Clifton parents Wally and Kristin Acuña have a 5-year-old son and 2-year-old triplets. Conceiving after their first child wasn't so easy and after a year of struggling, they decided to try in vitro fertilization (IVF). Anyone who has dealt with infertility issues knows how difficult it can be. There are the numerous pregnancy tests taken every month that come out negative; there's the emotional stress of not being able to conceive; then there are the tests to find out the problem. Forget about how much this all costs.
Two organizations are trying to offer education, resources and emotional support for couples experiencing infertility: Fertility LifeLines™ and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. They have joined together to create the In The Know Short Film Series, a collection of short films submitted by people who share their experience with infertility.
The Acuñas are now finalists in the competition. The Film Festival takes place tomorrow, November 5, in New York City, where the winners will be announced.
I spoke to Kristin about the competition:
We got pregnant with our first child very quickly. But after trying for a year to get pregnant again, my heart told me something was wrong. After seeing an Infertility Specialist and going through a month or so of testing, we were told we were experiencing Secondary Infertility and would need to do IVF to have any chance of having more children. With our first round of IVF, we implanted three eggs and all three took. We are now the proud parents of 2 1/2 year old triplets!We felt our story could give couples hope and also encouragement. We feel so blessed everyday, even on the bad days, to have our children. We also felt we wanted to be a part of infertility awareness because when we started our journey we had very little information or support. So many couples have problems conceiving, I think it's comforting to know there are other couples going through it or have gone through it.
If our film wins on Thursday, we will receive a small cash prize...that will go right into their education fund!
You can watch the films live at Fertility LifeLines tomorrow at 8 p.m. and see if Wally and Kristin win.
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Comments (17)
wow, I can't even imagine footing the bill for three kids in college at the same time, that'll be what, $120K per year for 4 years in discretionary income.
I watched this video on the NYTimes website a few nights ago: Million Dollar Babies
The Mormon couple's decision and how they came to their decision to keep all six fetuses DRIVES ME NUTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I'm happy these folks have three healthy and awesome 2 1/2 year olds.
I'd have more empathy if they were talking about their first child via IVF, but for their second (third, and fourth)?
I agree with Peter. Triplets no less. Multiple births is one of the top reasons we have such low infant mortality rates here - it was just on the news this morning. Does anyone think about what high care multiple birth babies cost the rest of us in insurance dollars? I'm really happy they are doing fine and have a wonderful family, but at some point we have to stop thinking that having 3, 4 5, 6 or 8 kids at once is a blessing. It's the result of a procedure that people choose to undergo because they want to have their own kids.
"Does anyone think about what high care multiple birth babies cost the rest of us in insurance dollars?"
Let's just hope gurl, that you will be as fertile as you want to be when the time comes.
Thank you Right of Center! I'm the mom in the above article and I want to respond more positively than the above people! All I want to say is that we were not looking for "empathy" with this article! JUST awareness! The other comments above are not worth getting into a debate over! Until you walk in my shoes...
As someone who HAS walked in your shoes (having traveled the IF road for several years ourselves), we were lucky enough to have 2 healthy children. One through IVF, one the old fashioned way, after years of being told it wouldn't happen that way! I just wanted to pop on here & offer my support for you in telling your story. People just don't understand what a difficult emotional crisis it is to go through, unless they've been through it themselves. And I think it's great to share what you've been through.
And by the way - to the critics - no one chooses to have multiples... (not the sane ones at least!)... but it's a risk that you take. The doctors all told me they hope for just one baby in every patient... multiples make for a high risk pregnancy for the mom & the babies, so it's not what anyone hopes for. But just like any other medical procedure, there are risks. You weigh those potential risks, and decide if you're okay with them. For us, we decided not to do IVF for our 2nd because of those risks. But I would never judge anyone else who decided differently. Just like anyone else undergoing any medical treatment... it has to be an individual choice.
I'm rooting for your film to win! Good luck!
A grammatical point: doctors do not "implant" embryos; they transfer them. Implantation is what the embryos do after this procedure, on their own - they affix themselves to the uterine wall - resulting in pregnancy.
One of my children is an IVF baby; the other an IUI, and I am still so grateful for the reproductive technology that got me these children.
Congratulations on the film and the healthy family!
To one of the comments above, secondary infertility--not being able to have a child after you've had one--is a devastating health issue most people do not understand. I would never judge anyone here for any choice they make.
And to speak of multiple birth as a health insurance burden is cold. IVF or not, we do not choose to have multiples. What should we do, selectively abort so we only have one? Ick, that'sa grisly thought...
I hope those who had such negative comments above never, ever have to watch someone they love go through infertility. It is a very difficult and painful experience, regardless if it is their first, second, third or fourth child! I watched my sister Kristin go through this! Like someone mentioned, no one chooses to have multiples it is a risk that they must face. And maybe Ms. Jersey Gurl should get her facts straight! Most states have laws that only allow 3 embryos to be implanted - Jon and Kate and Octomom are not the NORM but the exception!
And thank God, my sister and brother-in-law were very blessed with three beautiful children who have enriched their lives as well as our lives tremendously!
I think it is great that my sister decided to share such a personal story with others, to give other couples who are dealing with infertility some hope!
My fingers and toes are crossed that they win tomorrow night!
"Most states have laws that only allow 3 embryos to be implanted - Jon and Kate and Octomom are not the NORM but the exception!"
I believe you are wrong about that one. Standards applied come from the medical community not laws.
I was also told by my doctor that some states do regulate the amount of embryos they are allowed to transfer. Whether it's a law or not, I don't know. But I don't believe you can transfer more than 3 in NJ. I know California doesn't have those restrictions because I have a friend who transferred 4 there. Regardless though, Kristen's sister is right - those cases in the media are the exception. Irresponsible doctors in those cases did not follow reccomended practices. Kate Gosslin did an IUI & had 6 follicles... my fertility doctor would never continue with the IUI with that many potential eggs... if those had all split, it could've been 12 babies. They would've switched it to an IVF and then they would've been able to control the process a little better. Wht her doctors didn't, I do not know. Also, Octomom is a ridiculous case. She should NEVER have been allowed to have that many transferred at one time. Her doctor is totally responsible for allowing that to happen. And as we all have seen, she doesn't seem to be the sanest person around!
Also, being someone who had trouble getting pregnant with both my 1st & 2nd, I can say that it's difficult whenever you're going though it. It is a different feeling when you are already blessed with one child & praying for a sibling for them, but it is just as emotionally hard of a struggle to go through.
thanks to those with your supportive comments! Just one more thing I need to add, NJ only allows the "transfer" of 3 eggs and we also were required to do 2 sessions with a therapist! That was interesting! And to Rubynyc's point, clearly no one was regulating the Octomom!!
As far I as can tell there are no state laws regarding the number. Of course, medical professionals should "regulate" the number. Ca & Ga were pushing for a law last year.
"What law allows for the transfer of only 3 eggs?" I am sure you are correct but this is a medical standard & not a law. Two very different things. I may be wrong but I have done some research into medical ethics & as far as I can tell there are no laws only medical standards.
A limit of 3 embryos is definitely not law in NJ. As one who has a singleton and has done 9 cycles of IVF (all paid for out of pocket, so let's not start talking about the cost to society/insurance premiums here) and who has had several transfers of 4-5 embryos both before and after the birth of said singleton in NJ and in NY, I can definitively say that it's not against the law. I can also say that my doctors, both in NJ and NY, agreed to the transfer of that many embryos only after several cycles in which 2 or 3 embryos were transferred and failed to implant. The limit on the number of embryos is not mandated, but rather a responsible medical choice that sometimes needs to be flexible given individual circumstances. I do not believe that any responsible reproductive endocrinologist would agree to transfer more than three (and many won't transfer more than two) embryos on a first or even second cycle.
Good luck with the film!
I believe many insurance carriers have restrictions on the embryo transfers, but I could be wrong.