Hope and Prayers for Infertility

Reflection by Sarah Johnson 

On January 29th, I had the honor of attending the Archdiocese of Philadelphia St. Gerard Mass for couples experiencing infertility.  Steve Bozza, Director of the Office of Family and Life [OFL] ooordinated the Mass to help fill a hole they have seen for a long time - helping couples struggling with infertility emotionally and spiritually with the burden they face.  As someone who fought infertility for over three years, I was so grateful to see this program underway.    The evening began with a Mass, which was a wonderful way to bring everyone in the room closer through the sharing of God's Word and the Eucharist.  Then several people spoke.  Steve shared why he and his wife personally wanted to get this program started.  A couple named Leeann and Patrick Morgan shared a little of their personal story as a couple struggling with infertility and spoke of how they will be leading this program as it gets started.  Dr. Burke shared his medical experience as a reproductive endocrinologist and he and his wife's story of adoption. I was humbled to speak about the Gianna Center [where many of the couples already go] and tell my story.  Afterward, the couples were given a time to talk and socialize. The journey of a couple facing infertility is so personal, so unique.  And yet for all the differences in the stories, all face the loneliness, despair, anger and grief.  Having an outlet for that pain and stress can make all the difference, especially because it is a trial for both husband and wife at the same time.  I remember how much I leaned on my husband for his strength and support - so much so that I think I didn't give him much room to feel or express his own pain and sadness.  I also came to realize that as much as I needed my husband's help, we did experience infertility differently.  He could compartmentalize it more easily, while I obsessed over every small biological twinge and couldn't get away from it.  And I didn't know then how helpful it could be to have another woman to talk to who was experiencing the same pain.  That's why this program is so important for those who need the support.  We should all pray for its success.     If you would like to know more about the program, please contact Steve Bozza [sbozza@archphila.org] at OFL.  Steve will also be trying to arrange another St. Gerard Mass for June.  The Friends of FertilityCare Philadelphia are a group of health care professionals and members of our community who wish to promote effective, integrated health care for women and couples. To that end, the Friends of FertilityCare are dedicated to making Creighton Model FertilityCare services and NaProTechnology known, respected and applied throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The primary intention of the Friends of FertilityCare is to educate all people in the "good news" of Creighton Model FertilityCare System and NaProTechnology.