When I was going through infertility tx, it was a hard fact to swallow that we were not going to be able to afford it. My heart was crushed and I was angry at how I had endometriosis causing my infertility, and yet insurance viewed it as a life-style choice. Really? Cuz I loved the fact that I couldn't do the one thing my body was supposed to do. *eye roll*
At any rate, the more I began searching out others in my same predicament, I found a community over at Stirrup-Queens full of people looking to connect. To feel they weren't alone. I felt like I was home.
Meanwhile, I didn't know many IRL that had dealt with IF or even knew what it was truly about. Except for one friend of mine, Nic. We worked together & our conversations eventually led to talking about where I was in my journey. She wasn't married & didn't want kids, yet she found my story intriguing and took it upon herself to get educated on IF. She & her boyfriend (now fiancee) decided they wanted to help. They put together a bake sale, and a BBQ sale to help raise funds.
Between those sales, our own savings, and a few other donations, we were able to afford tx! I was so touched at the outpouring of support by family, friends, co-workers, and even a fire dept (!) that I knew I would one day do something to help "pay it forward."
In October, 2010, I started a foundation, Chance to Hope, that became a non-profit in December 2010. Our goal is to give financial assistance and resources to other couples struggling like we did. We are still finding our stride, but with the help of both the internet world and real-life people (not that the internet ppl are fake, haha), we are making steady progress! We're even on Face.book & Twi.tter!
I hope that this will one day reach a national level and make a difference in the world. I want to help people hope again, and to know they have someone who cares enough to make a change.
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