• Health - infertility

    Free Event: Generations of Hope Family Fun Day #yyc #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    September 12, 2013 - By 

    Did you know that infertility can impact every area of your life? Infertility is financially draining. It can impact mental and physical health. The numerous doctor’s appointments can impact your career and work environment and frankly the challenges of infertility can often lead to marital problems, or divorce.  So what can you do to take charge of your infertility journey? Educate yourself, read about your options. Join a support group. Find your tribe, so to speak. Studies have shown that finding a peer group and surrounding yourself with supportive individuals can make a huge difference to the process. In fact…

  • Health - infertility

    Crowdfunding A Baby: How One BC Couple Paid for Fertility Treatments #ivf4bc #bcpoli

    August 30, 2013 - By 

    (This post about crowdfunding a baby was originally published in 2013. It has been UPDATED with 2016 information) You’ve heard of crowdfunding a new product. And crowdfunding to launch a concept like a new app, or the perfect Canadian winter coat. How about crowdfunding a baby? When expensive fertility treatments are necessary and they aren’t covered sometimes you have to get extremely resourceful.   Remember Nick? You might have read of his creative approach to fertility funding earlier this year when he spoke to the Vancouver Sun about crowd funding health care treatment. Nick Beaulieu and his wife were running…

  • infertility - Parenting

    Conceivable Dreams First Ever Picnic #ohip4ivf #onpoli

    August 25, 2013 - By 

    If you are near Toronto and struggling with infertility, or suspected infertility, then you won’t want to miss this opportunity. Conceivable Dreams, the provincial patient group advocating for public funding for in vitro fertilization is hosting their first ever picnic on Sept. 15th at Earl Bales Park in Toronto. The event will start at 11 a.m. and run through 3 p.m. All family members and supporters welcome. The picnic features door prizes and entertainment.  “This picnic is extremely important to raise awareness and show the many faces of infertility.  Not only to bring together a community, who suffers in silence, but…

  • Health - infertility

    Weekends and Weddings: Petition Challenge #ABHC4IVF #ABPoli

    August 9, 2013 - By 

    When you are struggling with infertility, or trying to conceive, time is quite simply not your friend. It is the days between doctor’s appointments, and the calendar you watch every month wondering and hoping with crossed fingers. It is every season ticking by faster, carrying holidays by in a blur of tears. Years can unfold while trying. Treatments also take time. But what if the waiting then becomes complicated by fund raising as you juggle how to pay for in vitro fertilization? Weeks, become months and years pass quickly, then all of a sudden the fertility window, even with such…

  • active family travel - Health - infertility - parenting - Parenting - special needs

    Hoping for Okay: Sending A Special Needs Child To Camp

    July 23, 2013 - By 

    Sending kids with special needs to camp is never simple. You have to vet camps hard to find one that might be capable of handling your children. Oh I know most make mention of inclusive policies and such. But, I have seen how this works in practice sometimes and it doesn’t. So, forgive me while I hold my breath and pray that this camp works this time. This morning, I woke fingers crossed and holding my breath. Today I have both kids at camp. No fires to put out. No demands beyond work. No calls from the camp stating: “What…

  • infertility

    The Pfeiffer’s In Vitro Fertilization Success Story #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    July 17, 2013 - By 

      Tammy and Matt Pfeiffer have their hard-earned miracle family.  But it was a long route to parenthood for the Stony Plain, Alberta couple. And it was a long time arriving at their In Vitro Fertilization Success Story. The Pfeiffers began trying to conceive just before they were married. At 32, Tammy had irregular periods and tests resulted in a diagnosis of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome.) After several months of trying, their doctor put Tammy on oral fertility medications. But still, the couple had no luck conceiving. Tests revealed Matt had male factor infertility on multiple levels, low count, slow motility…

  • Health - infertility

    We’ve Been Trying Since I Was 25: An Infertility Story #ivf4on #onpoli

    June 12, 2013 - By 

    Ashley and Brandon Powell Ashley Powell is 29, diagnosed with PCOS and she has exhausted most of her options trying to get pregnant. Ashley ’s infertility story starts back at puberty. She had her first period at 13. But it took a full year before her next period arrived. Her menstrual cycles have always been erratic and painful. Powell typically had only 4-8 periods each year and they were extremely painful. In college she was diagnosed with Polycystic ovarian syndrome and referred to a gynecologist. The doctor told her she might have trouble conceiving and that has been proven repeatedly.…

  • Health - infertility

    Petition Challenge – Get 6 signatures #abhc4ivf #abpoli

    June 1, 2013 - By 

    If you live in Alberta, then odds are pretty strong that you know someone struggling with infertility. Quick – write down the names of six of your closest friends. Now try to figure out which one of the six is struggling with, or has already battled infertility. It’s that close. Infertility was, up until recently not talked about in Canada. But a funny thing happened this past year. People started sharing their stories. People started standing up to say yes I am 1 in 6. I want to talk about infertility and the pressing health care issues surrounding access to…

  • family - Health - infertility

    Infertility Impacts Everyone: Katrina #ohip4ivf #onpoli

    May 28, 2013 - By 

    Meet Cameron. Grandma has dubbed him “the whole family’s baby.” He’s a sweet little guy, almost 18 months old. He made his Mom and Dad parents. He made Grandma a grandmother again. But his journey here was hard fought. Mom Katrina struggled through many medical, financial, physical and emotional hurdles to conceive Cameron. She was diagnosed with endometriosis and she had a few unsuccessful IVF (in vitro fertilization) attempts. She had miscarriages and she tried various alternative and natural therapies designed to boost fertility and alleviate the pain of endometriosis. Eventually, after thousands of dollars spent and a tremendous emotional toll…