SPECIAL EVENT & PRESENTATION OF THE NYC GATHERING TUESDAY MARCH 20TH

On Tuesday March 20th we will have a special presentation on Embryo Disposition covering the emotional and legal aspects of this important decision-making process. Here is a note from Amy Demma, Esq:

We understand that many who have struggled with infertility and particularly those who have relied on egg donation for family building may, some time later, be dealing with excess embryo disposition. Many feel stuck in their decision making about embryos left-over from previous IVF cycles while others are seeking information about disposition options.

New York Attorney Amy Demma, someone both with personally and professionally experienced with residual embryo disposition will offer information about disposition options both in a legal and practical context.

Anne F Malave, PhD will share with the group the outcome of much research on the emotional aspects of this matter. We intend to offer both information and strategies on making a final decision regarding excess embryos.


I am happy to offer a gratis phone consult. We need to start talking about residual embryos, we need to start getting good information out to those who may be otherwise indecisive about disposition.

This is a dinner event in Midtown with a $10-20 average cost, min $5.

Please contact me directly for more info asap and to confirm your reservation.
Thanks and best to all,

Sara Axel
516-967-7430
http://donorgroupsnyc.blogspot.com/
http://www.meetup.com/New-York-PVED

Special Spring Announcements

We are having a PVED.org Meet-up on Tues Eve, March 6th, 6:30-8:30 in midtown. Please join the meetup group by going to this link and contact me via email or on the meetup site to reserve a spot at the dinner.


http://www.meetup.com/New-York-PVED/


The next NYC Gathering is on March 20th, 2012, 6:30-8:30.
Anne Malave, PHD, and Amy Demma, Esq, will be speaking about the emotional and legal aspects of Embryo Disposition. If you have extra embryos and have completed your family then what to do next might be on your mind and you are feeling like you need to start exploring your feelings and options.


Please contact me directly for reservations, saxel95@aol.com.


Lastly, a new one-day workshop to be hosted by Lisa Schuman, LCSW, will be held after Easter and Passover. This will be modeled on the annual weekend retreat Lisa holds each year for families created through Adoption. How I've longed to have Lisa do something similar for Donor and Third Party Families!


From Lisa..."there will be a full day workshop for parents and kids on the children's disclosure issues. For the parents it will be about their feelings about disclosure and how to help the kids help themselves and for the kids it would be about how to understand their donor information and share/ not share with others."


Please let us know your preferences of days/ times so that I can keep a list from our Blog and Group, and please speak with Lisa as well, Lisashu@aol.com.


Thanks and best to all,
Sara Axel
516-967-7430
Saxel95@aol.com

October 7 Voice America Show on Disclosure of Donor Origins to Children

Theresa Erickson,Conceptual Options, Ericksonlaw.com is hosting a radio show on Voice America. All shows are archived and there is an interesting and informative variety available and to be aired over the next several months.

On October 7th, I was a guest on the show to talk about The NYC Gathering and Disclosure of Donor Origins, along with Marna Gatlin of PVED.ORG and Megan Erickson, Theresa's Daughter.

Theresa hosted a great show and made my first public interview and radio experience (since the Sunday Morning Puzzle with Will Shortz and Leeann Hansen on NPR 20 yrs ago) both comfortable and enlightening.

Marna shared her insights and mission for PVED.org and has done tremendous work  supporting the families involved in egg donation and the on-going OPEN discussion she is creating in our community.

Thanks so much to Megan Erickson who shared a side of egg donation not often heard from and indeed one person who has so much to offer others and is willing to share it. Theresa, Megan and Marna-what great examples of what strong families can be.



http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vepisode.aspx?aid=49165
http://www.voiceamerica.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1767

October 7 Radio Show http://www.ericksonlaw.net/surrogacy-law-radio

The Surrogacy Lawyer Radio Program- Thursday at 11am PDT


October 7, Theresa Erickson will interview her guests (Sara, Marna and Megan) about disclosure for both donor-conceived children and (non-donor conceived) children of egg donors


Prospective parents who utilize third party reproductive technologies like egg donation must answer many questions as they move through the decision-making process. How should they choose an egg donor? Should the donation be known or anonymous? If, when and how should they disclose information to their child and others? Additionally, egg donors need to consider whom they will tell about their donation, especially their current or future children.


In the second part of a two-part series on donor disclosure, Theresa Erickson will discuss these and other questions on The Surrogacy Lawyer: Your Guide to IVF and Third Party Reproduction in an episode entitled “The Two Sides of Donor Disclosure,” that will air on Thursday, October 7 at 11AM PST/2PM EST on Voice America.


Surrogacy lawyer, author and radio host Theresa Erickson will be interviewing Marna Gatlin, founder and CEO of Parents Via Egg Donation (PVED); Sara Axel, founder of the NYC Gathering and a parent of twin six-year-old girls conceived through egg donation; and Megan Erickson, law student and Theresa Erickson’s daughter.


“Disclosure often is the elephant in the room,“ says attorney Erickson. “All parties know it is important, but also realize it is one of the hardest issues to address. Intended parents need to wrestle with determining whom should they tell, what information their children need to know and when they should learn it. Then there is the other side of the coin of how the egg donor should handle disclosure. As a former egg donor, I have had this conversation with my children, one of whom will relay her feelings about this.”


http://www.ericksonlaw.net/surrogacy-law-radio