When I think about my fertility journey, I can't help but see the parallels to my figure skating career. Every time I fell on the ice, I had to pick myself up and keep going. And that's exactly what I did for the five years I struggled to build a family. As tough as winning my Olympic Gold Medal was, it pales in comparison to the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments – eight egg retrievals, six failed IVF transfers, and four devastating miscarriages.
I kept my story to myself for the longest time, but opening up has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life (second only to being Georgie's mom, of course!).
The ups and downs of fertility can be mentally exhausting and isolating. The unanswered questions, the constant uncertainty, not to mention the distress of confusing medication protocols. It's easy to feel like you’re failing, even though infertility is a medical diagnosis, not a personal shortcoming.
That's why finding your people is so important. I thought I was alone, but I know now that couldn't be further from the truth. 1 in 5 women struggle with infertility – that's nearly 64 million couples worldwide and 13 million in the U.S. alone.
I originally started my podcast with my husband, Unexpecting, to let more people in on my journey. For so many fertility patients, these experiences are happening behind closed doors. In sharing these vulnerable moments with people, I hadn’t realized how much it would resonate with others. The opportunity to connect with people in this community has been one of the most meaningful experiences, to be able to connect with people going through this shared experience meant so much to me.
That's why I'm thrilled to join the Dandi team as the Head of Community. Because connection can mean the world.
Dandi combines expert-led, on-demand support with beautifully designed products. I would have jumped at the option to have a fertility nurse virtually guide me through nightly injections or help me through some of the early and informative decisions along the way (i.e. understanding my options or finding the right clinic).
The Dandi IVF Care Kit brings a much-needed dose of comfort and self-care to an experience that can at times make you feel like your body is not your own.
And what drew me in most to Dandi, is the fact they built all of this alongside the fertility community with hundreds of patients over the last few years after being inspired by their own fertility struggles.
As I step into my role as Head of Community, my mission is to uplift women on this path and remind them that they're not alone. Dandi's amazing community is here for you at every stage – from those early days of considering your options to navigating tricky questions and finding others who get what you're going through.
The Dandi community exists in so many shapes and forms – from a safe and highly vetted invite-only chat, to a fast-growing ambassador and advocacy program, to research groups where patients are helping to build the products and services that will redefine the future of fertility care.
So, here's my invitation to you: join me in the Dandi Community to connect, share, learn and grow. Together, we can make the fertility experience a little more manageable.
Remember, you're not alone in this – let’s do this together.
Your Fertility Friend,
Tara
