Game Changing Day for Ontario Couples Suffering from Infertility

Eleven years ago, on my 30th birthday, I had just received the most incredible birthday gift.  After one full year of undergoing tests, treatments, taking drugs and ultimately doing an expensive round of IVF, I had just learned I was pregnant with my sweet Ty.  With the news being so early, I couldn’t share it with the people who attended my birthday party that year, but my glow had already begun.  Our year of struggling with the enormous emotional and financial stress that comes with infertility, had resulted in a successful IVF cycle- we were going to be parents.  I already felt like I was a mother.

Sometimes birthday gifts come in the strangest ways from the strangest places.

The news many of us in the IVF community have been waiting for, has finally come.  Just as I was reading birthday messages from wonderful friends and family on social media, news was announced that the Ontario government will fund ONE round of IVF treatment starting in 2015.  Today marks a new era of hope for so many couples.  It is a game changer for couples struggling with infertility in Ontario. 

Imagine being told that you could only become a parent through IVF, but you couldn’t pay the $10K to do one cycle?  

Imagine if finances were your only barrier to becoming a mother?  Now, IVF is accessible to ALL couples, regardless of their income.

While it didn’t come in time to help our own family grow, I’m thrilled to have helped with this initiative to provide much needed funding for other couples.  

What a special announcement to arrive on my birthday.  I can celebrate today with my own beautiful IVF miracles, Ty and Jayden, while celebrating that other women may now have one less barrier to becoming mothers.

Congratulations and thank you to Deb Matthews and the Wynne government for having the bravery to be leaders and the insight to recognize infertility as a medical condition.

Disclaimer:  I’m a proud member of the Conceivable Dreams blogging team.  I’m honoured to have been sharing my story so that this day could happen for so many couples!  Follow the conversation on Twitter at #OHIP4IVF