Saturday, September 18, 2010

Never alone

As vacation wound to a close, we had one last family dinner out. Walking out of the restaurant I noticed a man about my age holding a sweet baby girl about 9 months old. I smiled at the little girl and caught the eye of the man and told him how sweet she was, I also told him I am newly pregnant and have spent the week chatting up anybody with a baby.

He told C and I that it took he and his wife about 5 years to get pregnant and as we nodded in understanding he confided that they had been dealing with "fertility stuff." C and I instantly felt a connection to this stranger. As his wife came out onto the porch of the restaurant and smiled at us too, he introduced us as fellow climbers on the fertility mountain. His wife's face lit up and we immediately started sharing stories about panic attacks over shots and crying jags because of over the top hormones. Our husbands were smiling and commiserating right along with us.

In this single moment, infertility connected 4 strangers that normally would have walked on by with nothing more than a smile and nod. We are all out there. It was so freeing to talk to someone who understood. I'm still smiling about that moment. C and I felt so good, that we are never alone. There needs to be more moments like this. We will keep talking about it...long after our baby is grown with babies of their own, we will keep telling our story.

30 comments:

  1. I love those moments, those connections...they can make your week!

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  2. Random connections are the best! I find myself talking to total strangers these days too and it's so nice to know you are not alone out there!

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  3. This is such a sweet story. I would love to meet couples or people that was on the climb too.

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  4. That is great I always make it a point to let people know how we struggled to conceive so they know they aren't alone!

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  5. What a breath of fresh air, I can only imagine what a heart warming experience that was for all of you.

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  6. What a lovely story. I wish everyone was more open about their lives, it might just make this a better world. Good on you! xxx

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  7. Wow, what a great connection. What a lovely thing to happen. I have lately started forcing myself to try to be less jealous and bitter of people I see with kids and think that it is possible that they might understand. You really do never know. ICLW

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  8. wow, how amazing. Sometimes its hard to remember how many other people are out there struggling with IF.
    Nice story :)

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  9. What a great story. Isn't it amazing how you find so many other people who have fought the fight once you open up. I love it!

    ICLW

    I am now following too :)

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  10. Such a beautiful story!!

    I find it amazing when I can open up to people about our IF journey.

    Congrats on your pregnancy!!

    ICLW #100

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  11. Meeting random people who have been through the gamut is awesome: So wonderful that you guys connected with someone :-)

    ICLW

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  12. If there is one thing I can honestly say that I've enjoyed about this struggle with infertility, it is this:
    "In this single moment, infertility connected 4 strangers that normally would have walked on by with nothing more than a smile and nod."

    I love how we are such a loving, welcoming and supportive community.

    Congrats on being newly pregnant!!!
    ICLW #53
    http://funnylittlepollywog.com

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  13. So touching! I haven't connected with strangers in that way, but I have with acquaintances - and it is pretty amazing.

    makingmemom.blogspot.com

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  14. I love it. It's always great to know that we are not alone in our journeys.

    ~Stopping by for ICLW #69

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  15. I talk about how Lady G was an IVF bubba all the time - it's amazing the impact it can have on people. Some are thrilled to hear they are not alone. Others use it as an opportunity to find out more about something which it seems is rarely talked about, but about which they are curious. And you're right - it can form the coolest immediate bonds. Best of luck with your pregnancy - happy ICLW!

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  16. Congratulations on your pregnancy, how truly wonderful for you!

    iclw
    rach @ the miss ruby
    #19
    http://themissruby.blogspot.com/

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  17. I love that you were able to connect with a stranger like that! How great that he was so open about it right from the start! If more people talked about it freely, we all wouldn't feel so alone IRL.

    Happy ICLW!

    (ICLW #54)

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  18. I get it. The recognition, relief, barriers breaking down, sharing on a level of familiarity, not just pleasantries but something real and important to you, a laugh, a groan... it's great when that happens.

    Lisa (ICLW - #86 Your Great Life)

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  19. Love it! That's why I never hide my story--there are so many people out there! ICLW

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  20. what a great story! thanks for sharing!

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  21. Awesome! My cycle buddy and I were chatting it up in the waiting room and we knew most of the other ladies were IVF patients and they STILL wouldn't talk with us! It's great when strangers can open up to you.

    ICLW

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  22. That's fantastic - it's always nice to meet someone in the same boat who has survived.

    ICLW #115
    http://lovelyladybump.blogspot.com/

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  23. I *love* this post! It's amazing how, if we let it, IF can connect us. How beautiful that you were willing to share with a stranger and that he was willing to share with you as well!

    I intend on following your journey from here on out :).

    ICLW #43

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  24. I love that you were able to connect in such a random place. It's so hard to start that conversation, how brave of both of you to start it.

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  25. Wow, it's so lovely you were able to open up about it to strangers. I think it's fantastic that people are out there talking about it at all! We are very open about our struggle to have a baby and EVERYONE knows about it. It seems to have become gossip on the grapevine as even our next door neighbours were like 'We heard about that' when hubby mentioned it to them! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

    ICLW#12

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  26. Hello from ICLW. So great you were able to make a connection like that! And congrats on the pregnancy.
    Pixie--
    Cheese Curds and Kimchi

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  27. Isn't it awesome when you feel validated! Love to hear about stories like this! AND, I would love to feature your success story on my blog! Please go to this link for the details: http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com/2010/01/17/calling-all-success-stories/
    Happy ICLW!

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  28. How wonderful that you were able to reach out to one another. What a great moment of recognition and sharing of a common burden. Love it!

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  29. Isn't it crazy how quickly connected we are to a fellow "infertile"? I hate to say it, but I actually enjoy that part of IF, I am connected to so many wonderful people that I would otherwise not be connected to in any way...

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