To Tell Or Not To Tell – That Is The Question

“I am never going to tell my child that he is a product of egg donation. It’s none of anyone’s business except my husband and me. No one needs to know. After all we don’t ask other people about their reproductive life”

I used to be that woman. That was me eight years ago when I first began to embark upon this journey of having a child through ART. I was afraid. Scared.to.death – that someone would find out about “our secret”. I was fearful of those disapproving looks, judgment and over all humiliation about being different.

And then I began to read about those children who discovered years later they were adopted – many found out by accident. The trauma they endured was horrible. Many children said to their parents “Mom and Dad, you lied to me about something as basic as this, what else have you lied to me about?”

I always intended my relationship with my child to be based on love, trust, respect, and honesty. How can I as a mother base a relationship about those very things when I can’t be honest from the get go?

I can’t – and couldn’t. Not unless I was going to be 100% honest from the start. My husband who has always upheld the truth no.matter.what had always maintained that the truth shall always prevail, even when I wasn’t sure if that was the best thing for our child. It took many meaningful heart-to-heart conversations for me to come around to his way of thinking.

The scenarios began to run through my head:

Scenario one – we were both killed in some sort of accident. When the will was read and our private papers gone through it was discovered that we used an egg donor. Not only would our son have to deal with the loss of his parents but that they were liars as well. I couldn’t do that to our son.

Scenario two – Our son is in Junior High or High school and in biology they do the DNA tests—and he takes a piece of my hair and does his DNA test. Guess what – the results say we are not related. He comes screaming home – “Mom you are not MY MOTHER?”
Again, I couldn’t do that to my son.

Scenario three – During a dinner party where well meaning friends or extended family is over the topic of our infertility comes up – “I remember when you and your husband had the baby – how exciting a time for you, we can’t believe it’s been 15 years. Do you ever hear from the donor mother?” SCREEEECH the conversation stops and my 15 year old son says “Mom what is Aunt Jeanne talking about, the donor mother?”
Again, I couldn’t do that to my son.

I didn’t know how to do this – but I knew I needed to make the commitment to disclose to my son early and often because I thought it only fair to him. I did a lot of reading. One book in particular Creating Life against the Odds: the Journey from Infertility to Parenthood by Lonny Higgins was invaluable to me. Lonny has beautifully written a book in language we can all grasp, appreciate, and understand about a topic that for years has been secret, taboo, and uncomfortable to talk about. Lonny has also gathered numerous first hand accounts from individuals from all over the world who have come forward to share their infertility frustrations, experiences, and stories so that we all might gain better insight -- and perhaps take the word 'scary' out of the entire journey. While I may not be a professional book editor, I gave a great sigh of relief when I read this book because it not only validated me and my feelings regarding my experience with ART -- but it also helped me gain a different perspective regarding other people and their own personal journeys. It's a must read for anyone going through the DE process.

My first conversation felt forced and awkward. I was unsure of myself. I decided to be very simple and put it in toddler terms. I told my son basically that mommy had rotten eggs – I remember saying to him “Mommy had wotten eggs” He thought that was a hoot! And our story was that an angel lady gave us some of her magic eggs and we got to pick him out and that I grew him in my tummy. He loved that story for the longest time. And as he got older he wanted more information and I gave it to him as he asked. He’s seven now and knows about sperm and eggs and how babies are created, and will ask me specific questions about his egg donor and I answer him. I am asked sometimes if I am bothered by it. And truly I am not bothered. I am so firmly rooted and confident as Nick’s mom that his questions are really okay with me.

With all of this being said – disclosing to your child is not the same as disclosing to the world. I firmly believe that we all need to do what’s best for our families. And while I feel a child has the right to know his or her origins – I really don’t think it’s the worlds business how our children were conceived. “Are you ashamed of how he came to be?” One well meaning man asked me. Of course not! I am very proud of how my son came to be. God knows we tried long enough for him. I began my own personal quest to have children back in the early 80’s and didn’t have my son until 2000. We are firmly in the “Tell Camp” because I happen to work in this industry and this arena, but that doesn’t mean that sharing that information with the world is for everyone.

I know only too well that there are still people who don’t understand and judge those of us who grow our families through egg donation, and personally that’s very sad to me. So I will close this with what I tell every recipient/intended parent who asks me if it’s okay to tell. Of course it is – if “you” want. But remember, you can ALWAYS tell, but you can never UNTELL.

However – always always always tell your child. He or she will thank you later.

Chicago Tribune Examines Egg, Sperm Donation Issues Ahead Of Conference On Donor Registry

The Chicago Tribune on Wednesday examined issues associated with egg and sperm donation ahead of the first national conference to discuss the creation of a registry of such donors in the U.S. Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom maintain registries of egg and sperm donors. In the U.S., organizations that handle egg, and sperm donations have little oversight, the Tribune reports. Some organizations do not keep records of who receives donated eggs or sperm, and although some groups will help donors and recipients establish contact, many will not.

According to CDC, about 8,000 infants are born annually from donated eggs and embryos. Although reports on infants born from sperm donation are not required, estimates of the annual number range from 5,000 to in the "tens of thousands." A donor registry would compile donors' genetic and medical information and track the infants born from their donations. A registry also could help track whether voluntary donation guidelines -- which allow for a maximum of six egg donation cycles for women and a maximum of 25 families receiving sperm -- are followed, according to the Tribune.

Nigel Cameron, president of the Institute on Biotechnology and the Human Future at the Illinois Institute of Technology, said, "Anything that brings some kind of order into the situation and ensures that children have access to their own genetic and biological information is going to be better." Wendy Kramer, who runs Donor Sibling Registry, said the industry needs "mandatory reporting of who's donating, where, how often, what their profiles are and how many offspring are born.

"The three largest U.S. fertility clinics -- California Cryobank, Fairfax Cryobank and Xytex Corporation -- have said they plan to endorse the idea of a limited donor registry at the conference. Charles Sims, medical officer at California Cryobank, said executives from the three companies will propose a voluntary registry to serve as an archive of information on donors, recipient families and offspring.Sims said there is "concern by a lot of people that information linking a child to his or her genetic or biological origins could be hopelessly lost" if organizations dealing with donors or fertility clinics close. Sims added that any donor registry must respect the privacy rights of donors and families.

Sean Tipton, director of public affairs at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, said that ASRM believes a registry should include "as much relevant medical information as possible" but is "opposed to proposals that remove anonymity." Although there is agreement that a registry should maintain the privacy of donors and recipients, it is still unclear how a registry would function in practice, the Tribune reports. Egg and sperm donors provide family medical histories and take extensive tests before donating, but there is no requirement that agencies follow donors to determine whether their medical conditions change, according to the Tribune.
Nanette Elster, director of the Health Law Institute at DePaul College of Law and organizer of the conference, questioned whether it would be legally feasible to ask donors about relevant information if they stipulate they do not want to be contacted.

More Thoughts On Selecting An Egg Donor

After thinking more about this I had to go back 8 years and think about what I went through during my process. My knee-jerk reaction was to find a donor who looked just like me. A mirror image! By golly if I couldn’t use my eggs then my egg donor would be my twin.

Wrong.

That didn’t work for many different reasons. The first reason – genetics is a funny thing. Two people can mix their genes and the child in result will look like the milk man. Many families end up with children who look nothing like mom or dad. So it was no guarantee for me that even if I did find someone who was my mirror image that I’d end up with a child that resembled me.
The second reason – why did I want to replace myself? I don’t want to replace myself. So I had to not even “go there” in regards to that way of thinking.

So I did what many people do – I obsessed about selecting the right donor. And when I say obsessed, I mean I obsessed -- I was like a dog with a bone.

I realized after much thought and yes obsession was that I needed someone I was drawn to, made a connection with on some level --Perhaps someone I felt familiar with, much like an old sweater (cheesy I know). I came to that conclusion by really reading many donor profiles. I also said to my doctor what things were important to me – like for instance height. I wanted a tall donor who had height in her family. I know that taller people have an easier time in this world. I also wanted a donor who had curly hair. I have had stick straight hair my entire life and I wanted a donor with really curly hair, last I wanted blue eyes. Don’t ask my why I have always wanted a child with blue eyes.

During this time I felt the need to rush things – I felt I was too old to have a baby. I needed to do it “now”! Finally a really good friend of mine said “You know you need to take the time to grieve the loss of your genetic link to your baby.” That was so hard to hear. I wanted to forge through and push those feelings out of the way and like Nike says JUST DO IT!

I finally got my head together and realized that this is a donor egg cycle, I can potentially wait until I am 50 do get pregnant, so at the age of 36 I took a step back and for the first time in my life stopped to not only smell the roses, but to breathe – and that this baby that my husband I were creating was going to be created out of love – and the child I was going to have – boy, or girl, short, or tall, artist, athlete, movie star, teacher, or what have you this child would be unique, loved, and mine.

So after much angst and teeth gnashing my doctor did a great job, he found a donor for me that he said could have fit into my family! She was tall, had curly hair, blue eyes, and he said she was a lovely young woman. After reading her profile he was right. I was drawn to her – she was quirky like me, funny, had a great sense of humor and seemed very kind. And most importantly she was healthy, and extraordinarily bright – and for us a perfect match.

The most important lesson I learned out of all of this entire experience that no matter what – no two people are alike. We are like finger prints, each different and unique in our own special way. So while I may have gotten to the point of frustration and head banging along the way, it was well worth it because our donor was truly unique like no other, and we placed great value on that.

How Do I Select An Egg Donor?

I am asked all the time – “How do I select an egg donor?” “ There’s so much to think about, where do I begin?”

First of all – take a deep breathe. You are right this can be horribly overwhelming. This is going to be one of the biggest decisions you are going to make in your life.

All we know is that we just want to have a child, grow our families and become parents. No one could have prepared us for the roller coaster ride that we have embarked upon.

But here we are – we are either so overwhelmed by the process or we don’t know where to start. Or we have poured over so many profiles that each profile is beginning to look or sound like the other.

Where do we start? And what’s important?

First of all you need to decide if you want to select an anonymous donor or a known donor. For some parents it’s important to make that personal connection with their egg donor. They may want to select an egg donor who will be willing to meet their child one day in the future. While others choose the anonymous egg donor route not wanting to know anything other than what the profile states about their donor.

Some recipient/intended parent(s) place value on GPA’s and SAT scores, and college education.

Some recipient/intended parent(s) place value in egg donors who have excelled in athletics, music, science, and a multitude of other areas.

Some recipient/intended parent(s) require their donor to be the same faith as themselves.

The majority of recipient/intended parent(s) I come across tell me they need for an egg donor to have a physical resemblance with the mom, so that the baby "looks like mom and dad".
I also hear a lot "I want an egg donor who's drop dead gorgeous and bright!" Not an unreasonable request -- let's face it, who doesn't want their child to be beautiful and brilliant? Our society places a lot of focus on looks for men and women, so it's a no-brainer to me that the demand for beautiful college girls who are willing to donate their eggs is really high.

Now bear in mind -- not all young, gorgeous, beautiful college egg girls are going to make good donors. That's why medical and psychological testing is required.

As a recipient/intended parent you are spending a huge chunk of change. Being pro-active and a smart consumer is imperative when selecting an egg donor.

There is no right or wrong way to go about this – it’s all about your own personal choices.

An anonymous egg donor is an egg donor you select through a clinic or an agency that you do not meet. You do not know her name, or anything else about that’s not stated on her profile. You might or might not see a photo of the egg donor. The egg donor would know nothing about the recipient/intended parent(s) other than how many eggs were retrieved and in some instances if a pregnancy resulted.

Some terminology for those who are brand new and just starting out:

A semi-known egg donor is an egg donor that knows the recipient/intended parent(s) first name, the state in which they live and maybe they might exchange emails and photos. No personal information is given out about the egg donor or the recipient/intended parent(s) Semi-known egg donors who are matched with recipient/intended parent(s)

A known egg donor can either be a friend, or a family member. Or the egg donor is selected by the recipient/intended parent(s) and the two parties meet face to face. The egg donor will know the recipient/intended parent(s) first and last names, where they live, exchange e-mail, telephone calls, continuing to keep in contact with one another. The egg donor and the recipient/intended parent(s) may agree upon the child meeting the donor if they so wish. The recipient/intended parent(s) may send photos of their child with updates to the egg donor as well.

All egg donors should complete an in-depth egg donor profile that is compiled of several pages of questions covering their medical history, personal history, social history, and reproductive history. You do not want to do business with an egg donor agency, broker or clinic that does not require their egg donors to complete at least a medical profile. All egg donors should meet with a psychologist and be administered and pass an **MMPI and a psychological evaluation.

**The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, or MMPI is the most frequently used clinical test. It is an easy test to administer and provides an objective measure of personality. It provides clear, valid descriptions of people's problems, symptoms, and characteristics in broadly accepted clinical language. It always needs to be scored, evaluated and interpreted by a licensed clinical psychologist at the Ph.D level.


Egg donors should be

* Between the ages of 19 and 30
* In good physical health as documented by history and testing
* In good psychological health as documented by history and testing
* Have regular menstrual periods and not using Depo-Provera
* Drug free
* A non-smoker of tobacco and marijuana
* An E2 (Estradiol) on cycle day three (3) of less than 50
* An ***Antral follicle count of at least 15 combined.
* Mature, responsible, and dependable.
* Height and weight proportionate because if they are over weight it could affect egg *quality as well as take more stimulation drugs to create follicles which will cost you the recipient/intended parent(s) a lot more money.
* An FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) level on cycle day three (3) if no more than eight (8), preferably under six (6)


***Antral follicles are small follicles (about 2-8 mm in diameter) that a Reproductive Endocrinologist can see, measure, and count with ultrasound. Antral follicles are also referred to as resting follicles. Vaginal ultrasound is the best way to accurately assess and count these small structures. The antral follicle counts (in conjunction with female age) are by far the best tool that we currently have for estimating ovarian reserve and/or chances for pregnancy with donor eggs through IVF.

Specific Questions To Ask An Egg Donor:

1. Does your family have a tendency towards any particular illnesses, i.e., allergies, intestinal problem, cancer, heart disease or psychological problems? Who had one or more of these illnesses, and at what age did the onset occur? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

2. Are your blood relatives living, i.e., parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles? If not, how old were they when they died, and what did they die of? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

3. Have you or any member of your immediate family ever smoked, drank or used illegal substances? To what extent are any of these, or have any of these ever been, a problem? Some agencies don’t like to ask this question. However, it’s a reasonable question as studies have shown that some forms of addiction have hereditary components –a hereditary predisposition involving brain chemistry. (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

4. Have you ever been pregnant? What was the outcome? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

5. Have you ever donated eggs before? If you have, how many follicles developed? How many eggs were retrieved? How many successfully fertilized? Was there a resulting pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, and live birth(s)? The donor may or may not have this information.

6. What can you tell us about your family of origin? Who are they and what are their ages? What are their vocational and a vocational interests, hobbies, talents and dispositions? What are their physical characteristics such as coloring, size, weight and height? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

7. Do you have any children? If yes, how old are they now? When did they learn to sit up, walk and talk? Were there and are there any significant health issues we should know about? What are their sleeping and eating habits? What are their special abilities and interests? What was their birth weight and length? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

8. If you don't have children, why do you want to help us have a baby using your egg(s)? Have you considered the unlikely circumstance where at a later date you might be unable to conceive? (This should be discussed with a psychologist before the donor donates)

9. What is your family's genealogical heritage or history? What country(s) did your ancestors come from, where did they settle here, and when? (These questions should be answered completely within the donor profile)

10. Why do you want to be a donor? What do you think you will get out of it? If you have already donated, what did you get out of it?

11. If we get pregnant, will you tell your family members including your children? If so, how will you tell them, and when? Would you want your children to know that our child would share half of their genetic heritage? How will you handle their questions?

12. May we see or have pictures of your family, siblings and children? If we desire, may we meet with your immediate family, including your children?

13. Have you thought about how you'd feel if, after all this interaction and sharing, we don't get pregnant?

14. Have you thought about whether you would like any ongoing contact such as pictures, phone calls or meeting the child?

15. Is your job or school situation flexible enough to do this procedure? Do you have child care available, if you have children?

(©) - 2008 Marna Gatlin PVEDO

Support List For You Moms and Moms-To-Be

We have the list for you:

This group, list, and website is for the subscribers of MVED @yahoo to converge, converse, educate, empower support, and encourage one other. Welcome to the Mothers and Their Partners Via Egg Donation Yahoo Group (We do welcome single mom's too!)(http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MVED/) a support forum open to single women, married women and/or their partners who have been, or are attempting to become, mothers through egg donation. Because this is a private support group, members can feel safe in what they is said here stays here.

This is not a public group. This email forum and Online Support Group has been established to foster support, information sharing, and discussion among those who have or are attempting to become parents with the help of donated eggs.

This list is also open to people who are interested in pursuing this option now or in the future. This is NOT for agencies to advertise, psychologists or social workers to advertise, nurses, physicians, or any other kind of health care professional who are not attempting to become mothers through egg donation.

This list is NOT for egg donors.

Disclosure tricky for parents of egg donor kids

By Patricia Wen The Boston Globe
March 12, 2008

MEDFIELD, Mass. - Cara Birrittieri is set to have a talk with her 3-year-old daughter soon, something that has been on her mind since Victoria was just a fetal ultrasound image."Part of me wishes I didn't have to tell her," Birrittieri said. "The love is so intense for this kid -- I mean, she is mine."Yet in the months to come, Birrittieri plans to explicitly tell Victoria the way in which she also is part of another woman, a graduate student in her 20s who donated the egg that helped create the preschooler.

This particular version of a child's origins is so complicated, and sometimes so painful, that some parents never try to explain it.

"It's easier not to tell," said Birrittieri, a 48-year-old former television health reporter. "Most women go through hell with infertility, and this was their last chance. Rather than grieve the loss of the child they didn't have, they make this child that child."

44% don't plan to tell.

Research shows that as many as 44 percent of parents who used egg donors have no plans to tell their children the truth about their origins, a figure that surprises psychologists and fertility specialists who had expected a higher rate of disclosure at a time when openness is encouraged about such matters.

"The technology is so far ahead of the psychology," said Alice Domar, a psychologist and director of the Mind-Body Center for Women's Health at Boston IVF, the state's biggest fertility clinic.

Therapists say they know these talks with children are never easy, and must be done slowly in age-appropriate ways, but they had assumed parents using egg donation would want to be open, embracing the latest psychological wisdom as easily as the newest technologies.

The most current thinking about disclosure comes from vast research done on adoption and sperm donation, two of the most common options used to address infertility. Researchers found children kept in the dark about their origins often felt betrayed when they later learned the truth, and more so, if they discovered accidentally through a relative or family friend.

Also, given the mounting evidence about the powerful role of genetics in health, many psychologists say children have a right to know their medical history.

Still, even as psychologists advise openness, many parents who used the latest in egg-donation technology have no plans to tell their children, citing the complexity of the narrative, a desire to protect the child from being seen as a "science fiction" curiosity, or a belief that it remains a deeply private family issue.

Some mothers who gave birth and nursed the child are reluctant to tell their child anything that diminishes their role as the mother.

A 2005 study of 148 couples who used a West Coast infertility clinic for egg donation found that 27 percent had already told their children; 53 percent had not yet disclosed but said they would at some point in the future; 12 percent did not plan to tell; and 8 percent remained undecided.

A 2004 study of British parents who used egg donors found that 56 percent planned to tell their children, while 44 percent had decided against telling or were undecided. Researchers say there is a shortage of reliable data because many parents using egg donation decline to participate in studies.

A 52-year-old former Waltham resident said he and his wife have no plans to tell their 7-year-old son that he was conceived with his father's sperm and a donor egg, largely because they don't want to upset him with a hard-to-understand story.

The father, who asked that his name not be used to protect his family's privacy, also said his wife does not want to introduce the image of a potential second mother.

"She wants to keep the status," he said. "She's worried that talking about the egg donation will change her status."

Explaining egg donation to a child is not easy. In talking to Victoria, for instance, Birrittieri will have to explain that her womb nourished another woman's egg, which had been fertilized with Birrittieri's husband's sperm.

Additionally, she will have to explain to Victoria that her 8-year-old brother has a simpler story: He is the product of both of his parents' genes.

Birrittieri, who has written a book about a woman's biological clock, couldn't conceive a second time.

Other factors may also discourage disclosure, including religious considerations. The Catholic Church, for instance, opposes high-tech fertility procedures, including egg donation.

Several fertility organizations are trying to coax prospective parents into confronting the issue earlier in their child-raising years.

Two years ago, the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology put out an ethics paper encouraging parents using egg donors to tell their children. In the last five years, nearly a dozen books have been published helping parents to explain egg donation to their children, or to better understand their own post-birth emotions.

Last summer, Resolve of the Bay State, a fertility group, held a seminar, "Talking with Children about Their Origins," for prospective parents, and similar events are planned, said Rebecca Lubens, head of the group.

A 51-year-old Cambridge woman, who gave birth to twins through egg donation, has used a Dr. Seuss book, called "Horton Hatches the Egg," to explain their entry into the world. When asked how they came to be, she tells her twins, "Mom had a helper."

**Note from Marna: While I support disclosure to your child (I feel each child has a right to know their origins) I don't feel like it's the world's right to know how our children were conceived unless we are comfortable with sharing that information. So please remember, Mom's and Dads -- "You can always tell but you can never untell."

The Donor Sibling Registry

The Donor Sibling Registry was created in September 2000 by Wendy Kramer and her son Ryan. Certain that other donor offspring would have the same curiosity as Ryan about his genetic origins - yet also knowing that, sadly, no public outlet exists for mutual consent contact between people born from anonymous sperm donation – Wendy started this site as the logical next step to making those connections! Active membership (both paying and non paying members) in the Donor Sibling Registry is currently at 11971 with matches between more than 4832 half-siblings (and/or donors) facilitated.

Total number of registrants, including children, is currently at 18858. Several thousand more check the site regularly, but are not ready to post their information. The 2007 number of unique visitors totaled more 88,800 - from 143 countries.
The focus of the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) is to assist individuals conceived as a result of sperm, egg or embryo donation who are seeking to make mutually desired contact with others with whom they share genetic ties. This may include:

· Their own or their child's half-siblings, or
· their own or their child's genetic father or mother, or
· Their own genetic offspring.

The DSR fully supports openness, honesty and the acknowledgement of these family connections. We realize, however, that some folks may want to remain anonymous while sharing important medical or genetic information with their fellow "donor families". For these people, we suggest using a throw away untraceable email address.

Egg, sperm or embryo donors who are willing to have contact with the children born as a result of their donations are VERY WELCOME! Even if you do not know your donor number, it is still possible to search and be found. Contact Wendy wendy.kramer@yahoo.com if you need help.

The Donor Sibling Registry is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and not affiliated with PVEDO.

We are now up and running!

Hey there - The EIN numbers, the business licenses, and bank account are all approved. We can now accept donations! Woo hoo!! -------> see?

Now the hard work of soliciting funds, finding sponsors, creating partnerships, and alliances begins.

With the help of generous parents like you -- we can do it:)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Marna

Who we are...

I am asked often why this organization was created.

To me it’s obvious – but after thinking about the organization as a whole I can understand why those who don’t understand about third party reproduction could conceivably be scratching their heads confused about this organization.

As of 2007 approximately 3.5 million couples in the United States are infertile. In 2004, the most recent year for which data has been published, there were 15,175 cycles, resulting in 5,449 babies. That’s a whole lotta babies, and even more parents who may or may not have support regarding their choices in growing their families.

When I began this process many years ago I had no resources, no support. It was the blind leading the blind. I didn’t know I had a say in my treatment, who my donor might be, costs, or what I could do to increase my odds of success regarding our IVF cycle.

My hope is that this organization is going to help those regardless of where they are in the process. That our organization will be a "one stop place" for education, empowerment, and support.

I created T-PVED-O to provide an informational and supportive environment where parents and parents-to-be can come together to exchange information about all facets of the egg donation process with respect to growing their families.

Our mission and purpose is to educate, support, and empower families and individuals who chose to use egg donation to create new life. We offer information regarding agencies, legal and medical professionals, treatment centers, mental health therapists, pharmaceutical companies, and other resources.

Above all, we are dedicated to being a place of safe harbor and hope, giving individuals the opportunity to connect with other parents and parents-to-be who have chosen this avenue to build a family.

We are here.

It feels weird, but good to have this organization finally in the process of being born.

The business license has been obtained, the EIN number has been applied for, the bids are out for the website and print stuff.

We have help with the logo.

We are working on clinics and agency information.

We are working on fundraising and sponsorship letters.

The bank account has been applied for.

It's happening -- and it's been a long time coming.