will tell me now but never letting us know at the time of. She would never want us to fear even if she feared for her life. Being the survivor that she is, and going to many treatments, she beat the cancer. Only proving once more how strong she really is. Now that us kids are old enough to be on our own my mom finally found time to do what she enjoys most: going to bingo and being a grandmother to my 5 year old niece Gabbie.  On April 15th, 2013 my two older brother's lost their right legs in the Boston Marathon bombing - a mother's true nightmare. My mother had to be in two places at once because both boys were in separate hospitals. J.p. was doing better in the beginning and Paul was in a coma for 8 days (everything that could go wrong did go wrong, we thought for sure he wasn't going to make it).  I don't believe she had a good night's sleep in the 2 months they were in the hospital then moved into rehab. My mom spent mothers day in Spaulding rehab, and her birthday worrying about JP's upcoming (very serious) surgery. J.P. lost below the knee so in order to save the knee joint had a lot of abrasives surgeries. After rehab both boys 31 and 33 had to move home to relearn the simple things like walking all over again, this time with prosthetics. From cooking meals,to helping get in and out of the shower, to driving to the endless days of appointments my mother did it all and with a smile on her face. It was as though she had to start all over, like having small kids in the house again with needs you couldn't even imagine. Nine months later and she still hasn't had a good sleep, her worrying does not stop but in her words "it's just what a mother does". My mom has never put herself before us and is the most selfless person you could ever be lucky enough to meet. My mom is my best friend, our family rock, and I don't think there is anyone more deserving than her! Please consider her to be your Mom so we can finally show her the recognition she deserves! Thanks!

Monica Miracle

Holiday, Florida

My wife is the most amazing mom and person I've ever met! She's so selfless and puts everyone before her! We've been together for 9 years, and when we found out we were pregnant with our first baby it was the most exciting moment! Two days later we found out that my mother had Brain and Lung cancer. Not only was that heartbreaking enough, but my mother had adopted 4 children out of foster care that my wife and I knew we would be caring for if she didn't make it, so our excitement of being a parent to a new baby quickly turned into the reality of caring for FIVE! My wife had a dream of becoming a nurse and she went through and did it! She Loved her career and she gave her job up to take my mother to and from cancer treatments 5 days a week, and help care for the kids all while pregnant. Her pregnancy had several complications, but she never complained one time! After almost 72 hours of hard labor my 5'2, 130lb wife was wheeled in for an emergency C-section giving birth to our ELEVEN pound 23.5inch long baby boy! BIGGEST baby our Dr. had ever delivered in his 26 years of practice. My wife stayed at the hospital for 24 hours after delivery when she requested to get home so she could care for my mom and the kids... She was so worried about them, and never even bothered with the fact that she just had major surgery, and 2 blood transfusions. Needless to say, my mother passed away Jan. 2nd, and my wife cared for her until the last minute and has been the strong anchor in this family.. Who knew only at 27 years old she would be caring for a 1 year old, 7, 13, 15, and 16 year old. I couldn't have asked for a better person to be by my side through this crazy journey we call life! The picture above is my beautiful wife 72 hours into labor getting ready to be wheeled away for the C-section... She is with the kids, and my mom!

Lauren Perkins

Pearland, Texas 

Congratulations Lauren… You and your family will experience a wonderful Seven-night stay At the TradeWinds Island Resorts, located on St. Pete Beach on Florida’s west coast and voted #1 beach destination in the USA by TripAdvisor! Enjoy endless beach activities, dining and beach bars, an exciting kid’s program, stay in a two-Bedroom family social suite and more!

Lauren Perkins

Pearland, Texas 

In October 2011, Lauren Perkins was a school psychologist, busily caring for the kids at her school and running marathons in her down time. In April 2012, she became a first time, stay-at-home mother – to sextuplets! How can we even begin to tell you how unstoppable she really is? Lauren and her husband tried to start a family for years, without success. Eventually, after receiving fertility treatments, Lauren learned that she was pregnant with multiple babies – not one, not two, but six! Like most women would be, she was overwhelmed at the news. From the beginning, though, she understood the blessing as well as the challenge. Lauren knew that God would provide for her and her family, and she has loved each of her six children unconditionally since before their sensational birth. The babies were delivered at 30 weeks, followed by several months in the NICU. The family drew large amounts of media attention, but elected to walk away from the spotlight and the associated financial benefits so that they could maintain as normal a routine as possible. To make “normal” happen, Lauren works from the dark pre-dawn hours until long after the sun sets. She usually gets only 5 hours of sleep per night, and even that is frequently interrupted by her six little ones. They are nearly 2 years old now, and Lauren always has something to do! She is constantly feeding, changing, playing, encouraging, helping, and loving them. Each child is treated as an individual, with unique interests and his or her own personality. Lauren is applying her training as a school psychologist in her own home, introducing a new sight word each week, reading stories every day after lunch, and taking all of the kids for educational outings. Lauren and her children attend play dates and birthday parties, and frequently visit fun spots like the swimming pool, the park, and the zoo. The kids have even been in a parade and a fashion show! With all that they do on their highly regulated schedule, it’s understandable that the whole family feels stressed sometimes. As a fun stress reliever, Lauren and the kids have “freak out” time each day to let it all out! Lauren has the additional challenge of raising a child with special needs. One of the sextuplets requires extensive care to overcome GI complications and neurologic, motor, and visual impairments. She still requires overnight feedings, as well as additional medical and therapy appointments. Lauren has also learned to handle all of the specialized equipment so that she can help her daughter on non-therapy days – all in her “free time” while the other 5 kids are napping. Since the birth of her children, Lauren has made her physical health a priority so that she is able to keep up with and care for her family. She regularly attends fitness boot camps before dawn, works out with exercise tapes at home, and takes the kids (and the dog) for an hour long walk in their 6-seat stroller every day. Lauren has also returned to competition in multiple 5k runs! Lauren recognizes the importance of her mental health, as well. She still makes time to be in friend’s weddings, host events, and participate in phone conferences with medical professionals and other parents to stay abreast of the latest options for helping her children. Lauren also maintains a family blog and contributes to 2 groups for 'Moms of Multiples’ so that she can share her insights with others facing similar challenges. She even finds time to complete the required continuing education hours to maintain her license as a school psychologist so that she can return to her career in the future. Despite all that life requires of her, Lauren is grace under fire. She always wears a smile, always listens to her loved ones, and always finds a way to balance the often opposing needs of her children, her husband, her friends, and herself. Lauren Perkins is the very definition of “unstoppable.”  

Jaspen Boothe

Kelly and Michael,

Jas Boothe is one of my personal heroes. To call Jas Boothe an Unstoppable Mom is an understatement; I do not believe they have created a word that describes the amount of care and compassion she possesses. Jas is a veteran, an advocate, a mother, and a foster parent. Not one does she go above and beyond for her family… she helps empower other mothers to do the same in difficult situations!

Jas Boothe is a disabled Army Veteran, Cancer Survivor, and her dedication alone has supported over 150 women Veterans and their children who were homeless or facing homelessness.

She founded Final Salute Inc, the only nonprofit organization in the DC Metro Area that uniquely houses and supports homeless women Veterans and their children. Many do not know that women Veterans are now the fastest growing homeless population (55,000) in the United States; over half are single mothers. Jas, who once faced homelessness herself, decided that if this was going to change someone had to do something… That someone was HER.

In 2005, she was a single parent in the Army Reserves living in New Orleans, when she found out she would deploy to Iraq as a platoon leader. During her mobilization, Jas' life was torn apart by two significant events. In August she lost everything she and her son owned due to Hurricane Katrina. Despite Hurricane Katrina and her loss, she tried to shift her focus to her platoon. They were counting on her for leadership in a combat zone. However, Jas never made it to Iraq. The very next month in September, she received a devastating diagnosis of an aggressive head, neck, and throat cancer, and was now unable to deploy.

Jas options were limited and posed some very hard choices for her. Because of her cancer, she was facing discharge from the military. But she needed complex full-time medical care, a job, and a place to live with her young son. Due to her loss during Katrina, she was forced to search for assistance might be available through the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. She was told there were no existing programs for women Veterans with children and that she should explore welfare and social services as an option, just like every other single mother. Jas was not just another single mother! It was then that she realized America had forgotten about the women who have served, fought, bled and died alongside their male counterparts. She found these options unacceptable for a woman who had honorably served her country. After extensive cancer treatment, including radiation therapy that left life-long side effects, at Brooke Army Medical Center, she was able to stay in the Reserves and immediately began looking for full-time employment and a place for her and her son to live.

Jas never forgot what she and her son had been through and was determined to ensure her fellow sister Veterans had a resource in their time of need. Jas later relocated to the DC area and has since opened 3 transitional homes for women Veterans and their children.

Jas recently lost her job, after she was fired for saving one of the homes occupied by women Veterans and their children. She found out the home was up for foreclosure, after the landlord was cashing the orgs checks, but not paying the mortgage. She stood in the cold on the courthouse steps and bid on the home, not knowing where the money would come from. She sacrificed herself by not going to work that day; but she saved the home, preventing women Veterans and their children from being put out on the street. http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/24243061/champion-for-homeless-veterans-wins-bid-to-buy-house#axzz2r4mVCA4S

While Jas’ husband works full time, she is the bread winner for the family and has been for years. Her family counts on her income.

Even unemployed, Jas will not take a salary from the organization, again putting the needs of these women and children before her own.

In addition to her 2 children, Jas also cares for a 2 year-old girl, whose parents are currently serving in Afghanistan. The mother of the 2 year old was previously living in the homeless shelter and serving in the Reserves.

I am not a mother, but I am a women veteran and a fellow veteran advocate. Jas inspires me DAILY and has helped me keep going when I want to give up. On top of everything else she is always there for her friends when they need her!

Jas Boothe has given and is giving so much of herself and now she needs support. I hope you will consider her and help the women who continued to serve even after she took the uniform off.

Thank you!

Victoria Pridemore