Canadian Infertility Awareness Week (CIAW) 2010 - by Beverly Hanck (Fall 2010)

CANADIAN INFERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK (CIAW) 2010

by Beverly Hanck
Fall 2010

On a hot summer’s afternoon back in 2006, I sat in my office thinking. It occurred to me that people were walking to raise funds for cancer, selling poppies for our veterans and wristbands for this and that disease. Why couldn’t we have a special day set aside for infertility? Oh my gosh, a week would be even better! And that, my friends, was the beginning of CIAW!

One of the greatest challenges I was having at that time was that infertility patients were stigmatized by their diagnosis, and understandably so. When I was approached by the media, they were frequently looking for a couple who had or did this, or a couple who had or did that. Many patients called me and I spent a fair amount of time discussing various matters with them, but I realized that they never so much as gave me their first name and sometimes, obsessed with confidentiality, they would actually be whispering into the phone.

How could I possibly rid them of their shame and embarrassment? The only way would be through education, to have them know that they were not alone; that, in fact, there were thousands of them, and as with everything else, there would be strength in numbers.

In retrospect, I should have known that turning this challenge over to a group of women, with their natural creative attributes, would result in the huge success that CIAW has become. Indeed, we are becoming a force to contend with.

I could not begin to name the many helpers I have had along the way. I like this quotation by Christie Whitman: “Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference has never tried to fall asleep with a mosquito in the room”. Time and again we see where one single person can make all the difference. Think of Gandhi, Mandela and Martin Luther King … and the list goes on. Many patients and health care workers have shown not only great vision and dedication but genuine creativity in planning CIAW events. Again, many events were planned across Canada this year and dozens of media interviews came my way. We are becoming an ever stronger voice, and general public awareness has increased exponentially. In fact, hardly a week goes by without news stories about infertility in the newspapers or on television.

What can I say about Kara? Kara Kok-DeRose, who initiated and organized Portraits in the Park in Kitchener, Ontario, is a bubbly, sensitive and hard-working young lady who has been facing infertility challenges for the past five years. Kara had a dream which went something like this. She is a full-time employee at Rogers by day; by night and on weekends she is a professional photographer at her Purple Door Photography business. Sometime last summer Kara thought, “How can I help other infertile couples?” She wrote me an email explaining what she had in mind. She wanted to offer photography sessions in Victoria Park in Kitchener. She would provide half-hour sessions for families for a nominal fee and profits would go to IAAC. I was delighted, as no patient had ever offered to fundraise for IAAC; I certainly did not lack enthusiasm. Kara raised $1,250 for IAAC in September 2009. She was so inspired by her initial success that she wanted to repeat the event –with even higher objectives – during CIAW 2010. And she succeeded again!

Jocelyn Smith and I were up early and hit the road to Kitchener on schedule. We could not have asked for a more perfect day on May 16th. We laughed a lot as we often do—Jocelyn and I both laugh and cry easily. A little road-tired but happy, we finally arrived.

We were greeted at the door by both of Kara’s parents; her brother was nearby in charge of the beverages. Kara’s mom tracked down Kara and the next thing I knew we were in each other’s arms sharing a big hug. I felt as I always do with the young female patients – it’s as if I have another daughter and another and another. My heart was filled to bursting and that feeling lasted all day.

Dozens of families flocked to Victoria Park to have their portraits taken. Kara had 15 volunteer photographers bustling around shooting pictures. Kara, her wonderful husband, Nathan, and family were monitoring the raffle table, and keeping track of who was where with which photographer. One hundred and thirty families had pre-booked their sessions while others arrived randomly. The spirit of this event, on this perfectly beautiful spring day, was a little like a fairy tale. It was simply awe-inspiring to see the families, with their children, babies and animals, congregate in the name of infertility to support Kara and Nathan and all the infertile couples across Canada. It was truly magical!

Jocelyn and I mingled with everyone. I held the sweetest baby girl in my arms; the only reason she stayed with me was because she was desperately trying to eat my earring; she and her sister were IVF babies. I think the pictures Kara has provided here tell the story of this glorious day. Kara, along with many devoted supporters, raised $4,000 for IAAC. Kara is entertaining the idea of having similar events across the country; hopefully, she will compile some directives so that other cities can participate.

Apart from Portraits in the Park, numerous other events took place during our CIAW. There were at least fifteen other major initiatives. I received a card from Victoria, B.C., where the infertile community took part in the 112th Island Farms Victoria Day Parade, which was followed by a festive BBQ. This year’s parade included 127 entries and Clementine Hudson and her team (Jen, Areli, Natasha & Stephanie) worked hard to demonstrate unity, sporting their yellow “Conceive the Dream” t-shirts as they walked proudly alongside their float – a car decorated with pompoms, hand and foot prints and, of course, a stork. They were thrilled to receive two Top Three finishes by parade judges in the categories Cars Decorated and Walking Group. More than 250 people attended the BBQ, while a news channel covered both events.

I vote we keep on keeping on. Our community wants and needs funded treatment and medications so we can proudly build our families, our communities and our country!

Heartfelt Thanks Goes Out
To These Photographers:

Kara DeRose - Purple Door Photography
Kristen Anderson - Willow Photography
Jen Martin
Shirley Henhoeffer-Cronkite - Sweet Exposure Photography
Laura Camozzi- Sweet Exposure Photography
Heather Burley - Pamela Wideman Photography
Leanne Murray - Intuition Photography
Mike Good - Doxy Photography
Simon Hammond - Simon Hammond Photography
Amy Schuster - Amy Schuster & Angela Shepherd Photography
Christine Reid - Christine Reid Photography
Lorie McMahon- EmiLLy GraYce Photography
Joanne Chesterton
Stephanie Canada SC Photography
Sandra Madeiros