I forget how small this world is.
And how much smaller it becomes through the simple act of blogging.
When I started writing here, I did it because I knew absolutely no one going through the same thing I was. In my real life, I felt incredibly alone – both in the infertility, and the endometriosis. I knew no one who could relate. No one who would ever truly understand.
And then, I started writing. And these connections formed that I never in a million years imagined. Women reaching out who had walked my same path. Women who understood. Who got it. Who had been there, done that, and survived just fine.
And women who were just starting out even as my road seemed to be coming to an end.
A few months ago, I was contacted by a local girl dealing with endometriosis and infertility. Someone just looking for that connection I had been looking for myself only a year before. Looking for someone who understood, and could hopefully offer up some pieces of advice.
I was able to refer her to Teeny, and gave her the information I had on a local doctor doing cycles for far cheaper than what was being done at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
A doctor who I unfortunately did not hear about until after my cycles had come to an end.
She and I corresponded back and forth for a while, but it wasn’t until last week that we decided to meet up. With her cycle getting ready to begin, we thought it would be a good idea to take on a hike and get our blood pumping.
We didn’t count on all the snow still collecting along a local favorite for hikers though.
It’s May after all – I had somehow convinced myself that summer was beginning.
As we treacherously pulled ourselves up the side of this mountain (and then as I gracefully had to come all the way back down on my butt), we did a lot of talking. A lot of talking about things neither of us ever gets to talk about much with anyone else.
Sharing information on doctors, and medications. Side effects and IVF protocols. Discussing topics that typically remain out of our day to day lives, as we each try to assimilate into a world that does not revolve around endometriosis and infertility.
I couldn’t help but laugh at the ties that bond. The subjects that can bring two people together who would otherwise be strangers, and give them something to talk about in detail for hours on end.
I found myself wondering why it was that we hadn’t gotten together sooner. The only thing I could come up with was the timing. When she first contacted me, it was shortly after that second failed cycle. I’m not sure I was in the right place to want to find that connection anymore. In fact, I’m fairly convinced that I wanted nothing more to do with this world at all at that point.
But yesterday? It was nice. Nice to be able to be there for someone about to start the journey. Nice to talk to someone dealing with a disease I now know all too well. And nice to interact with someone who simply… got it.
The ties that bind.
I’m pretty sure we all wish we weren’t members of this rotten little club. But if you’ve got to be here, at least it’s nice to know that you’re in such good company. That there are so many incredible women out there who understand. Who get it. And who know all too well what embarking upon this path entails.
I’m thinking of you friend. As you start this round and brave your very first shot. I’m thinking of you.
And crossing everything I’ve got that you turn out to be one of the lucky ones…
Because we could use a fertility win up here in AK.
And besides that; you deserve it!
