- K
- L
At this time, we are keeping this "campaign" private among our closest allies. Feel free to share privately - but no social media posts, please.
Hello friends and family!
One week from today I will be one of three Georgians in Washington, D.C., advocating on the hill for RESOLVE's Advocacy Day. For coverage that actually assists families and veterans. For the recognition that infertility is a disease. For preservation and prevention options that don't exclude eager parents based on their income or lifestyle choices. For adoption regulations that support healthy practices and unite deserving families.
I'm taking a stand. For my family. For others. For myself.
Why? Because what we are going through hardly measures up to what others have to overcome. Somehow I can. And I will. For them.
In November, my lovely acupuncturist remarked on my capacity in the face of all that has transpired. Her words struck me. Perhaps capacity is my super power? Hold my injection pen! I've been putting it to the test - writing, volunteering for RESOLVE's hotline, and looking toward starting my own support group this summer. Advocacy Day is the catalyst for so much more to come!
Carl and I have come to this decision on our own, yet several of our biggest supporters have offered small contributions to help offset the cost of my trip so that our dollars are earmarked for the next hopeful steps in our infertility care. Our deepest thanks to those who remind us we are not alone. YOUR capacity to stay with us in this fight is one of our greatest motivators on what have been some truly devastating days. For that, we are humbled and grateful.
...........................................................................................................................
It Ain't Over Till It's Over: As many of you are aware, Carl and I have been navigating unexplained infertility for the better part of the last six years. Four surgeries, oh so many shots, and three unsuccessful IUI cycles in and we're still not out of the game. We so desperately want to be parents and we continue to feel motivated to explore every possible option. We have decided, with the aid of new IVF coverage in our 2019 insurance plan, to do our homework and consider IVF. This process is daunting emotionally and financially. A year ago, this pursuit outside of coverage wouldn't have been an option for us. I can hardly believe the words as I'm typing them now.
I use the term "IVF coverage" loosely. Sure, coverage in any form is amazing. Thanks, Emory! The reality is - not even my insurance company can give me or my RE's office consistent, correct, and updated information. Believe me when I say it is a true nightmare. And it has to stop.
A Turning Point, April 2018: After the absolute roller-coaster of our first failed IUI cycle in late March 2018, I received the news we had been dreading. Two words summed up the next 6 months - scar tissue. @#*! Again?!?!
I underwent two more surgeries (hysteroscopy) in May and September. I began acupuncture in August. The last procedure was the most successful yet! Hallelujah! We were delighted to be able to try IUI (insemination) again in October (on our anniversary) and November (on Thanksgiving Day - to my greatest delight). Both failed. At the advice of our doctor we opted to take a break. Catch our breath. Heal. Continue acupuncture. The amount of hormones I was injecting took its toll. The dollars, the appointments, the scans, the results, the highs and lows... there's only so much you can handle without a breather.
That day last April was a real rock-bottom moment. I was feeling exceptionally low and defeated. Thankfully, that evening I took to social media and discovered it was National Infertility Awareness Week spearheaded by RESOLVE - the National Infertility Association. I knew in an instant I had to share my experience. I spent the next few days posting and researching and interacting with people experiencing infertility. I found so much hope and inspiration in their willingness to speak out. We still don't talk about this enough. How hard it is. What to say. When to ask. How lonely if feels. How devastating it can be. How broken. How no one asks for this. How nothing is at fault. It just "is". Nope. Not good enough for this gal! And here I am - days away from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
ART, ACCESS, ADVOCACY An Infertility Photovoice Project : Photo submissions from each state will be presented in meetings with state Reps and Senators (more likely their advisory staff) on Advocacy Day. At the time of our submissions on Sunday, we were the only participants from Georgia.
Pictured below - the first of many needles. The one that took me over 20 minutes to administer. The one that made me say out loud to no one, "It didn't hurt at all!" That moment alone with that first injection has become my internal battle cry of sorts. I never expected to feel so empowered by something I never expected to endure. I never expected to discover my capacity in the abyss of infertility. Are we scared? You bet. Will it hurt? Probably - but maybe not in the ways we imagine. Are we going to go through with it anyway? Absolutely! And we just may surprise ourselves again on the other side of these next few months.
Thank you for your continued support, hope, prayers, and cheers in all forms!
Learn all you like about RESOLVE and Advocacy Day at resolve.org. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram @clrc1021. Please, please, please - take a few minutes to learn something new about infertility! I also enjoy Infertility Illustrated - her work is incredibly insightful. @infertilityillustrated
We will keep you posted on our family progress and I'll absolutely document every second of my time hitting the hill!
Until then, all our love -
Carl and Carrie Christie
Hello friends and family!
One week from today I will be one of three Georgians in Washington, D.C., advocating on the hill for RESOLVE's Advocacy Day. For coverage that actually assists families and veterans. For the recognition that infertility is a disease. For preservation and prevention options that don't exclude eager parents based on their income or lifestyle choices. For adoption regulations that support healthy practices and unite deserving families.
I'm taking a stand. For my family. For others. For myself.
Why? Because what we are going through hardly measures up to what others have to overcome. Somehow I can. And I will. For them.
In November, my lovely acupuncturist remarked on my capacity in the face of all that has transpired. Her words struck me. Perhaps capacity is my super power? Hold my injection pen! I've been putting it to the test - writing, volunteering for RESOLVE's hotline, and looking toward starting my own support group this summer. Advocacy Day is the catalyst for so much more to come!
Carl and I have come to this decision on our own, yet several of our biggest supporters have offered small contributions to help offset the cost of my trip so that our dollars are earmarked for the next hopeful steps in our infertility care. Our deepest thanks to those who remind us we are not alone. YOUR capacity to stay with us in this fight is one of our greatest motivators on what have been some truly devastating days. For that, we are humbled and grateful.
...........................................................................................................................
It Ain't Over Till It's Over: As many of you are aware, Carl and I have been navigating unexplained infertility for the better part of the last six years. Four surgeries, oh so many shots, and three unsuccessful IUI cycles in and we're still not out of the game. We so desperately want to be parents and we continue to feel motivated to explore every possible option. We have decided, with the aid of new IVF coverage in our 2019 insurance plan, to do our homework and consider IVF. This process is daunting emotionally and financially. A year ago, this pursuit outside of coverage wouldn't have been an option for us. I can hardly believe the words as I'm typing them now.
I use the term "IVF coverage" loosely. Sure, coverage in any form is amazing. Thanks, Emory! The reality is - not even my insurance company can give me or my RE's office consistent, correct, and updated information. Believe me when I say it is a true nightmare. And it has to stop.
A Turning Point, April 2018: After the absolute roller-coaster of our first failed IUI cycle in late March 2018, I received the news we had been dreading. Two words summed up the next 6 months - scar tissue. @#*! Again?!?!
I underwent two more surgeries (hysteroscopy) in May and September. I began acupuncture in August. The last procedure was the most successful yet! Hallelujah! We were delighted to be able to try IUI (insemination) again in October (on our anniversary) and November (on Thanksgiving Day - to my greatest delight). Both failed. At the advice of our doctor we opted to take a break. Catch our breath. Heal. Continue acupuncture. The amount of hormones I was injecting took its toll. The dollars, the appointments, the scans, the results, the highs and lows... there's only so much you can handle without a breather.
That day last April was a real rock-bottom moment. I was feeling exceptionally low and defeated. Thankfully, that evening I took to social media and discovered it was National Infertility Awareness Week spearheaded by RESOLVE - the National Infertility Association. I knew in an instant I had to share my experience. I spent the next few days posting and researching and interacting with people experiencing infertility. I found so much hope and inspiration in their willingness to speak out. We still don't talk about this enough. How hard it is. What to say. When to ask. How lonely if feels. How devastating it can be. How broken. How no one asks for this. How nothing is at fault. It just "is". Nope. Not good enough for this gal! And here I am - days away from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
ART, ACCESS, ADVOCACY An Infertility Photovoice Project : Photo submissions from each state will be presented in meetings with state Reps and Senators (more likely their advisory staff) on Advocacy Day. At the time of our submissions on Sunday, we were the only participants from Georgia.
Pictured below - the first of many needles. The one that took me over 20 minutes to administer. The one that made me say out loud to no one, "It didn't hurt at all!" That moment alone with that first injection has become my internal battle cry of sorts. I never expected to feel so empowered by something I never expected to endure. I never expected to discover my capacity in the abyss of infertility. Are we scared? You bet. Will it hurt? Probably - but maybe not in the ways we imagine. Are we going to go through with it anyway? Absolutely! And we just may surprise ourselves again on the other side of these next few months.
Thank you for your continued support, hope, prayers, and cheers in all forms!
Learn all you like about RESOLVE and Advocacy Day at resolve.org. Follow along on Facebook and Instagram @clrc1021. Please, please, please - take a few minutes to learn something new about infertility! I also enjoy Infertility Illustrated - her work is incredibly insightful. @infertilityillustrated
We will keep you posted on our family progress and I'll absolutely document every second of my time hitting the hill!
Until then, all our love -
Carl and Carrie Christie