Writing about IVF and the Election for The Washington Post.
I owe my daughter to IVF. Threats to access hurt families like mine.
Did you know that finding a copy of The Washington Post in New York City is not easy? I found it, but it took stops at multiple newsstands before I had success. I was eager to purchase a copy because my Opinion piece was published today!
If you’re a subscriber, you can read it here. If you’re not, put on your reading glasses and zoom into the photo below.
The main message, or “lede” of my letter is, “It’s crucial for Americans to cast a vote in this upcoming election for the presidential candidates who are most likely to keep family planning decisions where they belong: in the hands of the individuals making those choices.”
The conclusion, “My daughter Carolina is one of the more than 12 million babies who have been born because of access to IVF. It’s crucial to remember the complex, often heart-wrenching stories behind every one of those children. Please, vote with us in mind in November. As Robert Edwards, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for developing IVF, once said, “Nothing is more special than a child.”
Special Thanks To The OpEd Project
Last month, I participated in a two-day “Write to Change the World” intensive with The OpEd project.
This workshop is based on time-tested models of transformational learning, designed to unlock knowledge in powerful and unexpected ways. We explore the source of credibility; the patterns and elements of persuasion; the difference between being “right” and being effective; how to preach beyond the choir; and how to think bigger about what you know—to have more impact in the world. Participants emerge with concrete results (op-ed drafts and more), and access to our national network of journalist mentors for individual follow up. Our workshops are also designed to inspire and cultivate a greater sense of social responsibility by clarifying our potential impact on the world.
Thanks in large part to what I learned in the workshop, plus, feedback from my mentor match, Katherine Reed from The Association of Healthcare Journalists, Alyssa Rosenberg accepted my opinion piece for The Washington Post.
Special thanks to Laura Van Straaten for introducing me to the OpEd project.
Calling All Early Birds!
Introducing something new. Drumroll, please...
TGI-Fly! It’s a free writing group that I’ll be hosting (early) on Friday, 10/18, at 6:30 am Eastern. Everyone is welcome!
Here’s what it will look like:
Dial in. Be on time. Late arrivals will disrupt the flow.
Have your camera on—it helps create connection and community. Leave your makeup off—it’s too early.
(5 minutes) We’ll start by reading a few things to get our creative juices flowing. I’ll bring the passages and show them on-screen.
I’ll put a set of prompts on-screen for you to choose from.
(15 minutes)Cameras will go off, and we’ll write (using paper and pen, or pencil) for fifteen minutes uninterrupted. You can choose to answer a prompt or choose to work on something else you’re writing.
At the end of 15 minutes, the cameras will go back on.
If anyone would like to share what they wrote, they can put their name in the chat.
(10 minutes) Time for two shares.
At 7 am sharp, we’ll sign off.
If the first session goes well, we'll do it again the following Friday.
You don’t need to sign up to join; you can simply dial into the Zoom link on Friday.
The Zoom link is here.
Add your name to this list to receive a calendar invitation to join.
Pajamas welcome.
Spread the word!
Marathon Update
I am so grateful to everyone who donated, shared, and supported my NYC marathon fundraiser. The race is just a few weeks away and I’m thrilled to share I’ve exceeded my goal of raising $3500 to support Resolve.org, the National Infertility Association. They are working hard to protect access to IVF.
If you haven’t yet donated, and you’d like to support me and Resolve, you can donate here. Your contributions, whether financial or through spreading the word, are deeply appreciated and every dollar makes a difference.
You are doing very important work Lia. Xo