I'm Blogging for Fertility Authority

We Are All Made of Stars started out as a training blog and has evolved into something much more. First, with Mom's cancer diagnosis, and then with the fertility treatments, blogging has helped me do something positive and constructive with my thoughts, feelings and fears. Connecting with others on a similar path has brought me strength and joy amidst the emotional roller-coaster that comes with both of these life-changing events. 

And who knew there were others going through the exact same thing as me? Just last week I received this comment on one of my posts:

Unknown July 20, 2014 at 7:44 AM

Wow Megan. Stumbled upon your blog by accident. My husband and I were engaged in Jan 2013. My mom was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer with mets in her brain and lungs in August. We were married in September and started exploring IVF immediately (our only fertility option as my husband lost both testes to cancer 5 years ago). Moved in February to live closer to mom. Things were put on hold for a while as I was taking care of my mom full time but she's stabilized a bit and we are doing egg retrieval for IVF cycle 1 on Monday. I want so much for this to succeed... my mom may not be here when I have a baby but just seeing me pregnant will make her so happy. Sound familiar? Good luck with this cycle I'll be praying for you guys! (and your mom).

Pretty incredible, right? We have since started emailing each other, and I look forward to following her journey. I definitely wouldn't have connected with her in the Newlywed-also-undergoing-fertility-treatment-while-facing-Mom's-stage-IV-cancer-diagnosis forum.

Blogging also serves to document small joys and experiences with Mom, and the type of growth and progress that you just can't see when you're in the thick of it. I've already found myself reading some things I wrote right after her diagnosis and realized okay, I guess I have made some progress. I've probably developed more resiliency in the past year through these trials than in the pervious decade.

Since I'm always looking to increase readership and find others on a similar path, I started following blogs on Fertility Authority.

FertilityAuthority is a comprehensive, interactive online network for women — and men — seeking fertility and infertility information, advice, referrals and appointments.

On a whim, I decided to send in a writing sample and inquire about becoming a blogger for their site. I wasn't expecting to receive a response from Jennifer Redmond, Co-founder and Editor-In-Chief, asking to schedule a call to "meet" me. Our conversation went really well, and she gave me the go ahead to become a blogger for their site! Surprisingly, there is even compensation based on the number of views my blog receives, up to $500 per month. Realistically, I'll probably earn $75 a month...if I'm lucky. But the prospect of payment for my blog has allowed me to joke with my husband that I am now a paid, professional writer. I have found myself working phrases such as byline and my editor into more than one conversation with him.

Below is a screenshot of my first blog posting over there. My editor (see, it's easy!) said I can only publish original content on their site, so please visit Fertility Authority to read the rest of my post. It summarizes everything leading up to IVF cycle number two, which I am about to start. I have an appointment at HRC on Monday and am hoping to officially enroll in the clinical trial at that time.









Click HERE to finish reading my first blog posting on their site.