Jen Perez, Red Wine & Blue’s State Program Director in Ohio shared her infertility story in our Facebook community and we hope by sharing it here that it will help others feel less alone.
Here’s what she wrote.
This week marks National Infertility Awareness Week, a time to shed light on the emotional journey many of us face when dealing with infertility. Like many in Ohio and across the country, I have experienced the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with infertility struggles. The endless appointments. The calendar just to track which days require which shots and at what times. The endless stream of month after month hoping for a positive test and seeing just one line. And on months where there was a positive test, wanting to hold my breath knowing that a miscarriage was a likely outcome. I remember feeling SO betrayed by my body that it couldn’t do this thing that it was literally built to do.
For anyone currently in the thick of it, my heart goes out to you. My journey ended 5 years ago with our last failed IVF cycle in April of 2019. In the last 5 years, the grief still ebbs and flows. I hits me hard when I least expect it. I know I’m lucky because there are plenty of people who want to be a parent and I do have one healthy kiddo in my life.
I remember when I started talking more about my own fertility struggles and miscarriages, I was shocked to learn that people I had known for years had their own stories to share. It’s my hope that as a society, we can break the taboo that surrounds infertility so people don’t feel so ALONE as they are working through their journey. I also know there are many people who aren’t comfortable sharing their story yet because it’s just too raw and emotional and heartbreaking. And that’s ok too.
As we observe National Infertility Awareness Week, my ask is that we come together to offer support, understanding, and empathy to those who are struggling with infertility. If you are going through infertility or know someone who is, please know that there is help available, and there is always hope. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a healthcare professional, counselor, or support group for guidance and support.
Together, we can raise awareness, break the stigma, and provide hope for a future where everyone has the opportunity to build the family they dream of.
-Jen
It's National Infertility Awareness Week