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40 Years in the Making

Yesterday was the 40th birthday of the world's first IVF baby. Since then, there have been at least 8 MILLION babies born using IVF technology.  That's the population of Hong Kong!

I got a little teary yesterday reading articles about what a miracle this is.  The more you learn about IVF, the more unbelievable it actually is.  I mean, how the heck do they have a glass pipette small enough to pick up a single sperm and insert it directly into a single egg?!  If you've never watched a video on youtube of this, you really should.  It's completely crazy.  And to think someone did that for us, and created all these possible future babies that our bodies wouldn't have been able to do on their own.

I truly am grateful for the doctors and scientists that have made this technology possible.  For the doctors today that continue to research and study human reproduction and embryology so that every woman has the hope and chance to carry her own baby.

I am grateful that I was born in this day and age and not 40 years ago.  I'm not sure how I would feel about the whole process when it was first starting.  I can understand how some people may be uncomfortable with the idea of "playing God" and creating children in a science lab.  I probably would not have understood it when the technology first emerged either.  So I'm grateful for the women before me who've pioneered the way.  For the women who I personally know who have gone through this process.  For the peace I've always felt when learning about IVF, even years before I knew I would take part in the process.  For supportive friends and family.  For Starbucks.  For my Starbucks manager for giving me the chance.

My story, and the story of so many other men and women, started 40 years ago and I'm glad there's a day for me to remember that!

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