I can remember the day I decided to make the phone call to PFC to inquire about becoming an Egg Donor. I was so excited at the idea of “making some money”. Though, it took me about a month to work up the courage to complete the application and return it with my pictures. I kept thinking who would want to receive my eggs? Maybe I was too short or too blonde? I was also worried about who would see my pictures/profile and if they would recognize me or know someone in my family. It was not until I heard a story about a couple who was having a hard time trying to conceive their first child. Their story broke my heart, because I had always assumed that getting pregnant and carrying a child to term was supposed to be easy. After their story, I knew that I needed to do something besides “making some money.” Instantly I spoke with my family and asked for their support and then returned my completed application.

It was only a few weeks later that I heard from a PFC Egg Donor Coordinator, Bridgett. I thought how lucky I am to be “chosen” by this couple! Bridgett was so professional and took care of all the details for my initial process. I soon realized what a bigger issue this was when I met the first recipient couple. They were just as anxious as I was about the experience, but when they told me their story something bonded between us and by the end of the meeting, I knew there was a greater reason for why I was donating my eggs. I saw how much it meant to them and I was surprised by how much it affected me. I walked out of the meeting knowing something wonderful was going to happen and I was lucky to be apart of that process with them.

Before the first recipients selected me, I thought that PFC worked only for the benefit of the parties wanting to get pregnant. It was only after my first cycle donation, that I realized how much I received from the experience. The experience changed how I looked on life and how precious the gift of life is. All I could think about was how I “flushed” away my eggs every month because I was not ready to start a family of my own and how precious those eggs are for some people. Words cannot describe how amazing it felt to help others, with something that seemed so small and was ‘flushed’ away.

In the beginning, I was full of mixed emotions. I was very excited to meet the PFC staff and start my first cycle. Yet, I was nervous about the process and how it would affect my day-to-day life. But every member of PFC was kind and professional, and put me immediately at a sense of ease. Since I was apprehensive about needles, I had decided I would administer all of the shots, except the HCG shot, to myself and found that it was an easy experience. The medications were gentle on my body and the side effects were very minimal. There were no outward indications that I was going through the process, the worst side effect was minor bloating towards the end of the cycle.

At every appointment, the entire staff was amazing and so supportive. I had decided to take my mother with me for support for the last appointment and retrieval, when we left the procedure she turned to me and said she was so proud at what I was doing and wished that she had done something similar. It was then that I felt I was making a difference in the world. The actual retrieval was so easy; I think the worst part of the process was having an IV inserted in my hand. The best part was the Retrieval Nursing Staff, Ann, Olga and Carol; they made me feel like I was so special. The way they treated me made me feel like I was a part of a unique club. I knew that I wanted to do more after that first cycle. With each cycle, the process seemed easier. The staff began to remember me and always made a point to remind me how appreciative they were for my donations.

It was just a few months ago that I finished my last cycle (6th), and I was full of mixed emotions when I left the final retrieval. On one hand I was excited that I could help another couple. But on the other, I was sad because it would be the last time I donated and the last time I would see the staff at PFC. Throughout all six of my cycles, I had the privilege to get to know the staff and Doctors at PFC. I would recommend PFC to anyone in need of their services or wanting to become an egg donor. The staff is the most remarkable group of individuals. Their professionalism exceeds what you would expect to receive. They change lives and make dreams come true for everyone involved!

Donating your eggs requires you and your family to be selfless and unconditionally giving of yourself. You must not connect with the idea of a child in the world with your features, rather you must see it as a gift you have given a deserving couple. To be an egg donor was an honor that I will always hold in my heart. The feeling you get from helping others is more of a reward than you will ever realize.

– Donor remains anonymous

Tags: Egg Donation, Patient Stories

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 17th, 2006 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Patient Odyssey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.