Rainy with a chance of baby | Kara DeFrias | TEDxCoMo

Summary

The speaker shares her journey of infertility, diagnosed with PCOS, and her struggle to conceive. She discusses her initial reluctance to discuss her condition due to feelings of embarrassment and isolation but eventually decides to make her personal blog public to connect with others facing similar challenges. After discovering she has uterine cancer, she undergoes a hysterectomy but first preserves her eggs through IVF. The story highlights the importance of open dialogue about fertility issues, the emotional journey, and the empowerment that comes from sharing one's experiences.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker initially followed a traditional life plan: college, job, marriage, and children.
• ✈️ She moved to San Diego after marrying someone she met on an airplane.
• 🚫 Despite wanting children, she faced infertility issues and was diagnosed with PCOS, affecting her menstrual cycle and pregnancy chances.
• 💻 The speaker turned to online research and blogging as a way to cope and understand her condition.
• 🗣️ She found that many women were experiencing similar struggles but were hesitant to discuss them openly.
• 🌐 Making her blog public, she aimed to create a support network and reduce the feeling of isolation for others facing infertility.
• 🍃 Considering alternative treatments, she explored Eastern medicine, including acupuncture, which helped regulate her menstrual cycle.
• 🏥 A uterine cancer diagnosis led to a full hysterectomy, ending her chances of carrying her own children.
• 🧪 She underwent IVF to preserve her fertility, resulting in six embryos being stored for future surrogacy.
• 🙏 The speaker emphasizes the importance of open dialogue about fertility issues to support others and reduce the sense of isolation.
• 🌟 She encourages embracing life fully, taking on opportunities, and being open about personal struggles to create a supportive community.

Q & A

What was the original life plan outlined by the speaker?

The speaker's original life plan included going to college, getting a job, moving out of New Jersey, getting married, and having kids.

What health condition was the speaker diagnosed with that affected her fertility?

The speaker was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a hormonal imbalance that can make it difficult to get pregnant and can cause irregular periods.

How did the speaker initially respond to her diagnosis of PCOS?

Initially, the speaker responded by researching PCOS online and starting a private blog to track her doctor's visits, health, and state of mind.

Why did the speaker decide to make her blog public?

The speaker decided to make her blog public to help others who might be going through similar experiences feel less alone and to empower women to talk about fertility issues.

What alternative medical approach did the speaker consider for her fertility issues?

The speaker considered acupuncture as an alternative medical approach to help with her fertility issues.

What was the unexpected diagnosis the speaker received after starting acupuncture treatment?

After starting acupuncture treatment, the speaker was diagnosed with uterine cancer.

What medical procedure did the speaker undergo as a result of her uterine cancer diagnosis?

The speaker underwent a full hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which means the removal of her uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.

What does the speaker mean by 'fertility preservation' in the context of her medical journey?

Fertility preservation refers to the process of extracting and storing eggs before the speaker's hysterectomy, in the hope of using them with a surrogate in the future.

How did the speaker's experience with infertility and cancer impact her perspective on life?

The speaker's experiences led her to embrace life fully, saying yes to opportunities, and to advocate for open conversations about fertility and cancer experiences to create support systems.

What was the speaker's attitude towards the challenges she faced, as reflected in her speech?

The speaker maintained a positive and proactive attitude, focusing on gratitude, the opportunity to help others through sharing her story, and the importance of open dialogue about fertility and health issues.