support Amber in her fight with uterine cancer

Hi my name is Meagan. Amber is my best friend of 21 years and counting.

Throughout Amber’s adult life she questioned if she could have a child of her own as it had never happened for her. She struggled while watching her closest friends have children. For the last two years she actively tried to bring a child of her own into the world and was unsuccessful. Earlier this year she decided to work with a fertility specialist to make those dreams come true. She was hopeful and excited about this journey. That excitement was quickly replaced with devastation when in April of this year she discovered that not only does she have uterine cancer, but that she will have to have her uterus taken out, making it impossible for her to carry her own child.

Amber’s diagnosis has come as shock to her and her loved ones. She is expected to have her hysterectomy at the end of June. Unfortunately, her job does not offer benefits or sick leave, and this will be not only be a physically and emotionally difficult time for her, but it will also be a financially difficult time for her. Recovery time is expected to be approximately 7 weeks, and she will be unable to work. As a result she will have no income throughout that time.

Despite, having to accept that she will not carry a child of her own, Amber has remained hopeful that she will be able to have a child. She has decided to continue to work with her fertility specialist and have her eggs retrieved. She will have a surrogate carry her child. Along with the support of our loved ones, Amber and I have decided that I will be her surrogate.

Unfortunately, it is costly to have her eggs retrieved and implanted. Although this can be covered under OHIP, the waitlist is two years or more, and her uterine cancer diagnosis does not impact where she stands on the waitlist. Therefore, she must retrieve her eggs before the end of June at her own cost. That cost alone is approximately $10, 000.

Currently, she is in the process of going through testing to see if she has eggs that can be retrieved. Regardless of the status of her eggs she plans to do what she can to have a child, whether that be donor eggs. Her path to having a child is unclear but it is clear it will be costly.

Anyone wo knows Amber knows that she is one of the most giving people and always ready to help others in need. I was one of those people, when twenty one years ago I was homeless and within a week she gave me a place to stay, where we shared one room together, and she didn’t even know me. Throughout the years, I have seen her do the same for others.

My goal is that there can be enough money raised for Amber to have her dream of having a child come true, as well as having enough money for her to cover her expenses while she is covered.

Thank you to everyone in advance for reading Amber’s story.