Rodrigo and Joy

This question keeps getting asked of me. Why a transplant, why not IVF? The reason is simple, because having your ovaries shut down for any reason decades before you would normally go into menopause makes you lose more than your fertility. The symptoms of menopause still apply even if you were 17 or 27 or 47 when it happens, decrease in hormones, risk of osteoporosis (which I have), decrease in libido, decrease in the functions associated with having an active system. It is hard to go from being an active vital young woman to the alterations caused by this change. I am sure its hard when it happens at the age it is supposed to happen. No woman should have to go through that after a battle with cancer or some other illness that would rob her of the function of her ovaries. Dr. Silber is creating a path for women to take so they do not have to suffer this. Part of the reason for this blog is to spread the word to women who might be facing this. There is hope, there is always hope. as a cancer victor I know this better than most. even when it feels like all is lost there is a silver or in this case a Silber lining ( sorry had to do it)

When I went through my cancer treatment they told me what would happen to my ovaries, it was devastating. It was harder to face than the cancer. I knew I could win over the cancer, but I didn’t know how to win over the infertility. My amazing sisters Becky and Maeapple both offered to give me eggs so that I could have children. And that is what we would have done if Dr Silber hadn’t come along with his awesome pioneering new technique. But what he can do has given me so much more back than just my fertility. It is my connection to my womanhood, my vitality and the chance to have a family of my own. For that I am eternally grateful.

as we get more media attention I am noticing how they are focusing on myself and Maeapple.  I just wanted to shine the light on Rodrigo for a minute.  Without him none of this would be possible.  He has worked so hard to see this through.  He is the one who did all the paperwork, all the phone calls and scheduling, all the trip planning, making sure we did all the tests and got everything to the right place.  He has been absolutely amazing.  I read his posts and am so moved by this man I fell in love with a little more than three years ago, he has a way of showing his heart that is so tender and so full of love. The way he can put down how he is feeling is so expressive and beautiful.  sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am.  He is a truly amazing man and I know he will be an amazing father.  I am so happy to know that I get to have children with this man, this incredible man.

Thank you my Love

One of the things we wanted from taking this on is also to get the word to other families out there that are going through similar situations like ours. I found Dr. Silber by watching TV, and if not for that, I am not sure how much longer it would have taken to find him. We spoke with other doctors locally about doing this procedure, and they said they where not ready to take this kind of work on.
Today the St. Louis Post dispatch printed an article about Dr. Silber and his work, along with Joy and Maeapple’s case. Click on the image below to read it.

Arrive back home Saturday, and Kish and Wendy picked us up from the airport. Thank you very much you two!!
We have been adjusting to being back home, and its so nice to be back in the warm SF weather St. Louis never got above 29 or so while we were there.
Joy is doing really well, a lot more movement and somewhat less sore. The sneezing and coughing are still really painful. Stairs are still a bit painful too.
She cannot drive for one more week, so i get to drive her around.

Just starting to get ready to come home now. Need to all our luggage packed and ready to go. It has been such a journey, in such a short period of time. In a way it feels like culmination of a bunch of work, like we have reached some kind of finish line. I keep on feeling elated, and happy, and euphoric. At the same time i know this is just the beginning of our path to creating our family. I use to get scared and doubtful about having children, but lately i just get excited. I still have many many moments/questions of “what will i do when they do that??” or “how can i make sure i teach them the right thing?” or a thousand other questions that i don’t have the answer to, but now i am filling with knowing that this path is our path, and with all our friends and family, miracles are not the exception, but more of the rule. What i am realizing is that I for the first time can say, i feel ready (never though i could say that).
This week I have also been thinking quite a bit about community and family. I have had so many ideas about what each of those are. This week’s experience distilled this for me to this simple concept.
Community and family are the people that love you, and will love you through whatever path you take.
How that unfolds is unique to each person, each of you know hows you love.
I can’t wait to be home.

The week has just flown by and sometimes its hard to believe that its over but every time I move I am reminded there is a miracle inside of me, that is now a part of me. I feel so blessed because the universe has given us everything we asked for. My husband has been taking such good care of me, just loving me in every way possible, worrying about me, fussing over me. Today we get to go home, I can’t wait to see my friends and my cats and be surrounded by the love and support that made this possible.