Anne Sargent sat alone on her kitchen floor, tears streaming down her cheeks in the silence of midnight. It was the only time she allowed herself to feel the weight of her sorrow, the pain of being abandoned by her husband, Derek, while carrying their fourth child. Her heart ached for her unborn baby and for the three children sleeping upstairs, dependent on her for everything.
Just two months ago, Anne had been blissfully happy, anticipating the arrival of her new baby. Derek’s abrupt departure shattered that happiness, leaving her to grapple with feelings of confusion and betrayal. He had walked in one night, his face twisted with anger, and declared he was leaving. “All you did was have babies and fuss over them!” he had yelled, as if the love she poured into their family had somehow suffocated him.
Now, with limited resources and mounting bills, Anne took on a part-time job at a local grocery store, determined to provide for her children. She began selling family heirlooms to make ends meet—first the antique china, then a cherished silver brush-and-mirror set. But soon, she found herself at the end of her options, facing the heartbreaking decision to sell the vintage stroller that had been passed down through generations.
With a heavy heart, she brought the stroller to the flea market, hoping to get a few dollars for it. When a dealer offered her $50, it felt like a lifeline, albeit a small one. Little did she know, this would not be the end of the stroller’s story.
Two days later, Anne was surprised to find the stroller returned to her porch, along with an envelope containing a message from Grace, a woman who claimed to know Derek. When they met, the truth spilled out—Grace had been Derek’s girlfriend, unaware of Anne and the children. She had bought the stroller in excitement, wanting to celebrate their future family together. But when Derek learned the truth, he erupted in anger, ultimately sending Grace away.
Anne felt a mix of compassion and sorrow for Grace, who was now homeless and pregnant herself. Without hesitation, Anne offered her a place to stay, recognizing that they both needed each other. Grace’s experience with children and Anne’s need for support created an unexpected partnership.
Together, they formed a new family dynamic, sharing responsibilities and raising their children. Anne’s opportunity to manage the grocery store opened up when Grace stepped in to help with the kids after school, allowing Anne to work full-time.
As their friendship deepened, they celebrated each other’s pregnancies, supporting one another through the challenges of motherhood. When Anne’s baby was born, Grace was right there beside her, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, Derek, having struggled with his choices and relationships, eventually found his way back to Anne’s door. But when he saw the new life she had built with Grace and their children, he was met with a firm rejection. “Sorry, so not interested!” Anne declared, finally free from the shadow of his betrayal.
In this new chapter, Anne and Grace embraced their unconventional family, filled with laughter, love, and resilience. Together, they forged a path forward, proving that family can take many forms, and that support often comes from the most unexpected places.
Jaclyn Smith’s Surprising Love Story: How a Doctor Who Saved Her Father Became Her Soulmate at 51!
Jaclyn Smith, famous for her role in *Charlie’s Angels*, was married three times before she found true love with Dr. Brad Allen. Together, they faced many challenges, including her fight with cancer, which caused her a lot of worry.
In 1976, ABC launched the iconic show *Charlie’s Angels*, and Jaclyn Smith became a household name. She quickly rose to fame, and her role earned her many awards, including a Golden Globe nomination.
After *Charlie’s Angels*, Jaclyn appeared in many movies and TV shows. However, she wanted more than just a successful career. She dreamed of having a family, being married, and finding true love before starting a family. But finding the right person wasn’t easy for her.
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Jaclyn Smith was married three times before she found the right person, but her past relationships led her to the love of her life. Before becoming famous on *Charlie’s Angels*, she was married to actor Roger Davis from 1968 to 1975.
In 1976, during the time *Charlie’s Angels* was on the air, Jaclyn met her second husband when Dennis Cole guest-starred on the show. They married in 1978, but they separated in 1981. Despite the challenges, Jaclyn remained determined to find true love.
In 1981, Jaclyn married Tony Richmond, a well-known filmmaker. It seemed like she had finally found the right person to start her family. They had two children together: Gaston in 1982 and Spencer Margaret in 1985.
Being a mother became Jaclyn’s main focus. It was much more important than acting or any career. In 2017, she told People:
“The love that you have for your children, it’s like, ‘Oh my God. But this is even bigger — there are no words.”
Sadly, her relationship with their father ended, and they separated in 1989. But the fourth time was the charm. She met Dr. Brad Allen and married him in 1997. Their meeting seemed like something from a movie.
The surgeon, Dr. Brad Allen, had saved her father’s life, and after the surgery, Jaclyn’s mother encouraged him to speak with her. He later walked her to the hospital parking garage so she wouldn’t be alone.
Jaclyn fell in love with him because she saw “a purity of heart” in Allen, as she told *Closer Weekly* in 2014. Now, they are celebrating their 27th anniversary on October 11, and their love has stayed strong, showing that everyone can find the right person if they try enough times.
**Brad Allen: A Great Stepfather and Support During Cancer**
Jaclyn’s most important role is being a mother, and she’s also a grandmother now. But finding the right man meant marrying someone who could love her children, even if he wasn’t their biological father.
Brad Allen was perfect. He became a loving stepfather to Gaston and Spencer. However, their love would face a big test in 2002 that could have ended their relationship.
Jaclyn takes her health seriously and sees her doctors regularly. So, she went for a routine checkup in 2002. The doctor said they needed to do a biopsy on some of her breast tissue.
A biopsy doesn’t always mean something serious, and Jaclyn thought it would be fine. But a few days later, she was busy with errands and preparing for a trip to New York with Spencer, and didn’t expect bad news.
When Jaclyn entered the doctor’s office, she remembered the doctor asking if she “was alone.” Looking back, she said that was the first sign something was wrong. After that, the doctor gave her the news.
Jaclyn had cancer in her left breast. Luckily, it was small, and doctors found it early because she had regular mammograms. Still, hearing she had cancer was scary, and Jaclyn “panicked.”
All Jaclyn could think about was her trip to New York with her daughter, who was going to study dance with Alvin Ailey. Her daughter was still in high school, and Jaclyn was worried about both of them. Her son, who is four years older, was also on her mind.
Luckily, the doctor said her outlook was good, and they could use a gentle approach to treat it. But Jaclyn didn’t want that. She immediately asked for a mastectomy:
“I said right then, ‘Just take my breast off. I don’t want to deal with it.’ I just wanted to get it over with.”
Jaclyn later said she was not thinking clearly at the time. Her fear was too strong, and it guided her decision. That same day, she met with a surgeon. After calming down, she got in her car and called her family.
Both Brad Allen and Jaclyn’s mother didn’t want to believe the news about her cancer at first. But soon, they joined her in Los Angeles when they realized how serious it was. For Jaclyn, the hardest part was how little she knew about breast cancer.
She felt scared and couldn’t sleep, feeling overwhelmed. She was alone at the time and cried every morning during those first few days after hearing the news. “I went to a dark place. But then I read and educated myself,” Jaclyn said.
Luckily, Jaclyn was not alone in this. She had her loved ones to support her, and she also received comfort from her friends. One of her close friends, Kate Jackson, who was her co-star on “Charlie’s Angels,” had gone through breast cancer herself and helped guide her.
Once Jaclyn learned more about her condition, everything seemed clearer. The doctor told her that the cancer hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes, which made the treatment simpler. She wouldn’t need chemotherapy, which had been one of her biggest worries.
Jaclyn decided not to go through with the mastectomy. Instead, she had a lumpectomy and went through eight weeks of radiation after carefully considering her options. During this time, she was still busy with her career, working on her Kmart clothing line and home goods brand.
Jaclyn also appeared in the 2003 movie *Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle* alongside Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu. At the same time, she had a regular role on Craig T. Nelson’s show *The District*. But it wasn’t easy for her.
She explained, “I’d gone off hormones, so I did have some hot flashes. But I had so much love surrounding me, and work really made me feel good about myself too.”
Jaclyn said it was “amazing” how she went from being terrified to educating herself about the situation. In the end, she found the strength to fight for her health. She believes in facing fears head-on, a lesson she often shares with her children.
Most importantly, Jaclyn hopes everyone gets regular checkups because the best way to treat cancer is to catch it early. She shared that her mammogram the year before was perfect, with no signs of any issues. But just one year can make a big difference in your health.
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