Pass the Hat, Change the World

by: Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos

Instead of buying a glass of wine or beer tonight (oh, who am I to get between you and an adult beverage -- go ahead and do so) but also support TheCycleLivingATaboo and help eliminate infertility ignorance

 

Am I (and six other women) a little insane to stand on a stage in NYC on Sept 27 and share stories about how not being able to bear a child changed our lives? Perhaps. But we’re doing it because we know it will help others.

Some life experiences — coming of age, marriage, illness, death — are universally understood. That’s because we are socialized in how to respond to them. We have words and rituals. We share common behaviors, norms — etiquette — that allow us to navigate and move through them with either social celebration or social healing and empathy.

Infertility? Just whisper it and everyone runs for the doors. No one knows what to say, how to react, what is expected. It’s time to change that.

By giving voice to a complex, misunderstood experience we aim to reshape the way society views infertility. Why? So future generations won’t have to suffer the indignity of ignorance or disdain. You can help, too!

 

1.  Share in a blog comment why it’s important to eliminate the taboo around infertility around the world
2. *DONATE -- no contribution is too small or large (all donations are tax deductible)
3. Tweet or blog details about this event to spread the word

Tweet: Join or support #TheCycleLivingATaboo, an #infertility forum led by patients, advocates, health professionals on 9/27 http://ow.ly/ojdEO

 

You’ll feel great for seizing the opportunity to help others move forward in a healthy way.

 

*Why are we passing the hat? To help a valiant documentary film-maker operating under a 501 3(c) pay for a NY theater she’s rented for the sole purpose of delivering a transformative, memorable, historic evening and capture a collection of stories that have never been heard.

 

Unlike other consumer-facing infertility outreach efforts, this event is not sponsored by the pharmaceutical or reproductive technology industries. The goal is to tell the "un-sponsored truth" about infertility. This means we are truly on a shoestring. In fact, The Cycle staff consists entirely of volunteers who have been in the trenches of infertility and devoted hundreds of hours of their personal time and financial resources to put together this public service event.

For the price a of designer cup of coffee ($5), a bottle of wine ($18) or a movie night ($25) you can make a difference not only to this project -- but to a significant, if silent, segment of society who wishes their family and friends could understand or better support them.

 

Thank you for making the world a gentler, kinder place.

 

 

Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos
Co-Producer: The Cycle: Living a Taboo
Buy Tickets to The Cycle: Living a Taboo
Author: Award-Winning Book Silent Sorority
Make a tax deductible donation to Change How Media Covers Infertility