A few times during this long TTC journey I've come across stories from friends that make our problems seem small. Just yesterday, we heard that a distant friend's 5 (ish?) year old son was diagnosed with cancer in his brain. So devastating, I can't imagine going through that. Stories like this remind me to be thankful for what we do have.
Have any stories humbled you along your IF/TTC journey?
grapefruit / 4703 posts
Yes! Even right here on HB. Hearing stories about people who have been trying for much longer than me, or who have had multiple miscarriages, or lost a child makes me feel horrible for pouting about my IF struggles. I think it's human nature to think that no one has it worse than you, but I do try to keep my problems in perspective.
pomelo / 5228 posts
@Shutterbug: Exactly! I can also point out a major struggle that just about every close friend/couple of mine is going through. I try to remind myself not to be jealous that they were able to have kids easily.
honeydew / 7916 posts
When I saw the women at my clinic who had traveled from so far away to do an IVF cycle it made my struggles there seem so small. They must have gone through so much more than me but they were so positive!
pomelo / 5228 posts
I also know a couple who finally had a kid after 7 years of infertility, including two second trimester twin losses, and at least one singleton loss.
grapefruit / 4110 posts
Those that have not been successful and look into other options remind me how lucky I am to have had one success. I feel selfish for wanting more sometimes.
My nephew was diagnosed with leukemia at 3 years old but has responded remarkably well to the treatments. My sister was pregnant at the time (cause she gets preggers whenever anyone else gets a baby). She had to put on gloves to wipe his butt so it wouldn't hurt the baby. When her baby was about 9 months old she texts me "looks like we have to wean". She had to choose between staying home with her nursing baby or going to the hospital with her older son. She bought a cheap pump and pumped and dumped that weekend. They nursed until he was 1 year old.
We all have our struggles.
pear / 1531 posts
Yes, DH and I would discuss this frequently to put things in perspective. During the course of our "period of infertility," his cousins, for instance, lost two teenagers to a genetic disease in the same year. One of my friends lost her father in a freak accident. One got cancer. One's marriage fell apart. Another friend lost her baby at 22 weeks--I felt terrible for having been so jealous of her. Everyone who is on this crazy journey called life has tragic things happen to them. They are all just a bit different. So it is hard to feel sorry for yourself for too long.
bananas / 9899 posts
A friend of mine had to have her cervix removed due to cancer. She will likely never be able to carry a child. I can't even imagine.
One of my client's 9 year old daughter died after a car accident.
A couple in my church lost a newborn baby just days after she was born. Their strength especially inspires me.
persimmon / 1081 posts
A friend of my sister's had breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. She had to undergo chemo and radiation, but was single, so she froze some of her eggs. She was 29 at the time. I hope when she finally settles down she doesn't have trouble conceiving.
pear / 1786 posts
I haven't experienced any tragic stories from people close to me but I have tried to keep things in perspective. IF is very hard but losing someone close would be even harder.
nectarine / 2600 posts
Yes. 
one of my sorority sisters lost her four month old son to a brain tumor. So, so sad and heartbreaking.
kiwi / 742 posts
I love the idea of perspective! I know sometimes I catch myself and say, just because you get pregnant and have a baby doesn't mean the worrying stops there. It's so easy to get tunnel vision and it's necessary to take a step back and reflect on life every now and again.
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