On Saturday, September 21, 2013 we will be participating in RESOLVE‘s Walk of Hope 2013 in Northern California.

We are so honored that some of our friends & family have decided to join us on this walk. We are walking to support Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Awareness.

About the Walk

The mission is simple—to find a voice for the 1 in 8 couples battling infertility and bring this disease out of the shadows.

The Walk of Hope is a day to recognize the many ways in which families are built. People of all ages can participate as a walker or donor and raise awareness of how the disease of infertility impacts families nationwide. Funds raised from the Walk support local programming which includes support groups and educational events, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy efforts to ensure all family building options are available to all.

With your help, RESOLVE will continue to:

• – offer hope to the 7.3 million Americans suffering with infertility
• – provide RESOLVE events and support programs to the 1 in 8 couples diagnosed with infertility
• – ensure that all family building options are available to all.
• – break the silence of infertility. 
  

Other facts:

• – More than 776,000 people in California are impacted by infertility.
• – There are only 19 support groups in northern California.
• – California has an insurance mandate that covers infertility treatment.
  (Personal Note: But employers aren’t obligated to choose a health plan that covers treatment and it does not include coverage for IVF, in my case, I have zero coverage for infertility treatments, not even to continue to diagnose my Recurrent Pregnancy Loss).

(Source: RESOLVE.org, Walk of Hope)

My Story

My husband and I have dealt with Infertility for many years. In addition to this, we have also dealt with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. One without the other is incredibly difficult. Together, it’s almost unbearable at times.

Our son Leo was a spontaneous pregnancy; a miracle really. Combined, I’ve dealt with Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss for over 15 years. Over the course of that time, I’ve undergone fertility, or Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments that ranged from ovulation induction medication, intrauterine inseminations (IUI), InVitro Fertilization (IVF) with Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) and countless poking, prodding, injections, blood work, ultrasounds, and visits to doctors. Oh, and acupuncture, lucky socks, fertility charms, baby dust (glitter!), birthday candle wishes, wishes on shooting stars and countless other things to keep hope alive.

I was lucky to have found a very good support system all those many years ago. Many of the women that I’ve met along my journey are still my friends. I’ve watched countless go through heartache after heartache as their own journeys to parenthood evolved. I’ve also seen so many children be born or find a way into the lives of these women and their families.

For many, the sting of Infertility will live with them for a lifetime. Even having a child come into your life cannot erase the journey that got you there, but it can make your outcome so much sweeter. So much more appreciated.

It’s organizations like RESOLVE that are out there to fight for our reproductive health choices and family building options.

If you are local to the Sacramento, CA area, walk with us. Join Team XO on September 21, 2013.

If you aren’t local, consider a donation, however small, to help this organization keep doing the good work that they do. They’re speaking for so many whose voice is not heard.

P.S. The top image is part of a T-Shirt I’m designing for Team XO!