Kayla Ross is a newly single mother of twins, Leela and Leland, in Rochester N.Y. Along with juggling the four- and five-month-olds, she is also currently working as a care manager with the chronically unhoused and attending school part time with the hopes of become a drug and alcohol counselor.

      When Kayla was born, she had severe birth defects on her legs which led her to having a multitude of surgeries and eventually having both legs amputated below the knee. The chronic pain caused by the amputations and prosthetics led doctors to prescribe OxyContin, which she became addicted to at age 17 and steered the way to her using heroin and crack cocaine. 10 years later, she eventually found a path to recovery and was inspired to help others with their recovery journey as well. “I just knew that if I wanted to change my life” she stated. “I had to help other people, and not even like, do it for them, but like, help them, help themselves.”

      For a long time, Kayla had believed that she was infertile. In 2024, she set up a consultation with a fertility doctor to begin the process of finding a donor and beginning on hormones when she discovered that she was already pregnant. The biological father had decided to not become involved, but she continued forward with the large support of her friends and family. Now, she navigates her life as both her and her babies grow and change.