Victoria Hopewell — Author of Grade A Baby Eggs
Victoria Hopewell — Author of Grade A Baby Eggs
In Search of Fertility Radio Show Photo
I was asked to host a radio show. I named it In Search of Fertility in honor of the heroic quest to have a baby no matter what the obstacles. Now I have the wonderful opportunity to speak with people from all walks of fertility life. So far I have heard the moving stories of women and men who went through infertility treatments, the doctors who treat them and the organizations that help people become pregnant. I learn something myself every episode!
NPR Mindy Todd The Point Photo
NPR featured my book Grade A Baby Eggs on The Point with Mindy Todd! I sat in my first radio studio, wore head phones and talked into the microphone. I almost didn’t make it on time because I took a train in the wrong direction from Boston and then ran all the way to the bus station to catch the bus to Hyannis on Cape Cod. I arrived to a picturesque scene of boats, water and quaint restaurants and shops. Unfortunately, my mad run to catch the departing bus, brought on a coughing fit. I coughed the entire bus trip so the other riders were passing me their bottles of water and cough drops. Then when I made my grand debut, I hacked throughout much of the NPR episode!
AFA Illuminations Photo
The American Fertility Association’s Illuminations NYC had a great view of the lights of Times Square seen from a big picture window at ABC studios. The featured entertainers included Annie from Broadway singing Maybe, and Rosie O’Donnell telling jokes as she presented the advocacy award to Dan Bucatinski. Many infertility notables were present including infertility doctors, lawyers and organizations. I closed the shades and changed in my office just in time to hop the train and arrive appropriately dressed for the gala. Since the advent of cell phones, it would have been too difficult to locate a phone booth for my super party woman transformation.
Kate and William Seek Fertility Photo
Princess Kate and Prince William seek fertility treatments to birth the next royal. Royalty is no stranger to infertility. Bloody Mary, the oldest daughter of Henry the VIII called “Bloody” because of her penchant for burning Protestants at the stake, had multiple hysterical pregnancies that were all in her head. Napoleon divorced Josephine because of her inability to bear him a child. Her failed infertility treatments consisted of leeches, laxatives and dousing in spring water. IVF is more effective but just as painful. Hopefully William won’t divorce Kate for failure to bear. But if the problem is him, sperm donation won’t be an option because of the need to continue the royal line.
USA Best Book Awards Winner!
Grade A Baby Eggs: An Infertility Memoir won the USA Best Books Award in the category of women’s health! I entered this contest a while ago and forgot about it. Then I just got the e-mail that said I won! I will be listed at their website for 10 months of free advertising. I was unlucky to have my power cut for 10 days in Hurricane Sandy, but I won good fortune with the contest!
Storm Sandy Generator Photo
I lost power in Hurricane Sandy the day after the storm. Con Ed cut my power to fix wires and then waited a week and a half to reinstate it. I regularly fought for an outlet in Starbucks to charge my phone and computer. I got sick of sitting at home in the dark and freezing. Finally, I bought a generator off a truck that an entrepreneurial guy sold for a two hundred dollar mark up. Everyday I waited over an hour in gas lines in order to buy the fuel to power the generator. While shivering at home, I learned that the ASRM just approved freezing your eggs for the future. The procedure would no longer be experimental. I wished that I had known about the technique. As soon as I got divorced in my 30’s, I would have run to the freezer to bank my eggs for the next Mr. Right.
IVF Raffle Photo
IVF raffles are the new up and coming trend. According to a recent New York Times article called “Clinic Raffles Could Make You A Winner and Maybe A Mother,” clinics are marketing their services by raffling off one free IVF trial. I myself once won a free birthday party at a raffle. I arrived late for the drawing, and my ticket was on top and the one picked. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware of any raffles when I did IVF five times with my own eggs before turning to donor eggs. If any raffles start giving out pay back money for prior attempts just sign me up, and I’ll put my ticket on top of the pile.
IndieReader Approved Stamp Photo
IndieReader gave the coveted Indie Approved Reader Stamp to the book Grade A Baby Eggs: An Infertility Memoir! Reviewer Kathryn Livingston appreciated my sense of humor and said that my book is a “…fascinating, often funny memoir chronicling Hopewell’s three-year baby-making mission.” She elaborated, “Grade A Baby Eggs” will be eye-opening and helpful for any couple considering this route, but more than that it’s a tale of courage, steadfastness, trust, and the ability to put one foot in front of the other and keep on truckin’. Hopewell’s optimism never seems to wane and she adds just the right pinch of wit and wisdom to her prose.” It is an honor to get a 5 star endorsement. In fact I am tempted to hang the review up on the refrigerator as my post-graduate A grade!
RESOLVE Night of Hope Photo
The RESOLVE 2012 Night of Hope raised over 40,000 dollars! The hosts were the married news anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts. They had tried IVF four times before they finally got their twins. They maintained a sense of humor throughout the evening. John joked about how he did not mind that the other man who had seen his wife’s vagina was right there. It was his infertility doctor Jamie Grifo from New York University Fertility Center. In fact Jamie Grifo also was the doctor for last year’s Night of Hope Host Sherri Shepherd from The View. She was funny too, but she skipped the vagina jokes.
Barnes and Noble Manhasset Photo
I will be doing a book signing for Grade A Baby Eggs: An Infertility Memoir at Barnes and Noble of Manhasset on Thursday October 4th at 7 pm. For my presentation I will need to load the car with my projector, movie screen and Silly Putty giveaway eggs. Once again I must try to pack the house. I will dig up any high school friends that still live on Long Island. My mother will scrounge her building and round up the elderly residents at the card room, the dining hall and the physical therapist. As long as they are mobile and can get through the doorway of the Barnes and Noble with a walker or a wheelchair, they can participate. Everyone else is welcome to attend as well.
