Infertility Mix-up

On September 26, 2009 Carolyn Savage gave birth to a healthy baby boy after receiving infertility treatments. For most families that is where the story would end, except Savage gave birth to a baby boy who genetically was someone else's baby. According to news reports, she has given the baby to his genetic parents.

A few years ago, I went through the entire nine yards of infertility treatments. I started with a lousy clinic in Illinois and moved on to a good clinic in Wisconsin. I wanted a child so much that for three long years, it was my only focus. Cheryl and I made decisions based on the idea that we would have a child to love in our lives. I had artificial insemination - six of those - and on three occasions, I had in vitro fertilization. None of these nine procedures produced a child.

We had to make the decision, do we keep going with the treatments or do we stop? We were over $17,000 in debt and our marriage was on the brink of failure due to the stress this placed on us. Add in that the doctors weren't sure if my body could even handle another go around, we had to stop. I was devastated. My heart was broken in places I didn't even know it could break. I mourn the loss of those last two embroyos. The doctors had thought they were our best chance for a child. Had I been able to carry them, they would've been two years old come November. My heart aches every Mother's Day.

I bring this up because when I read the story of Carolyn Savage my very first thought was I could never give up a child I had carried to term. Nothing short of armed guards could've pried that baby from me. And, yet, there she is, passing a child she has grown to love over to another woman. I admire Savage's commitment to giving the child to his biological, DNA-related parents. I am nearly positive that had the clinic we used called and said we've given you the wrong embroyo, I would've hung up the phone, changed my name and moved out of state. You truly have to have a great faith in a higher power to be able to give up a child to his or her rightful parents. I am willing to bet not many childless women would be willing to do the same.

I realize that Carolyn Savage has other children, but giving up a child is not an easy decision. She had an opportunity to terminate the pregnancy and she didn't. To carry a child that you know isn't yours and you can't keep is a very unselfish act.

My heart goes out to these two families. I hope that little boy grows up with the opportunity to know his birth mother. She is someone worth knowing.

God Bless

The New Baby and Groceries

So, Cheryl is out of town because on Thursday the newest member of our family was born (pictures below). Unfortunately, even though I have a terrific boss who would've let me be off to be there, I'm not, and that is because of my knee surgery. This will haunt me for a long time that I missed the birth of my third grandson. Sending flowers to Kim and a teddy bear to Nicholas just doesn't cut it in my mind. Luckily for me, Cheryl didn't have to drive there by herself and she didn't have to miss the birth to watch the boys because Dad took her up to Green Bay. He stayed at the house, while Dustin and Cheryl accompanied Kim to the hospital.

But, if I can leave behind the joy of having little Nicholas enter the world (on the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, I might add) for just a moment and get back to the subject of me. I'd like to whine. While my knee hasn't been hurting too much since my surgery yesterday, but that could just be because of the pain killers they gave me at the hospital, I miss being able to do easy things. My leg is completely wrapped from mid-thigh to the bottom of my foot and I have instructions that I can't take this off. (I confirmed this with the on-call doctor last night.) My doctor likes to ensure the minimal of swelling as possible, so this wrap won't come off until Monday. This means I can't do anything. I can get to the bathroom and maybe cook something, but I didn't realize how helpless I would be.

Now, some of my friends have said take the wrap off -- I've had the same surgery and you don't need it. And, while I appreciate their advice, I don't really like ignoring my doctor -- mainly because I want to be able to return to work on Tuesday. And, because I don't want to have to go through this again. Now, I'm not taking the pain medication my doctor prescribed. I don't like the goofy feeling I get when taking it.

Then, when I awoke at five this morning, it dawned on me. We don't have any food in the house, so I need to go to the store. I can't shop on crutches and I can't get a shoe on my left foot. And, I hate to depend on other people. It kills me to have to do that! It is at a moment like this when I truly miss Cheryl! Or, perhaps, I should've been better prepared and gone shopping Thursday night! :0

Anyway, God Bless and enjoy the below pictures.

Cheryl and Danny.

Cheryl and Nicholas

Danny, Dustin, Alex and Nicholas.

Danny and Nicholas.

Grandpa and Nicholas.

As Promised...

Here is the first picture of my new niece and her mommy. We went to see them both this weekend and she is just the cutest little thing!
God Bless!