[Jocelyn van Dam]

Hi Toyia, thank you for sharing your story. I can’t even imagine my waters releasing on a BUS, let alone being alone to navigate pregnancy and birth. You are a warrior but shouldn’t have been forced to deal with all of those obstacles alone. I have so much respect and admiration for the courage and strength it took to make your way to the hospital. A whole 24 hours later to birth is crazy. I was in labor for 20 hours and it was a lot. Were you able to eat and drink during labor? I wonder if the labor and delivery room was a lot different in the 90s than it is now. I know now there are still so many restrictions on women eating and drinking during labor. Besides that, did you have a supportive doctor/midwife? Did the actual birth go okay? How many kids do you have now?

I am hoping that now you can experience a softer life and I hope you have community around you to uplift and support you. Thank you for sharing your story.