Big HAPPY News!

My friend has gotten some extremely exciting, happy, wonderful news! Ever since, I keep crying happy tears.

Before we discuss the joyous news that has already touched many lives since Friday night when my friend got word of it, please indulge me in a little reflection backwards.

Once upon a time, a very special woman contacted me to inquire about the local (in-person) endometriosis support group which I was then facilitating. We “met” first by email and then phone calls. We got to know each other very well before meeting in person. The local infertility support group leader and I organized a joint meeting. (I had gotten my friend in contact with this woman between when we “met” and when this joint meeting was held). Lo and behold, the night arrived for the joint meeting of the endometriosis and infertility support groups in our area. I was excited about the meeting for many reasons, not the least of which was that I was finally going to meet the very special woman this story is about.

When I met her, she looked like this:

Let me tell you: the bubbly, happy, energetic woman you see here is every bit as amazing, fun, and brimming with positivity in person as you would imagine from what you’ve read here. Yes, we’re talking about Alicia (aka Yaya). Regular readers here have heard me talk about Alicia, have seen her in “My Healing Posse”, and many of you read her blog as well. (I’m not going to link to her blog just yet because it will throw off my narrative. So bear with me). If you’re not already reading her blog, I highly recommend it.

The night we met, the infertility support group leader was facilitating the meeting. When she started around the circle, Alicia was one of the first people who had a “turn” to speak. There were several people at the meeting I’d never met in person and I was in conversation with these other people before the meeting began. So, Alicia and I had not yet even spoken to each other when the meeting began. Alicia, however, had figured out who I was and the very first thing she did when it was her turn to speak was ask the infertility support group leader, “before I start, can I just say thank you to Jeanne?”, at which point she stood up (yes, I am typing through tears right now like it was yesterday)…

I, sitting on the opposite side of the circle, stood up as well. We simultaneously and instinctively gave each other a big hug (the kind of hug typically reserved for those people you’ve known for years) and we both started crying… really crying. While this was our first time meeting in person, we had been in intense communication leading up to that night. Alicia had been through a devastating miscarriage. I was ill-equipped to support her myself but had tried to help get her connected with resources (local or otherwise). Her pain was palpable, profound, and very deep. I wanted desperately to support her anyway I possibly could. It was a very sad time.

Alicia wanted nothing more than to fill this house:

Like so many of Alicia’s immense number of friends, I stood helplessly by and watched my friend suffer in emotional and physical pain. I had met many women who had experienced miscarriages, particularly through the endometriosis support group that I led from 2001-8. However, I never understood it as well before I met Alicia as I do now. (I do not pretend to understand it as she does. I never will. However, her candor and courage helped me to understand it far better than I had before talking with her and reading her amazing writing about it).

So it was via the endometriosis support group I met one of the most giving, caring, thoughtful people I have ever had the good fortune to meet in my entire life… Alicia. She is generous, helpful, and kind. As anyone who reads the comments people leave on her blog knows, she’s the kind of person that so many would give anything to meet. Alicia’s philosophy of life, her beliefs, and her values are the essence of hope and the essence of life. Her love for life, her uninhibited manner, her endless good works to help others know no bounds. From starting the social networking group called the Mommy Wannabe Club to creating Tears For My Baby (see left sidebar), from her brutally honest blog posts about miscarriages, infertility, and adoption… to her private conversations with what she calls “in real life” friends, Alicia’s selfless warmth and consideration for others are hard to even describe in words. She is just a remarkable woman.

In the course of time I’ve known Alicia, she has experienced tremendous heartache and pain. Before she and I ever met, she and her husband Josh were trying to conceive. In fact, they have been trying to conceive for 7 years now. In addition, she has had multiple miscarriages. Her firsthand experience with miscarriages and infertility have helped a great many people. By blogging about her experiences with extreme candor and detail, she has touched the hearts and mind of a great many people. Her adoption posts have educated and inspired so many.

Those of you who read Alicia’s blog know that she and Josh have pursued infertility treatment and the foster-to-adopt process simultaneously. Alicia has chronicled the side effects of infertility medications and she has written about the foster-to-adopt process in great detail. It is through Alicia that I am aware that November is National Adoption Month (click button above for more information). Her advocacy work helps so many people. She simply makes the world a better place.

We, the fortunate readers of her blog, have been educated about adoption and specifically the foster-to-adopt process. Alicia and Josh took the classes required. They did the home study process. In short, they have lived the infertility and adoption processes for a very long time now. There have been many crushing blows, many terrible disappointments.

Recently, after numerous disappointments and a great deal of waiting… Alicia and Josh decided to shift gears and pursue private adoption rather than a foster-to-adopt situation as they had originally planned (this is covered in detail on her blog).

Then, last Friday, came “the phone call”. Yes, the call! Now, you should hear the rest directly from Alicia (aka Yaya).

Just click the box below to hear about it in her own words…

I have known many, many people who have struggled with infertility. I can honestly say I have never met anyone who wanted to be a mother more than Alicia. I know there are many who wish to be parents just as much. However, I have never met anyone who wanted it more than her.

CONGRATULATIONS ALICIA AND JOSH!!!

I will close with a quote that Alicia and I reference often. The image below is a refrigerator magnet. Alicia has one on her fridge. Thanks to her, I have the same one on my fridge. Alicia went through times of discouragement, disappointment, and sadness while she waited for the opportunity to become a parent. No better how bad things ever got, she never gave up hope… at least not for any length of time. Alicia’s hope is inspirational. Please join me in wishing Alicia and Josh the best in their exciting new venture into parenthood. This child will be so loved!

To read Alicia’s articles on miscarriages, infertility, and adoption, see her blog, Yaya Stuff. Check out the left sidebar where she has these posts organized.

This post was written by Jeanne at http://chronichealing.com. Copyright © Jeanne — chronichealing.com. All rights reserved.

“Peace is not something you wish for; it’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.” ~~ Robert Fulghum

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