In a society where having babies is taken for granted, Erin Chrusciel opens a discussion to lessen the shame and isolation associated with infertility. In this intimate talk, she recounts her agonizing decade of “trying,” culminating in the moment when her doctor suggested using another woman’s egg to conceive a child. Reflecting on her own experiences & those of the couples she met through the support group she founded, Erin makes the case that awareness of infertility & embracing the non-traditional families that can result have benefits for us all. Erin Chrusciel and her husband Stephen spent ten years trying to start a family and suffered in silence for most of it. They sought answers from fertility experts, Chinese herbalists, acupuncturists and counselors. Eventually, they reluctantly entered the world of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Repeated rounds of invasive testing followed by massive amounts of hormones, dozens of failed cycles and four miscarriages later, they finally accepted the fact that sometimes, it takes a village to make a family.
Erin’s background is in counseling & HR management with a degree in psychology. As a photographer, she offers her services to couples in the midst of “trying”. She currently leads an infertility support group in Western Massachusetts & is an active member of Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Erin lives in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at [ Ссылка ]
