Homefront Chronicles

Cheryl Stumbo, survivor of the July 28, 2006 Jewish Federation Shooting in Seattle served as the citizen activist for the recently passed Initiative 594  - supporting background checks for all gun sales – in Washington State. In addition to working with the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility on I-594, Cheryl also works with Everytown for Gun Safety  - helping other survivors of gun violence to find their voice and share their story and advocate for laws that will prevent future tragedies.  Cheryl discusses with Homefront Chronicles how she became ready to “raise her hand” and ultimately became involved in survivor and gun safety advocacy issues.  

Cheryl Stumbo, survivor of the July 28, 2006 Jewish Federation Shooting in Seattle served as the citizen activist for the recently passed Initiative 594, supporting background checks for all gun sales in Washington State. In addition to working with the Washington Alliance for Gun Responsibility on I-594, Cheryl also works with Everytown for Gun Safety, helping other survivors of gun violence to find their voice, share their story and advocate for laws that will prevent future tragedies.  Cheryl spoke to Homefront Chronicles and shared the details of that day, her recovery and how she finally felt ready to get involved.  

Linda and her husband had a dream of becoming parents, here is the story of a journey that went from heartbreak to new hope to a reunion.

How do you build a strong family after a crisis?

Bettina and her family moved to the Seattle area – and found buying a house right away a daunting prospect. In order to save money, they moved in with Bettina’s aging grandmother - for a mutually beneficial experience.

In Part I of her story, Suzan finds out that the person she believed to be her father is not related to her at all. After receiving this news, she traces her roots back to New York, to look for answers and find connections.

Myla Rugge realized shortly after becoming a mother for the first time that something was missing for she and her friends. She took matters into her own hands and created one of the first events of its kind in the US. A prom just for moms.

In Part 1 of her story, Sabina recounted her family's North American road trip, and the bump in the road they experienced midway back.  Here in Part 2, after the trip turns from a road trip to a train trip, and they return home to Seattle, they learn first hand, that anything really can happen.

Last summer, Sabina, her husband and two girls, set off on a road trip from Seattle to New York, via Canada to visit family and friends.  The trip home to Seattle did not go exactly as planned...

Amy Lang, local parenting and sexual health expert, found out first hand with her husband. Shortly after her son Milo's first birthday, she and her husband set out to realize their dream of living in Mexico.

According to the National Institute of Health, pain affects more Americans than Diabetes, heart disease and Cancer combined. It is cited as the most common reason Americans access the healthcare system and it’s the leading cause of disability in the US  as well. Stay at home mom Tracy, talked with us about how living with chronic pain, affected not only her ability to participate and parent, but also her whole identity.  Tracy talks about gaining control of this situation, and coming back to be an active, loving and engaged mom.   

Down Syndrome (DS), also called Trisomy 21, is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. It affects about 1 in every 800 babies born in the United States. Sandy recounted for us her first experiences with her son, born with Downs and the steps she took to educate herself and to make the best life possible for her new baby. 

We chatted with Padmaja at our studio about her recent move to the United States with her family from Hyderabad, India, and about parenting her little one as an expat with one foot in India and the other in the US.

  Recently, we sat down to tea with a group of local grandmothers: Yaffa, Margaret and Kim, who shared their stories with us. They recalled memories of their own grandparents growing up near and far, and chatted with us about how they bridge the distance with their own grandchildren.  

  Angie discusses her experience as a teen mom and the unexpected circumstances that surrounded the birth of her first daughter.

It’s that time of year when high school seniors across the country are scurrying to finish college applications and making decisions about where they will attend. Aaron and Jack, lifelong friends and two high school seniors from Seattle, stopped to talk with us about their experiences.

  Valency and her family learned to rearrange their lives while dealing with their son's life threatening illness, becoming grateful for small victories and ultimately moving back into normal life.

  There are different roads to take to reach this destination. Audrey, a local sex educator, talked to us about the one she and her wife took. With the high cost of traditional fertility treatments, they decided to take matters into their own hands first, and enlist a little help.  

During the holiday season especially, many of us think about our own customs, beliefs and rituals, tailoring them to our own unique lives. But we often lose sight of what we’re doing and why.   Yaffa , a local grandmother of 3, reflects about how her son and daughter in law have come to observe Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) to take time off from the daily grind of work and life.

Amanda and her husband were eager to start a family. They turned to foreign adoption, and couldn’t imagine the heartbreak, surprises and love that lay ahead.