While working on a brochure to promote our show, I had some incredible brainstorming sessions with my creative partner, Myra Falisz. She then brought another creative genius into the mix, her nephew, Tom Wanek. It is amazing what wonderful things can happen when you put creative minds together, and they just go at it!

The phrase ‘Reproductive Challenged Woman’, wasn’t exactly sitting right with me as of late. And Tom had pointed out that it is a title stuffed with words that conjure up weak mental images…which is the LAST thing I want to do…these women are some of the strongest and most loving creatures I know!…there’s nothing weak about them! He was also quick to point out that the word, “Challenged” might make one think something is wrong with the person (as in vertically challenged, follicly challenged, mentally challenged, etc.). Yes, there may be a variety of things medically wrong with us women, due to the fact that we are unable to have children, but it was still bothering me…there is no way I wanted to stir up a mental image of a handicap.

I began to really ponder this, realizing that it isn’t a title that adequately represents the mission of this show…one of encouragement, inspiration and positive reinforcement. Women come to our site and listen to our show for love and support. The name should reflect this. The name was, instead, describing a condition….not my intent at all.

Although a journey is sometimes challenging, it’s usually capped by something positive and also suggests that there is an end or an accomplishment.

So after taking all of this in, and meditating upon the change, we have decided to move forward with it. Once again, we hope you are pleased.

(Just a note: Since this transformation might take a little time to complete, please excuse the opening commercial. That will be revised as soon as possible.)

Our guest on this, our 15th show, is Patricia Dischler. It is lovely to have her here, as she is not only an interesting and beautiful person to speak with, but she is a birthmom and an author! The book, which we speak about today, is entitled “Because I Loved You“. It is the story of her life and her decision to give up her first born baby. Patricia jokes about having a box of Kleenex by your side when you read her story. But it’s no joke, you really DO need that box with you! This is a book that everyone would enjoy reading, whether you have reproductive issues or not.

It’s a story of a heroine that does the right thing, the best thing, the most loving thing for her baby…even though it’s the hardest. And then she follows the story through to today, and with the blessing of open adoption, Patricia realizes that this was one of the best decisions of her life. When honesty, caring and love for all prevail, the outcome can be ethereal. We hope you enjoy the story of Patricia Dischler.

(To purchase Patricia’s book, “Because I Loved You”, go to www.PatriciaDischler.com.  She has also written “From Babysitter to Business Owner”. Be sure to check that out as well.)

Welcome to Show 15 of The Reproductive Challenged Woman… which is NOW Journeys To Motherhood! As you can see, we’ve taken on a new look and a new name! There was a great deal of thought behind this, and we hope you all agree with our decision for the change.

Our guest is Patricia Dischler. It is lovely to have her here, as she is not only an interesting and beautiful person to speak with, but she is a birthmom and an author! The book, which we speak about today, is entitled “Because I Loved You“. It is the story of her life and her decision to give up her first born baby.

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It is officially Mother’s Day, and I wanted to write a quick note to all of you moms-in-waiting who are struggling with this day due to reproductive challenges that have made it difficult to become a mommy.  I am with you in mind, heart and spirit today.  I was a childless mommy for 9 very painful Mother’s Days…each one worse than the year before.  All of the holidays were difficult, but this was the worst.  One year, after going through invitro, and hoping and waiting and hoping and praying and hoping that THIS was the time it would work…I had gotten my period on Mother’s Day.  A very mean trick played on me by God or the universe or whomever….but of all days!  I went to church, and I saw the many women with their many children, and I could not bear it.  I cried throughout the whole service.  I actually should have left.  When I came home and got out of my car, a neighbor came up to me and said, “Hi Barbara!  Beautiful day!  How are ya?”  Well, they were sorry they asked.  I immediately began ranting and raving and crying and stating how this was going to be the LAST Mother’s Day I was going to go through in this deepest of pains!  I went into the failed invitro attempts, and the fact that my period had come on Mother’s Day, which was just too cruel!  I cursed God, and I’m sure that I seemed in urgent need of being committed.  And I actually became committed that day…in another way.  I was re-committed to doing WHATEVER it took to become a mommy, and nothing was going to stop me.  I was angry, hurt and so very sad.  But fuel was added to my flames, and this was unacceptable to me  I was waging an all-out war on my infertility…and I was going to come out…somehow…a winner.

I pray for all of you today that are in that same ugly place.  And I hope that some of you can face this in a healthier way than I….realizing that if you choose to just KNOW that your baby will come to you, he or she will.  There is power in the KNOWING, and once I FINALLY subscribed to the KNOWING, and allowed my heart to rule, I felt empowered, and I knew that nothing would stop me.  No failed invitro attempts, nor failed surrogate attempts (which I hadn’t even gone through yet, at that point), was going to do me in.  And somehow, I felt better, felt like I’d just handle it as it came, and went onward as the infertility bullets kept coming my way.  I would continue to wear my armor and fight my way through the battle zones of this infertility hell.  And I won the war.  It almost ripped me to shreds; I didn’t want to live any more, on more than one occassion.  But now I have the angel I had dreamed of.  And I know YOUR angel will come to you too!  So Happy Mother’s Day to ALL of you mothers, especially those of you that are still waiting.  Keep the faith!  Don’t EVER give up!!  I love you!…and so does your future baby!  Stay strong for his (or her) sake!  And the first smile your baby gives you will make this all worthwhile.  

This show is Part 2 of the interview we are airing with our guest, Deb Tack. I KNOW you had to thoroughly enjoy Part 1, and if you missed it…go back to Show 13 on our Archives page to check it out. We are picking up where we left off, as Deb begins to tell us about her life as a mom…an adoptive mom AND a biological mom.

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