As children we’re taught to ‘show up’ for one another, to commemorate beginnings and ends- a marriage, a divorce, a milestone birthday, the passing of a loved one and the birth of a child. I have always been the type of person who reveled in those ‘show up moments;’ a connector so-to-speak who thrives off the energy of others and in bringing people together.
1 in 8 couples face infertility. It’s easy to gloss over statistics, we’re trained to do it. Well, that is until you become a ‘1’ like I did. “Who am I? This isn’t me.” I find myself repeating this in my head multiple times a day.
Infertility changed me in hard ways.
Infertility is isolating. My lows are often others highs: Mother’s Day, the Monday of a new school year, a friend’s baby shower. My niece turned 3 in April and all I could think of was the passing of another year without the cousin I had hoped she would grow up with.
Infertility is complicated. One of my last childless friends just told me she’s pregnant. And let me tell you, I’m positively thrilled for her. But you bet that didn’t stop me from having a complete and utter meltdown in the middle of the produce section.
Infertility is illogical. Those treasured relationships I mentioned earlier? Many of them are just another casualty of infertility. Friends with babies constantly making plans and of course, I feel left out when I’m not invited… But then when I am, I just think “let’s see, go to the zoo and be reminded of my failure or stay home and watch Bravo with my dog? Housewives it is.” You don’t want to hate people. You don’t. Kids are wonderful, but you also can’t contain the jealousy. I try to be positive, but it creeps up on you after months of appointments and talking about “dwindling options.”
Infertility is humiliating. Let me tell you something, there’s nothing that makes a woman feel less sexy than a defective uterus and 20 something extra pounds of ‘baby weight.’ And no, not the baby weight that actually comes with a baby at the end of it. For me it comes with lawless emotions, fatigue, nausea and who would I be if I didn’t mention the unpredictable BMs (if you know, you know).
Infertility isn’t easy to discuss. Because no one gets on Facebook and posts about it or sends a mass text to their friends, “Hey guess what? I just spent half my life savings, again, for the fourth time this year…” People don’t like being around sad people all the time, so if you’re still here, thanks, because I can’t help it. I hope not to be the token ‘sad friend’ one day.
Infertility is taxing. IVF needles. Anxiety-ridden ultrasounds. Insurance issues. Hormonal flare-ups. Financial pressure. Confusing diagnoses. Excruciating procedures. Infertility is overwhelming and all-consuming.
And the thing is that there is no ‘show up moment’ when someone you know or love is struggling with infertility because it’s month after month after month- a sometimes vicious cycle of hope and disillusion.
Infertility changed me in good ways.
Infertility has changed me in almost every respect and most of the time I hate it. But it has also made me a more empathetic, persistent and aware individual. It’s made me think more about what it means to show up for someone. For almost 3 years I’ve been contemplating how I can get back to “being me” and that starts with moving the needle by holding myself and others accountable to once again show up for one another.
Infertility made me want to show up.
About nine months ago, I was connected with Fertility Law Attorney, Rachel Loftspring after mentioning to a friend that I wanted to establish a local foundation to aid couples financially who cannot afford fertility treatments. Rachel, who had connected with a colleague in Atlanta who was already in process of bringing together a committee to explore the need locally and the community’s willingness to support it. And now it’s here!
Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF) provides financial assistance, educational awareness, and emotional support to people who have medical fertility challenges. With the support of the board and the generous donors, JFF-Atlanta has helped bring 34 babies into the world by granting over $350,000 of funds, fertility clinic discounts and loans, emotionally supported over 300 individuals experiencing infertility, and has trained over 500 communal leaders and medical professionals around infertility sensitivity.
Infertility doesn’t have to be lonely.
Myself and other JFF-CINCY volunteers, with the support of JFF staff, will work together to steward our own Fertility Buddies program, host educational events, award fertility grants in partnership with fertility clinic discounted rates, build community partnerships, and fundraise in order to meet the need of the Cincinnati community. We could not be more excited to get started and we would love for you to join us!
