WOBBLE WARNING: Discussion of hope, infertility, those who get the miracle baby, those who don’t, and more… Please, only read if you are feeling strong enough today.
Hope… That one, little, four-letter word… Hope can feel cruel to those desperately wanting a child but unable to conceive. So, the Walk of Hope–an event held during National Infertility Awareness Week®… What’s my perspective—a childless woman’s perspective—on this hope?
My Story…
My story includes an endometriosis diagnosis, a ten-year infertility battle, including seriously considering adoption. Ultimately, my infertility battle did not end with a little in arms, but rather trying to accept a childless not by choice life. My hope came in the form of redefining momhood as a dog mom and host mom… In the form of redefining childless…
A Community Sponsor…
That being said, it might surprise you to learn that I am a community sponsor for the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope–an event whose proceeds benefit RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and is held during National Infertility Awareness Week®. I say this might surprise because RESOLVE is very involved with “family building” and the trying to conceive infertility community. Because of that, some childless feel that our voices have been left out of the conversation. But our childless voices are beginning to get louder…
Connecting with Other Warriors…
As I shared earlier, there are numerous facets to my story—endo warrior, infertility sister, childless not by choice advocate, and more… So, as I’ve shared my story through Not So Mommy…, I have connected with a variety of warriors. And one of those warriors is Sue Johnston—author of Detours: Unexpected Journeys of Hope Conceived from Infertility, founder of The In-Fertility Advocate, and co-founder of the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope.
Infertility Warrior & Advocate, Sue Johnston…
Sue’s infertility battle did end with a little in arms. In her words, “Eventually, I was one of the lucky ones. One of those forty embryos stuck, and I had my one and only son. It took nearly a decade of heartbreak and devastating losses to achieve our resolution.” (You can read more of Sue’s Story here.)
Over two decades since her son was born, Sue still remembers the heartbreak of infertility. She states, “I don’t think I will ever understand why it is that good and loving people have such a difficult time trying to conceive a child of their own. But I now know that my purpose in life is to offer emotional support to others on their journey toward their resolution.”
One Resolution: Remaining Childless…
And Sue understands that resolution might be accepting a childless not by choice life. That is why Sue shares “miracle baby” stories and childless not by choice stories. In fact, during the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope, those within the infertility community receive a “Why I Walk” color-coded bead necklace so they can identify others who are on a similar journey (i.e. adoption, undergoing treatment, third party reproduction, male factor infertility, childless not by choice, miracle baby, etc.). Because according to Sue, “No one needs to walk alone.”
This year, those who attend the live Detroit, MI Walk of Hope will also receive a “goodie bag.” One of the items in this bag is a Not So Mommy… business card. Another item is an olive green Childless Not By Choice Awareness Ribbon sticker. Because Sue wants those battling infertility to receive the support they need. And the reality is, for some, that support will be found within the childless community, not the parenting after infertility community.
The Walk of Hope: A Childless Woman’s Perspective…
So, this childless woman’s perspective on the Walk of Hope…
Well, (at least in Detroit, MI), I feel that an authentic hope is being shared. A hope that those battling infertility have affordable access to care and understand the resources available to them. Resources that include a vibrant, loving, and supportive childless not by choice community.
Truly, I think it is absolutely incredible that events such as RESOLVE’s National Infertility Awareness Week® and the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope are bringing together those who are parenting after infertility, those who are still in the midst of TTC, and those who are childless after their infertility battle. What a powerful dynamic, offering support no matter where you are on this journey!
Find more information about the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope by clicking here…
(Scroll down on the Walk of Hope page and you’ll see the olive green Childless Not By Choice Awareness Ribbon, as well as the Not So Mommy… logo!)
Trigger Warning for 2021 Video: Photos of bumps & babies (Though a photo of me & Maddie is included, too!)
Learn more about National Infertility Awareness Week® here…
Learn more about RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association here…
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Featured Photo: Provided by Sue Johnston; Edited by me, using Canva
