You know how I mentioned how amazing our donor is? Well, look what just showed up in my inbox! This is his story - from the decision to offer his services, to his nine visits to the clinic (double what we've had!), Skype dates galore, getting down to business, and being a truly wonderful human. Thanks for everything, Buzz. <3
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Here we go, the guest post hinted at by Molly. While the thought of doing such a post had crossed my mind, wow that Molly can write amazingly well so buckle up for this bumpy ride. For Molly and Linda to share their very personal experience in the interests of helping others is really quite something.
I gave some pretty serious thought over numerous weeks to making my offer but ultimately I knew it was what I was going to do. With my life void of the complications others may face, the decision was straight forward I just had to be sure in myself that I had given it the due diligence it commanded. Molly and Linda are such excellent human beings that just need a little leg up to help their family journey on its merry way. The decision boiled down to me having to give so little to help amazing, clever, beautiful people achieve so much. Easy.
With the decision made, the offer extended and the acceptance received, into the process we went. The Skype conversations with Molly and Linda were remarkably comfortable given the unusualness of the whole situation. Numerous bodily and medical words you don't expect to use many many times in a conversation with friends passed without so much as a blush, nervous giggle or awkward silence and it just all felt so very much like we were on exactly the same page.
Onwards to the formalities where a plethora of tests resulted in many pages of results coming back. These cleared me of all sorts of diseases and genetic predispositions. While this didn't come cheap for Molly and Linda, I appreciate the super grand deluxe WoF I received as a perk of this thorough process.
Being ushered into a small windowless room by the donor co-ordinator, as she explained what to do with the specimen jar, while pointing to a pile of bed sheets and a drawer P-Touch labelled "Magazines", was really quite something. To keep on rolling with the list of fun first experiences this process has gifted me, I had a rather substantial chat with a counsellor which while casual and jovial on the outside, re-visited all those "what if?" scenarios from the previous conversations with Molly and Linda. No drama, another hurdle successfully jumped and onwards to the "banking" (the official terminology, not mine).
Fertility Associates managed the whole process remarkably well from my perspective. Sure they are rewarded handsomely financially for their efforts and there is obviously a lot at stake but I have been really impressed by their process, communication and professional approach. It shouldn't have come as a surprise but in this day and age, you just don't know what you're getting yourself in for with professional services until you get there.
I fully appreciate the fact that this isn't for everyone but if you're in a position to consider being a sperm donor, please do (or nudge someone you know who is). As you have read previously there is a severe shortage in this country with so many amazing, deserving, want-to-be parents so reliant on our selflessness.
All that remains for me is another round of tests to make sure I don't have anything nasty that didn't show up the first time and round two with the counsellor, then Buzz Lightyear has completed this mission.
To infinity, and beyond!
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