Join the Movement... I did!

Four years ago I met the man of my dreams. Three years ago we decided we wanted to start a family. Today, we are still barren and fighting infertility.

In the past three years we have been through ups and downs, laughter and tears, desperation and contentment.

We have felt isolated and included, forgotten and remembered, tested and safe.

We have become stronger and more connected than ever.

Through it all one thing remains constant; the love and support we have received from loved ones and from complete strangers. Support from infertiles and fertile myrtles, from people who understand the desire to be a parent and from those who desire a life child-free. I am forever grateful for the endless support, prayers and love.

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. NIAW is a week dedicated to bringing information about infertility to the public created by Resolve. Every year they have a theme. This year the theme is 'Join The Movement'.  

  This is how I have joined the movement. 

I started my blog in December of last year after a few months of resting between treatments. The blog was meant to be a way for me to process and grieve. It was a place for me to document my thoughts, feelings, doubts and fears as we struggled to conceive. Little did I know that I would gain so much more that that!

I have noticed that since I started this blog I have had fewer dark days. I am able to see the bright side of this battle. I am able to see that I am not alone and that my disease, the disease of PCOS, and infertility is not as uncommon as many believe.

I remember when we first started our treatments. I remember the 4 or 5 rounds of Clomid. I remember the horrible side effects. I remember fighting with my husband over timed intercourse. I remember feeling so broken and alone and desperate.

I don't feel that way anymore. I am not alone and while my body might be broken, and Clomid still sucks, I am not broken enough to be defeated. And I am most definitely NOT alone

This blog has helped me to reach out, connect and share my story. 

I am a very open person and I find that to be a gift. I am able to share my thoughts, fears and hopes with the world. Some people who are fighting the same battle are unable to speak out. Infertility is a sensitive subject for so many of us; it is a very painful one. It affects more than just your ability to conceive. Infertility plays tricks on you. It will make you mean, angry, jealous and bitter. I know that I have a hard time dealing with pregnancy announcements and baby bump updates. It is not that I am angry or unhappy for them, it is that my pain is so strong that their happiness reminds me of something I may never have. 

 In my attempts to find peace in this journey I strive to touch the lives of others; including those who are not battling infertility.  I not only started this blog, but I started a Facebook page for this blog. I try to keep the public, friends, and family updated with informational articles and touching stories. I advocate for the infertile community.

I don't want to be defined as "infertile", even if that is what I am. I want to be defined as inspirational and motivating and strong.

I have committed myself to being an advocate for infertility today, tomorrow and always. There may come a day when I get to join the "Mommy Group" and if/when that day comes, I promise to never forget where it was that I started. I will promise to advocate for infertility as I do for those battling domestic violence. I promise to all my infertile sisters and brothers, that I will fight for you. I will speak up and out about the struggles we face. It is not an inconvenience; it is a reproductive disorder. 



You can join us in the movement! 

You don't have to start a blog, you don't have to understand the ins and outs on infertility. You don't have to understand my abbreviations. You just have to care.

Here are some simple ways you can help bring awareness to the world this week:

Change your cover photo to one of these great images for the week:

 http://theinfertilityvoice.com/niaw-2013/

OR 

Post a photo like this on your timeline

It really IS that simple!

For more information on infertility please visit:

• http://www.resolve.org/infertility101  (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
• http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)