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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

More about Story Corps,PS-also check out Davis Isay's book "MOM".



STEP 1: MAKE A RESERVATION

Think of a person whose stories you would like to hear, or someone who might like to ask about yours, like a grandparent, sibling, or friend. Thenfind the location nearest you and reserve an appointment online or by phone.

STEP 2: PREPARE FOR YOUR SESSION

Read what to expect and visit our great questions page.

STEP 3: RECORD YOUR STORY

Bring your friend or loved one to the StoryCorps recording facility. Our trained staff will explain the process, make you feel comfortable, and sit with you during your 40-minute session. At the end of your session, you’ll receive a free broadcast-quality CD to share with to family and friends, and a second copy will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

MORE WAYS TO RECORD YOUR STORY

Do-It-Yourself Interviews Download our free and easy to use Do-It-Yourself Instruction Guide and learn how to record interviews and start your own family archive at home.

StoryKit Program Individuals and families can rent portable recording equipment packages called StoryKits to record interviews at home.

Door-to-Door ServiceOrganizations and institutions can sponsor on-site recordings at the location of their choice through our Door-to-Door Service.

PS-also check out Davis Isay's book "MOM".

Interview Questions for Egg Donors

Here's one from the producer of the film Eggsploitation on her CBC website: 


Lahl: Do you know if you have children out there?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

A Reply About The Definition of Eggsploitation.

Thanks to Halle who writes,"That's a great definition if I tied the donor up for a few weeks, injected her myself with meds and then stole her eggs and threw her in the street."

Where to find the definition of eggsploitation

http://www.esbtrib.com/news/award-winning-documentary-eggsploitation-screened-at-the-king-s-college-1.1968817

A Conversation with Nancy Block of the Donor Network Alliance on the Film Eggsploitation and the upcoming Radio Show

Thanks to Nancy for sharing her thoughts with me before Thursday's Show on Voice America with Theresa Erickson. We'll be on at 2PM EST to talk about the film Eggsploitation. 

Here's what Nancy wrote to me:

Let me put a few things into words if I may
 
From a medical perspective as a former OB, infertility and gyne Oncology nurse I feel for those who have such heartache getting and keeping a pregnancy. When we interview a donor, it may seem as though we are trying to talk them out of donating. We point out the pro's and cons.

I have in my posession some incredible letters written by donors to their past IP's. I have letters from donors who chose to donate more than once for the same family so their children would have their own connection. The thoughts that are expressed by these young women are amazing and very well thought out and mature. Women today are much more goal oriented than I was at their age. They have a "bucket list" of things to do before they think about having a family. They want to be prepared and ready and also continue their education while doing something fulfilling for others.

I can't explain why it happens but when the IP's and donors send notes to each other (through the agency anonymously) they find their connection with each other and that keeps them going. NOT the money. Anyone can go to the doctor's office and have vaginal ultrasounds and blood work but when a donor has heard from her IP, a simple thank you even, keeps donors going and stay on task and feel there really is a person waiting. Not just a tech in the doctors office.
 
I am a mother, never thought about anything other than getting married and having children after nursing school. Why should anyone be denied that option?  Why can't someone make a family whole?

We live in the United States of America where we cherish our freedom...how can these people continue to argue what someones feelings are? Even if I didn't do this type of work, I would still be supportive. We have to speak up for those that have never had a family member or close friend or patient experience the loss of being able to have a healthy pregnancy and baby.
 
Hope this helps in some way.
Nancy Block, Donor Network Alliance    egg411@gmail.com

Yes Nancy, it does help. Thanks for sharing this with us. I wish we had done more to thank our donor personally at the time, and had the kind of correspondence that you mention. I know she was cared for medically and treated respectfully by our clinic and that our appreciation for what she did to help us to try to start our family was conveyed to her nonetheless.

The Surrogacy Lawyer Radio Program Presents Moving Beyond Eggsploitation: Setting the Record Straight About Egg Donation

SAN DIEGO, March 30, 2011: Since Eggsploitation’s release in 2010 by the Center for Bioethics and Culture, a conservative organization opposing assisted reproduction, the infertility field has been trying to gauge its effect. Is the sensational, one-sided film just another attack on infertility patients’ access to care that is no more than a passing phase or will it have a lasting impact on how the public perceives egg donation?

On Thursday, March 31 episode of The Surrogacy Lawyer: Your Guide to IVF and Third Party Family Building, host Theresa Erickson, Esq., and her guests will be discussing the allegations Eggsploitation makes about donor moms, egg donors and the entire infertility profession. She will be interviewing Marna Gatlin, founder of Parents Via Egg Donation; Sara Axel, donor mom and coordinator of the NYC Gathering Spot; a California egg donor; and John Hesla, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist at Oregon Reproductive Medicine.

Eggsploitation claims that donor egg moms, described as rich older women “who can buy what they want, just like another commodity,” exploit younger women, “the anonymous donors.” Another assertion perpetuated by the film is that egg donors are seemingly coerced into donating, lured by the “big” money of compensation, and are not educated about the risks they will be taking, thus exposing themselves to major health concerns.

“Despite its over-the-top imagery and one-sided depiction of egg donation, many in the infertility professional and patient communities feel that something good will evolve from discussing the issues the documentary raises. We are not disputing the horrific experiences described by the young women profiled and we empathize with their physical and emotional pain,“ says attorney Erickson. “But we also are cognizant of the larger agenda the Eggsploitation producers have about reproductive medicine. As a former egg donor and now as a third party reproduction specialist, I want to insure that the absolute best practices are utilized for the welfare of both egg donors and parents via egg donation. I am glad we have this chance to move the discussion forward.”

About Theresa Erickson, Esq.
Ms. Erickson is the managing partner of Erickson Law and the founder and chair of Conceptual Options, The Surrogacy and Egg Donation Center. In addition, Ms. Erickson is the author of the newly released Surrogacy and Embryo, Sperm, & Egg Donation: What Were You Thinking? Erickson was motivated to write her second book so she could educate potential intended parents, as well as the women who become surrogates and egg donors, about what all parties need to know if they are going to become involved in third party reproduction.

Attorney Erickson is a globally recognized expert in this specialized area of law and is a board member of the American Fertility Association and the legal director of Parents Via Egg Donation. For more information, please visit www.ericksonlaw.net and www.conceptualoptions.com.


Monday, March 28, 2011

Radio Show Update for 3.31.11

The number to call in for questions or comments and the link to the show is below.

1-866-472-5792
http://www.voiceamerica.com/Show/1767

I'll be talking with Marna Gatlin, Theresa Erickson, and Dr John Hesla of Oregon Reproductive Medicine on Thursday March 31st on Theresa's Voice America Radio Show about the film Eggsploitation.

Let me know what you think of this definition posted on the eggsploitation website for the trailer: "Eggsploitation can be defined: to plunder, pillage, rob, despoil, fleece, and strip ruthlessly a young woman of her eggs, by means of fraud, coercion or deception, to be used selfishly for another's gain, with a total lack of regard for the well-being of the donor."

I consider it an honor to speak publicly about this and would like to hear from anyone who has something they'd like to share with me regarding their feelings about this film, the issues it is raising, how its presented,anything at all,and as always,it will remain confidential as we talk about it more via phone or email before Thursday.

I recently wrote about an article titled "True Fatherhood" that I linked on my blog. The connection besides being written by a sperm donor conceived adult is that a few months ago I was quite taken aback by another donor-conceived adult that wrote about Elizabeth Edwards, asking who will her kids mourn more, EE or their real mother the egg donor? It got me thinking, I got mad and then I did some more thinking. How WILL my kids feel about all this?

I will not try to predict what my kids will feel about our donor, their donor origins, but I feel more equipped each day to deal with whatever comes up for them. I hope that they will feel good enough about themselves to draw upon all that's available to them, especially from within.

Donorgroupsnyc.blogspot.com is at the same url,but the name on the homepage has been changed to Our Story Begins At Home.

Please read the post with the article True Fatherhood when you have a chance.I dedicated it to my Dad, Al Levine, of blessed memory.

http://donorgroupsnyc.blogspot.com/

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Childless and happy? I am

I don't mind at all if someone is childless and happy and do not see enough support going on for not having children, whether by choice or by chance. In this article, I agree with a lot, but not all, of what this writer has to say. I certainly never thought that it was Fertility Industry that " encourage them (infertility patients) to think they're failures if they don't have babies, implicitly dismissing any individual or couple who chooses to remain childless".
http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/family/parenting/childless-and-happy-i-am-1.1046840

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Voice America Radio,March 31,2011

I'll be talking with Marna Gatlin, Theresa Erickson, and hopefully an RE, next Thursday March 31st on Theresa's Voice America Radio Show about the film Eggsploitation.

Let me know what you think of this definition posted on the eggsploitation website for the trailer: "Eggsploitation can be defined: to plunder, pillage, rob, despoil, fleece, and strip ruthlessly a young woman of her eggs, by means of fraud, coercion or deception, to be used selfishly for another's gain, with a total lack of regard for the well-being of the donor."

I consider it an honor to speak publicly about this and would like to hear from anyone who has something they'd like to share with me regarding their feelings about this film, the issues it is raising, how its presented,anything at all,and as always,it will remain confidential as we talk about it more via phone or email before next Thursday.

A very timely article was posted yesterday that I wrote about on my below. Long story short, a few months ago I was quite taken aback by a donor-conceived blogger that wrote about Elizabeth Edwards-asking who will her kids mourn more, EE or their real mother the egg donor? It got me thinking, I got mad and then I did some more thinking. How WILL my kids feel about all this?

I will not try to predict what my kids will feel about our donor, their donor origins, but I feel more equipped each day to deal with whatever comes up for them. I hope that they will feel good enough about themselves to draw upon all that's available to them, especially from within.

The article linked in the previous post below is by a sperm donor-conceived adult in Australia...The blog post is dedicated to my Dad, Al Levine, of blessed memory.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

From Australia:True fatherhood is not about biology | smh.com.au

I miss my dad a lot lately, and not the genetic one,but my real father. He would have been completely in love with his beautiful granddaughters that he never got to meet-and they him- as much as he loved the beautiful granddaughters that he did get to meet.
Its almost 11 years that he is gone.
This blog post is dedicated to the one and only, Al Levine. I love you Dad.
Very interesting perspective from Australia in the article attached below..
http://m.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/true-fatherhood-is-not-about-biology-20110321-1c3px.html

Sunday, March 13, 2011

WENDY KRAMER OF THE DSR ON DONOR AND RECIPIENT MEETINGS 3.8.1

Read the whole article or just SCROLL DOWN TO the PURPLE HIGHLIGHTED PART and
you'll know why I've been as open as I can be, with surely a long way to go (and hopefully someday ready for the DSR, Wendy!) With thanks and with permission from Wendy Kramer of The DSR:

As more and more clinics and agencies include the DSR in their egg donation contracts and discussions, we get the feeling that this type of openness is becoming more acceptable in the industry. It's encouraging to see professionals being willing to take a step out and talk about this openly!

For more than ten years, we at the DSR have been facilitating the ability for all donor families to make mutual consent contact. We have facilitated and assisted with more than 8,150of these connections. Our service allows immediate contact amongst all parties,anonymous if desired, so that medical information, photos, emails and all other information can be shared between families and their donors. We are seen on our site that parents, children, adult offspring and donors can connect with each other in a healthy, enriching and successfulway, if given the chance. The industry has often stated that there is too much risk involved with allowing this type of connection (Fairfax Director 10/2010 explaining why they will not let donors know their own donor numbers) but we
strongly feel that properly educated and counseled families are very capable in
moving forward with their own familial connections.

We have been advocates for the donor offspring and have continually asked the industry and the public to ask this question, "what is in the best interest of the child to be born?". By telling the stories of those of us in "donor families" we have hopefully helped the public and those of you in the industry to have a better understanding of our needs. Secrecy does not work for the
majority of us. (It does work for those without adequate education and counseling). Secrecy implies shame,and many of us don't wish to being children into the world believing that there is something inherently shameful about them.

And we also know that when donors are adequately educated and counseled, that
they also lean more towards open donations.

On the DSR, both recipients and donors can have the choice of connecting with each other earlier than the child's 18th birthday. We know that many donor children are curious long before their 18th birthday and many have made successful connections during their teen (and even earlier) years. We believe that 18 is an arbitrary number and that parents know their children best as far as what age might be best appropriate for their child to reach out. This empowers all people involved without having the lawyer or agency, or clinic or sperm bank at the helm of their family information.

Parents usually sign up to the DSR first, as full paying members, and then post with a donor number and their clinic. Then, the donor also signs up, as a non-paying member, but she'll then have a DSR username. When the recipient family sends me the donor's $150, they just need to tell me the donor's DSR username, so that I can then activate her account to full membership, and then, she can post with the same donor number and clinic- so that they are then on the
DSR as a "match". They can then share the donor's Q&A, the medical information page, photos, and emails- all while remaining anonymous to each other until they are willing to share contact information. They do not need a middle-man, and have access to licensed therapists on our site, if assistance, coaching or guidance is needed.

We are non-profit organization, with no outside funding. We are therefore not obligated to present the industry's point of view and therefore have been way ahead of the curve in asking for this industry to look at the needs of the children being born and in asking for better parent and donor education and counseling - at the front door, before major decisions are made. With almost
eleven years and more than 30,000 people behind us, we would hope that the experiences of DSR egg and sperm donors, parents and donor offspring would be utilized to discuss how to bring more openness into into each family.

Wendy Kramer
www.donorsiblingregistry.com
303-258-0902

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is
roots; the other wings." - Hodding Carter

Saturday, March 12, 2011

National Gamete Donation Trust, UK charity which recruits egg and sperm donors for people needing fertility treatment.

This is the blog of the National Gamete Donation Trust, a UK charity which recruits egg and sperm donors for people needing fertility treatment.

They post perspectives and experiences from people involved in all the different aspects of donation – from their staff and trustees, who all have a personal experience of donation from one aspect or another, and from donors. 

http://gametedonation.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/ask-dr-ruth/

Fertility and Infertility — How to Choose a Fertility Clinic

http://www.prlog.org/11362271-fertility-and-infertility-how-to-choose-fertility-clinic.html

Allegations Of Additional Irregularities At Surrogate Parenting Center Of Texas

http://www.eggdonor.com/blog/2011/03/11/allegations-additional-irregularities-surrogate-parenting-center-texas/

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Couple Starts Foundation To Help Fund Fertility Treatments, Adoption - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/27110202/detail.html

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Women share their tales of triumph in Sarah Brokaw's new book: 'Fortytude' - USATODAY.com

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/mind-soul/story/2011/02/Excerpt-Its-not-too-late-/44299398/1

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Britain considers allowing 3-parent IVF technique

I wish people would stop calling this a 3-parent ivf technique and have a lot more respect for the word parent.

http://us.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE72A1TM20110311?ca=rdt

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Supporting Adoptive Families

I wish we had half the public and private acceptance, support and resources available for families created through donor and surrogacy.


Supporting Adoptive Families

http://www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/postplacement/transsupport/

LisaCACO: probably donor eggs...

Funny;)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/LisaCACO/oldest-bird-us-mother-baby_n_833415_80187445.html

Elisabeth Röhm’s Blog: Sharing My IVF Secret | Moms & Babies – People.com

Its a start...

http://celebritybabies.people.com/2011/03/10/elisabeth-rohms-blog-sharing-my-ivf-secret/

Donating eggs no easy decision - Washington Times

Not sure where this group or website is headed, but the article was fair enough.


Quoted in the article is Sujatha Jesudason, executive director of Generations Ahead, a social justice advocacy group with an interest in reproductive issues.


Generations Ahead is developing a website on egg donation with Choice USA and the Health Equity Institute at San Francisco State University.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/7/wetzstein-donating-eggs-no-easy-decision/print/

New York, NY | StoryCorps

Great way to tell your family story.

http://storycorps.org/record-your-story/locations/new-york-ny/#reservations

Parenting Reflections from an HRC “All Children – All Families” Advisor « Human Rights Campaign

http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2011/03/parenting-reflections-from-an-hrc-all-childen-all-families-advisor/

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

DESPERATELY SEEKING A KIDNEY, BY SALLY SATEL

Its not the same thing, but I read this article while thinking about egg donation to see what parallels I might find. Very interesting to try to compare the two. See what you think. 

MAGAZINE   | December 16, 2007 
Desperately Seeking a Kidney 
By SALLY SATEL 
What you learn about people - and yourself - when you need them to donate an organ. 

Sunday, March 6, 2011

SuperCharge Your Health, Mind and Life. Mind-body programs for women's health, fertility, pregnancy, and more. Circle + Bloom

See what Joanne and Sue are offering in a beautifully unique blend of relaxation and self-care products at
http://www.circlebloom.com/

Sara Axel
516-967-7430

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Egg Donor Guidebook NYS DOH


egg_donor_ny
This guidebook, prepared by the New York State Department of Health Task Force's Advisory Group on Assisted Reproductive Technologies, provides prospective egg donors with unbiased information. It suggests issues for you to consider and questions to ask before deciding whether or not to become a donor. You need to learn all you can about the process and think seriously about what it involves before you start. Becoming a donor is a very important decision.

To read more, please click this link to the NYS-DOH page.

Friday, March 4, 2011

New Fertility Website

http://www.fertilityplanit.com/

Family Building Seminar 3.24.11 at The Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science at Saint Barnabas

Family Building Via Egg Donation and/or Gestational Surrogacy
For Heterosexual, Same Sex Couples & Singles
Presented by REPRODUCTIVE POSSIBILITIES, LLC & IRMS at ST. BARNABAS
Thursday, March 24, 2011 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Refreshments Provided
The Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science at Saint Barnabas
609 Washington Street, 2nd Floor
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Register for this free seminar and get more info by contacting:
info@reproductivepossibilities.com or call Helene 201-505-0078 ext. 409
SPEAKERS
Melissa Brisman, JD, Surrogate Agency Owner
Serena H. Chen, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist
Claudia Pascale, PhD, Psychologist
Also attending will be parents who have experienced the process of egg donation
and gestational surrogacy as well as an experienced surrogate who will all share
their journeys.
Sponsored by:
www.reproductivepossibilities.com www.sbivf.com