Celebrating National Infertility Awareness Week
Here are some ways people celebrated 2011 National Infertility Awareness Week:
If you want to contribute your photo and story about how you celebrated the 2011 National Infertility Awareness Week, please email mbeck@resolve.org.
"This is my first year celebrating National Infertility Awareness Week and I am so excited! I am busting myths on my Facebook page every day this week and organizing a Walk of Hope on Saturday. My team is Spinner’s Sisters. This is my first time organizing a walk and even though it’s as an iWalker since there’s no walk in MN…I hope to spread the word and get it big enough so that RESOLVE can have a ‘real’ walk in MN soon! I also volunteer at HelpLine and have so enjoyed getting involved with the RESOLVE community. Thank you so much for all that you do!!!" -- Sarah Spinner
Jenny Corbin offered a free first treatment to anyone scheduling their first acupuncture appointment to address fertility issues at Barefoot Doctor Community Acupuncture during the week!
On Monday, April 25th, Kathy Streck raised awareness by hosting a 'Sunset Zumba® Party!'
"This is my first NIAW and I am so excited! I feel like I have been taking part in something huge and grand and making difference in this crazy world. I have spent the better part of NIAW in NY for my first IVF treatment. Along with my treatment, as editor of The Ladies in Waiting Book Club, I've been working with members who have been volunteering their time and efforts to "Bust Infertility Myths" with RESOLVE. So far, we have busted myths on topics like: Stress, The Male Perspective, Adoption, Treatment, Insurance Coverage, and Blame... and we're only halfway through the week! When my husband Travis and I head back home to Atlanta, we will be walking and volunteering in the Walk of Hope Atlanta for the first time. I am also very interested in further volunteering with RESOLVE in the future. Together we are better!" -- Kimberly Nelson - Atlanta, GA
"When we found RESOLVE we never expected it would take a sad journey and turn it into such a positive one. Last year we didn't even know there was such a thing as Infertility Awareness week. I guess maybe we just never thought we'd still be experiencing infertility. Thanks to RESOLVE we started our very own awareness page. Tears and Hope started at a $250 goal, raised it again to $500, and we are now nearing our final goal of $1,000. How incredible the support! We decided it was time to open up and share the silencing word...infertility. We shared our story to a group we never thought we would, my workplace. I am a teacher and infertility is not something that comes up in conversation very often. Instead of remaining silent we thought what better of an opporunity than to make infertility known throughout the school and ask for support. I decided to ask for a day set aside to recognize infertility. All those who donated a dollar could wear jeans (we teachers get excited about that!) and pink or blue to show their support. All those who contributed a $5 or more donation would get to wear their jeans and pink or blue and receive an Infertility Awareness wristband. I was speechless when I came to school today and saw all of the pink and blue attire. Wristbands were being worn and it made me so proud to see that that word INFERTILITY was not silenced for the day. Not only is my school wearing wristbands but supporters near and far are as well. We are working hard this week to support each and every 1 in 8 couple that feel what we feel. Thank you RESOLVE for giving us this opportunity!" ~Jessica and Tim Diviney, Saint Augustine, FL
"For NIAW I have given my book "Holding your Hand through your Fertility Journey" an 80% discount!!" -- Carina Freeman
"I have decided that in order to spread the word during this week of awareness, I would bust a few myths. The myths I chose were Trying is Fun and Childless = Selfish. I have entered them in the contest as well as posted links for people to follow on Facebook. I have also created a Facebook page where the myth posts will be displayed. I hope to spread the word to others of how heart wrenching this disease is, not just due to the inability to conceive, but also due to how others perceive and judge us infertiles in today's society. I hope to open a few eyes so they can start understand the pain associated with being childless and how they could help by just understanding! Thank you for everything you do, we are truly a better community because of it." -- Jennifer Montgomery
"In honor of NIAW, I am collecting family building stories (stories of hope, courage, heartbreak, resolution, resilience, stories of those still on the journey) to share on my blog and to eventually use for a website I am creating just for this purpose. I am a professional RESOLVE member and my clinic is dedicated to Fertility and Women’s Health. Having been through my own pregnancy losses, infertility and eventually through a successful adoption, I know how much it means not to feel alone in the struggle. My dream is to create a website to inspire hope in those who are struggling so that they can connect in ways that build their resilience and nourish their spirits. I will be posting stories to my blog (http://acupuncturedenver.wordpress.com/) this week and in the coming weeks. I’d love to spread the word through RESOLVE so I can hold space for more stories and create a large resource for those needing to find courage, compassion and connection." -- Jane Gregorie, M.S., L.Ac.
“The support has been overwhelming. Every time someone "Likes" a post or makes a donation, my heart flutters a little. The majority of our support came when we set-up our "Walk of Hope Pizza and Hot Wings Fundraiser". On Saturday April 30th, we are having friends, family, and co-workers come over to our home and have pizza, wings, and beer along with a donation center for those who want to donate. We are going to start the evening by walking around our block to support everyone walking in Atlanta, GA. Then we are going to eat pizza and hang out. The response has been overwhelming. I have even had some people break the silence to me of their own personal journey.” Karen Bigham
"HAPPY NIAW!!! What a week it has been!! Tremendous and terrific!!! Wanted to let you know that our NIAW, Virtual Book Club discussing Jodi Picoult’s Sing You Home has been great fun and generated both great commentary on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/amy.demma.NIAW.bookclub as well many tweets and re-tweets on Twitter. We also were fortunate enough to have our #NIAW tweets (and the re-tweets) streamed on Jodi Picoult’s website raising awareness to her general readership. I have tweeted to Ms. Picoult’s directly asking her to make an NIAW comment, no response yet but I am hopeful! So far at the book club we have discussed IVF and mandated insurance, miscarriage and insurance w/out a pre-existing IF diagnosis, excess/residual embryo disposition and the role attorneys play in ART and alternative family formation." -- Amy Demma, Esq.
"This week, I posted a blog about NIAW at www.marklfuerst.com/blog/html, and then tweeted about it, and also posted it on the Facebook page for A Baby at Last! at http://www.facebook.com/ABabyAtLast?v=wall" -- Mark Fuerst
"I'm on 2 weeks of bed rest after my third round of IVF. I think this is a great way to spend NIAW!" -- Julia Flynn
"The Chicago, IL, Fashion for Fertility event included a luncheon & silent auction to benefit RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Attendees had the opportunity to bid on unique handbags & accessories donated by some of Chicago's top designers and local boutiques. Lunch was prepared by Four Season's Chef Kevin Hickey and the fashion was fantastic!" -- Rebecca Flick
"I have been struggling with getting pregnant for the last 6 years. The picture below is of me and my coworkers celebrating NIAW 2011 at work wearing our infertily awareness pins!" -- Tammie
