This year in Personal Journeys we told stories about people who have overcome devastating health challenges, from the victim of a horrifying motorcycle accident to a man’s death-defying battle with sepsis.

We have told stories of extraordinary people dedicated to making life better for others, including a woman who’s turning apartment complexes into communities and a grandmother doing her best to raise five grandchildren on a limited income.

And we have told stories about people who, despite the odds, are so determined to achieve their goals that they will never give up like the retired private detective who is still haunted by a case he has yet to solve.

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez