Big Things

Categories: Education, Family, Health, Infertility, Life, Politics
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One month from today I will defend my doctoral dissertation. The entire thing is written and is now going through a very thorough shredding also known as “revising.” I am very excited to be approaching this point. I began my doctoral studies just over 5 years ago. It was about 7 years ago I seriously started to think I’d be the type of person to go for a Doctorate after a Masters degree. It’s been a long hard road. Finishing is going to be huge.

Oddly though, getting my doctorate will not be the biggest thing I do in 2013. And trust me, there’s not much bigger than getting a doctorate.

Fifteen months into our marriage we became one of the 1 in 8 couples in the United States officially diagnosed infertile. Over the next almost two years I underwent many different tests and procedures as we attempted to both isolate the cause and find a treatment to overcome this medical condition. As you might imagine, it could make for a very long story. The results though are that it is primarily caused by my extensive endometriosis and the only way we’ve been able to overcome it is with in-vitro fertilization. And even then we’ve suffered two miscarriages and three failed attempts before getting to the point where we are at right now, expecting a baby girl the first half of July.

What an amazing world we live in that has such incredible medical advances that make our daughter possible. I will be forever grateful for the technology that gives our daughter the right to exist.

Which is why I have a hard time understanding how people like Arizona State Senator Ward can make comments like she does at 2:00 minutes into this clip.


KPHO: AZ Embryo Tracking Bill Moves Forward

Senator Ward and the other sponsors of Arizona State Senate Bill 1376 claim to be pro-life, but their actions could lead to it being illegal for others like our daughter to have life. Our daughter, who has a beautifully beating heart, who kicks more when she hears her dad talking when he gets home from work, had no right to be created according to these state Senators. I am pro-life, especially the life of my daughter, a result of in-vitro fertilization.

The wording of the bill is innocent enough. They want to duplicate the reporting already done to the CDC (and a little more) and then create a committee to study the need for more regulations on the creation of life. If they did not feel there was need to regulate it they would not need such a committee. The passage of this bill could potentially make it impossible for the siblings of our daughter to continue to grow. Earlier this month North Dakota considered regulations that would have made it impossible for our daughter to be on her way, regulations that went against the current research on in-vitro fertilization. The passage of this bill in Arizona could be a stepping stone to such regulations in this state.

Senator Gail Griffin is our state senator, and one of the sponsors of the bill. We are writing her and calling her office to let her know her constituents do not all support her actions and to tell her about the negative implications this bill could have on our family.

If you live in Arizona, please let your state senator know you do not support this bill (find your senator). If you do not live in Arizona, please contact our state senator and let her know her actions could negatively affect our family and the lives of our children. The senate vote on this bill could happen as early as next week.

Related:
The effect of SB1376 on our family – 25 February 2013
IVF – What it is, and why it isn’t the same as abortion – 27 February 2013
Imagine your children – 1 March 2013
Hope – 8 March 2013

10 shared thoughts about Big Things

  1. mama g says:
    Giggle

    Wow, her comment about embryos made me gasp.

    Reply
  2. Brett says:
    Giggle

    “…claim to be pro-life, but their actions could lead to it being illegal for others like our daughter to have life.” Well said. :brett:

    Reply
  3. Denice says:
    Giggle

    Good Grief! Does the government want its fingers in every pie? Where did they get this wild idea anyway?

    Reply
  4. Whitney says:
    Giggle

    First of all, CONGRATULATIONS with a BIG HUGE VIRTUAL HUG on expecting your baby girl! Seeing all that you have been through, I could not be happier for another person right now, even though we are only blog friends, I have been hoping and praying to hear news like this from you!!!
    As far as this bill in concerned it is maddening! Good for you for contacting your local government leaders. People like this obviously have not had to endure the same trial as you, they have no idea what it feels like or what they are even talking about, let alone the patient/doctor relationship and PERSONAL, so so so PERSONAL experiences that occur during fertility treatments!!

    Reply
  5. Pingback, 7 March 2013 at 6:02 pm
    Hope | Ooh Shemo

  6. Giggles says:
    Giggle

    I just found out that the full senate will not be voting on the bill as they had planned, effectively killing the bill. Happy tears! :woot:

    I’m not sure exactly how that would happen but it probably means the supporters decided it wasn’t in their best interest to support it and alienate the 12% of voters who deal with infertility and the untold percentage of voters who care about them. :ribbon:

    Reply
  7. Pingback, 24 April 2013 at 7:03 am
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  8. Pingback, 15 July 2013 at 9:55 am
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  9. Pingback, 5 February 2014 at 12:17 pm
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