Every Sunday morning
after the customary tackling from the little ones, I am left feeling blessed and fortunate to have become a parent. My kids
show me a sense of love and dedication that doesn't come with any demands. Their love is given unconditionally and without
pretence, they are just excited to be able to spend some quality time with their dad. Being a parent is an experience I wouldn't give up
for anything in this world. It is at times very stressful, yet equally rewarding.
I can't help but think about those less fortunate than
myself. Those, who for years have struggled with infertility and a sense of failure. My beautiful wife and I thought that
getting pregnant was just so routine. We would decide when we were going to have a family and that would be it, she would
just get pregnant. When I think back, I realize just how sorely mistaken we were. It is simply not that easy. There are
so many different factors that go into getting pregnant. You can be the most fantastic lover; being attentive, caring and
romantic means nothing when trying to become pregnant. It is in somebody else's hands, you are just the recipient of life's
good fortune.
I
am thankful that we didn't have to resort to infertility treatments. That is not to say that I don't believe in them, because
I do. If it had ever gotten to that point, I would have done whatever was needed to become a dad. My wife and I share the
same family beliefs and values. Our wants and desires were always the same whenever we talked about becoming parents.
We have, for many years listened
attentively to friends who have spent thousands of dollars on in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. They have had to endure
the disappointment each time they get back the results. Hearing the doctor tell them, "sorry, we were not successful
this time" must be very depressing. For the most part, we all think of becoming a parent as a right, that we should
all be entitled to partake in the ritual. If it were only that easy.
Somebody once asked me if I thought that the government should
get involved in assisting wannabe parents with the costs of getting pregnant. At first, I was of the no side, however I was
easily swayed when I thought back to when we were first trying ourselves to have a family. I am now very "Pro"
funding of IVF treatments. I believe that it would reduce the overall cost of healthcare when you factor in the additional
costs of premature births, respiratory diseases and extended hospital stays for newborns.
Now with 1 in 6 Ontarians struggle with infertility, do you think we need
a change?
*This article was written
and supplied to WonderMoms by an "anonymous" Dad, Father and supporter of the WonderMoms website.
