Infertility Reminders in October
October is always a great month for me. The leaves are changing colors, there is a crispness in the Boston air and it is the month my husband and I both celebrate our birthdays – two days apart. National Infertility Week (October 19th to 25th) is another highlight as it reminds me that it was in two different October’s – two years apart – that my successful donor embryo transfers took place. My daughter and twin boys were all born in June (another important month).
My story may sound familiar; I was married, divorced and married again, when I decided that I really did want to have a family. Because I was already past 40 and felt I didn’t have time to waste, we enlisted the advice and help of a local IVF clinic. My infertility journey was long and arduous, fraught with setbacks and disappointments but we persevered. I took one step at a time and tried to stay calm within myself.
In hindsight, as I am starting my life coaching practice I have come to realize just how emotional the journey was. I wonder now how I had the strength to stay with it. I am blessed to have my three beautiful children and so thankful to the world for my gift.
Surprisingly, I thought that my infertility journey was over, but October is also the month when I receive an invoice from the IVF clinic for the storage of my unused frozen embryos. I have been thinking about what to do and I have decided that as a birthday present to myself I am going to keep them frozen for another year. I am simply not ready to discard them (destroy seems like such a harsh word) yet.
Recently there was a front page article in the LA Times discussing this very subject. What can we do with the embryos? There are a few options – donation to another couple (I am not sure if all clinics allow this), donate to research or discard.
I am 49 now and my twins are 17 months old. I am pretty sure I am not going to have a 4th child but I am also not ready to end it. Logic versus emotions. It seems so final and I am not prepared for that yet.
October 16th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Infertility Reminders in October…
National Infertility Week (October 19th to 25th) is another highlight as it reminds me that it was in two different October’s – two years apart – that my successful donor embryo transfers took place. My daughter and twin boys were all ……