Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Don't ignore...

...the opportunity to reach out to those who might be dealing with infertility.

It's National Infertility Awareness Week and while I try not to make this blog all about that part of our life, it's a very real struggle.  

Because infertility affects 1 in 8 couples who are trying, I'm surrounded by people dealing with the same challenge, even while often feeling very alone.  I've gotten better at opening up just a tiny bit and being on alert for clues, because I want to be someone who can offer support where needed.  Questions like "are you trying to have kids" or "are you planning to have kids" are really personal and can be painful, so I try to offer up info about myself first.

Sometimes this makes me feel like an idiot.  A few weeks ago I guessed a woman at church might be in the same boat and then learned she and her husband aren't even wanting to have kids yet, and I felt stupid for having reached out to her.  But ultimately it's good because she knows if she is ever struggling to conceive, she can talk to me.

Sometimes I find common ground with a complete stranger.  One night I was waiting in line for a concert and ended up having a conversation with a woman about the side effects of Clomid and what our next attempts would be.  Suddenly the concert hall doors opened and I never saw her again, but I still pray for her sometimes.

Reaching out to others offers the opportunity to establish a supportive community and share information (in a tactful way!) that could be immensely helpful.  

I created this video partly as a way to express myself and partly as an opportunity to reach out.  My turn will come!



http://www.resolve.org/infertility101  (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)

8 comments:

HunsakerMama said...

You definintely have come a long way in reaching out to others over the past few years since I have known you. What a great video you made, and so brave to share it with us all! You are so inspiring! Love ya!

Danna said...

Thanks for including little Leili! We all love you and you are always in my constant prayers. Your strength amazes me and I think your awesome! XO

Lena said...

This is such a touching video. I truly hope your time is near. You are amazing! We all love you so much!!

Unknown said...

XOXO, proud of you. :)

Amy said...

Such a hard thing to discuss because it is so close to the heart. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

GinaJ said...

Cherish, I wish you could have children -- you already have such a mother heart. I can imagine how blessed such children will be when your turn comes. I will keep you in my prayers. It seems I know so many people who struggle or have struggled with infertility (one now has more children than I do -- there's an irony), and I know it hurts, but I don't know what to say to be helpful, because I'm terrified of being inadvertently hurtful. Thank you for sharing somewhat of your experience. Hopefully, that will allow me to magnify your reaching out by having more helpful things to say in my opportunities to reach out.

Lollipop Goldstein said...

Powerful rewriting of that song with those images (and you have a beautiful voice).

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