The Nobel Prize in Medicine - In Vitro Pioneer Wins

Wow, it's been a while since I have blogged. We've been crazy busy with adoptions and distractions lately. Before adopting, many of our families go through in vitro procedures, among other infertility options. This technology has enabled 4 million infants to be born, who otherwise would not be here. In fact, surprisingly, today the odds of a pregnancy occurring after just one in vitro cycle are approximately the same (one in five) as a fertile couple trying to conceive naturally. That's pretty amazing when you consider that the first "test tube" baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978, during our lifetime. The technique has evolved quickly into a viable option for infertile couples or single women who want to conceive. Of course, there are ethical issues as well, which stem from what to do with the leftover fertilized eggs, age of the mother, and stem cell issues. Regardless of how those questions get answered, it is the research of Dr. Robert Edwards, in vitro pioneer, and his partner, the late Patrick Steptoe, which enabled 4 million families to have the children they so desperately wanted. This past week, the Nobel Prize in medicine went to Dr. Edwards. He is now a professor emeritus at the University of Cambridge and is 85 years old. Too often, people are not recognized during their lifetime for achievements that affect others so profoundly. I'm glad Dr. Edwards got his Nobel while he is still alive. Congratulations to Dr. Edwards, all of his patients who have successfully conceived, and the babies who are here because of him.

The Difference You Can Make

The Associated Press reported an interesting fact today. Apparently, just before the current recession reared it's ugly head, the national birth rate went down. There has been a steep decline in the number of children under one year of age. Apparently, people do pay attention to their economic situation when planning a family. Of course, that translates into fewer children being placed for adoption, since fewer are born. Other disturbing reports indicate that the national abortion rate has increased dramatically. In his commencement speech to Notre Dame graduates, President Obama stated that "We need to make adoption more available". Please exercise your American right and write to Mr. Obama to tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Instead of funding more abortions, let's help fund adoptions and put some of that money into programs for single mothers, so that these children won't need to be aborted. I am reminded of the starfish story...where a little boy is walking along the shore throwing starfish back into the water before they dry up and die. A man approaches and says, "Why are you doing that? You see how many starfish there are? You can't possibly make a difference." The little boy bent down and picked up a starfish and flung it far out into the ocean. He smiled at the man and said, "Made a difference to that one!". We can all make a difference, as small and insignificant as we are -- but we have to make an effort, even a little one. Write your congress people and write Mr. Obama. What if that effort saved even a single life? The life you save may be the child who will eventually be yours.

Adoptions and Elections - VOTE!

Not only is November National Adoption Month, but it's also the month we elect our next president. No matter who you are voting for, make it a point to go out to the polls if you haven't already mailed in your ballot. We can't complain about our policy makers if we don't vote. For those of us involved in adoption -- either through family ties or emotional ties -- this is a critical vote. There is one pro-"choice" candidate and one pro-life candidate. I've talked about abortion in this blog before and you can go to the archives to see what I have to say about it, but suffice to say that life should come before "choice". I haven't met anyone who would choose to be aborted. I haven't met anyone who was happy about their "choice" to abort. On the contrary, I have spoken with many women who are forever traumatized by their decision. It's one of those decisions you can never take back. Anyone who has had children can look at one of them and understand the ramifications -- it could have been that one. Today's world is different than the world our parents or grandparents grew up in. It's acceptable to be single and pregnant. There is no shame in carrying a child to term, so there is no reason to kill a child to rectify an error in judgment. The child didn't make the error and had no choice at all. So, when you go to the polls tomorrow, think long and hard about how many lives you can save by simply casting your ballot. I don't think it matters whether you are republican or democrat, man or woman, Catholic or Protestant. You can change the world one life at a time. WWJD?