I am exactly where I need to be right now, and I am going in the right direction. I trust the universe and accept all positivity and growth coming my way.

Images: Good Morning America

Eric Robison has spent the last 9 months preparing for the role of a lifetime: fatherhood.

• When Emily, his wife, got pregnant earlier this year, the duo was overjoyed at the thought of welcoming their baby girl, Carmen.
• "Every time I came home she'd be talking to Carmen [during pregnancy].” shared the twenty-three-year-old, “It was like they were best friends already."

😕Then, things took a turn... When Emily got sick in August with COVID, it progressed quickly and she was put on a ventilator as her health continued to decline.

• The hospital staff was forced to make the decision between saving Emily, who wasn’t strong enough to sustain a birth, or the baby. Carmen was born two months prematurely and immediately admitted to the NICU.

While Carmen grew stronger and stronger, Emily’s health continued to decline, and the young mother tragically lost her life last month, leaving Eric as a single father.

(Wait a second... I know you’re thinking, “Isn’t this supposed to be the Positive DONUT?")

😇 An Unexpected Angel… Because of her early birth and his daily trips to-and-from the hospital, Eric didn’t even have time to set up the nursery. So after hearing his heartbreaking story, an ICU nurse named Ashlee Schwarz, who had helped care for Emily in the hospital, wanted to do something – anything – to help.

• Ashlee searched and searched online, trying to find a registry to hopefully buy Eric a few newborn gifts for Carmen, but eventually gave up when she couldn’t find one.

That’s when she got to work.

• Ashlee quickly set up a baby registry for Eric, along with a GoFundMe page. Thanks to an incredible amount of donations, she was able to fully stock Carmen’s nursery with furniture, baby supplies, toys, and more.

"I felt so called to help," shared Ashlee. “I have told him, 'I am here for life. I will always make sure that you and Carmen always have what you need.'"

❤️ Bottom line: While nothing could fill the heartbreak of losing his wife, Eric has been blown away by the kindness of strangers, describing the entire experience as “overwhelming and truly amazing.”

• Knowing his daughter is loved by so many, Eric also added, "I can't wait until Carmen gets older and I can tell her all the support she had."

🥦 I get my broccoli just to go to the bodega.. NYC's stray felines are definitely an interesting bunch (just spend a few minutes scrolling popular Insta page @bodegacatsofinstagram and you'll see what I mean).

Carly E. from Ventnor City, NJ, is breaking boundaries and ready to step into her new title: DOCTOR Carly. 👇

• “On October 30th I will be taking my Physical Therapy boards exam to become the first Doctor in my entire family and extended family! 😊💕” she shared with us, “I am filled with gratitude for all of the support I’ve had throughout a long educational journey.”

Sometimes it’s the little things… @zayla_lee replied to our Instagram story with multiple wins from this week:

• “This mom worked out 4 days this week 💪.” she shared, “[and the] dog went to the dog park for the 1st time in 8 months 🐶!”

Lastly, Becca F. from Alabama is celebrating her little warrior’s strength with an adorable halloween costume.👇

• “My son is 3 weeks old fighting to overcome Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, and he is doing well enough that his nurses put a little Halloween costume on him 🥰🤩.”