Archive for the ‘Current Affairs’ Category

February 22, 2010 | By: Liz | Filed under: Current Affairs, Infertility In The Movies etc., Thinking Out Loud

okay well maybe not very much.  She’s tall, lanky and gorgeous and I am petite, voluptuous and on a good day with a ton of make-up and a professional blow-out some might say I am pretty.  LOL!  But seriously folks, I do have a bit in common with the queen of the tear-me-up ballad.  And that is, we both tried to conceive our sons at the same time (okay, so mine took 7 IVF attemps, 5 miscarriages and an adoption and she only need ONE attempt at IVF), and we both want another baby.  Here’s where the comparison gets more real.  She’s now unfortunately and horribly had a bunch of miscarriages (I am currently counting 10 but my therapist says I shouldn’t count . . .  um yeah right!), and is racing the clock to have another baby, and is rapidly approaching the number if IVF cycles I gutted my way through.  Even more in common, can it be?  Yes indeed!  We both sleep with our 7 year old sons in our bed (and don’t even TRY to flame me on this, I believe in the family bed and I WILL take down any posts that disrespect anyone’s style of doing anything on this blog), and we both relish the days we have left with our little boys being small enough and young enough to snuggle with.  Okay, so I am not claiming that I am her evil twin double . . . but I know how she feels and I commend her for going public on the cover of People and I wish her all the success in the world.

And I wish me all the success in the world too.  But that is the subject of another blog.  (would someone please tell me where the emoticons are in WordPress???).

Tags: biological clock, Celine Dion, infertility, IVF, miscarriage

January 30, 2010 | By: Liz | Filed under: Check This Out, Current Affairs, Egg Donation, Thinking Out Loud, Treatment

So I have only read part of this article.  It brought tears to my eyes and as I am mid-struggle with my own quest to have another baby I was too moved to continue reading it.  But I immediately recognized that this is an article to share and discuss.  What I want to discuss is how the news was imparted to the author . . . and what I felt was wrong with it.  Why don’t doctors, even OB/GYN’s and RE’s know how to tell someone they are infertile and why didn’t THIS woman’s doctors know she has many options for having a baby . . . why did she get immediately (and incorrectly) told:

“I’m sorry you can’t have a baby.”

WTF?  Read on:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/31/fashion/31love.html

Tags: New York Times, premature ovarian failure, Turner's Syndrome

November 6, 2009 | By: Liz | Filed under: Announcements, Current Affairs

Hey everyone, while I was away, Kristen and Emily were hard at work trying to figure out why we have all these registered users who cannot seem to be able to post.  We had a worm on the site awhile ago and it seems the damage the worm did went a little deeper than we realized.

Anyone who has previously registered to be a user on this blog needs to register again.  As of today, we have only 4 registered users, down from over a hundred.  Please, please, please, take a minute and register again.  I am so sorry for the inconvenience.  But some mean person corrupted my blog.  Once you register again you shouldn’t have any problems.  You may not have even noticed . . . but we noticed and we miss you!

Once again, anyone who has previously a registered user on this blog is no longer registered due to a worm that corrupted the site.  Please re-register and join our discussions!

Thanks!

Liz

Tags: Announcements, registered users

November 6, 2009 | By: Liz | Filed under: Current Affairs

I have been off the blog travelling to various meetings for reproductive professionals, including ASRM and moderating a panel for the American Bar Association’s A.R.T. Committee addressing insurance issues in gestational carrier arrangements.  I learned tons (for other posts) but came home exhausted and overwhelmed and of course the office was happily insane with new business.  Of course the travelling and stress of long hours, on and off planes, in and out of cars, running through (or trying to walk through) convention centers, and tons of work meant my back went out . . . and I wound up in bed staring at the ceiling last weekend.  But everyone needs a break — just wish mine had been on a beach in some tropical location.  ;)

But I have been very productive in my absence with many new things to bring to the blog . . . first and foremost the e-Book on Egg Donation is almost done!!!  Can you believe it!  Kristen, my marketing guru, is gearing up for a big marketing campaign to let the world know that the first in my series of the Nuts and Bolts of A.R.T.:  The Egg Donation e-Book is going to be coming to a computer or store near you very soon!  Now’s the time to get in and get your free copy . . . email us at Info@Storklawyer.com and tell us you want a copy of The Egg Donation e-Book.  We will add you to the mailing list when it’s available so you can download your copy.  It will also be available (not immediately) in kindle format.  I can’t believe we’re finally on the cusp of releasing this book that I have been working on for what feels like forever.  WooHoo!  By the way, it’s written for both intended parents and prospective egg donors.

Also in the news . . . on January 4th, 2010, The Stork Lawyer Connection will officially open for business.  For years I have wanted to start my own egg donation agency but couldn’t reconcile myself to certain issues I have with the existing egg donation agency model.  The Stork Lawyer Connection is a unique agency, with a new way of bringing donors together with intended parents.  Our website is almost done, our staff is together, and we’re so excited.  I am so excited!  Keep an eye out for our press release, and for information on The Stork Lawyer Connection coming to a mailbox, doctor’s office, or computer near you!

Congrats to Ms. Samantha Hill, the newest associate in my law office, who found out yesterday that she passed the New York State Bar Exam!   Sam was an intern in my office during law school and joined us when Danielle took a leave of absence.  Sam, I am very proud of you!  Rumor has it that another former intern passed the bar as well . . . so our congratulations also go out to Ms. Sarah Thomas . . . character and fitness forms are on their way ladies!  CONGRATULATIONS SAM AND SARAH – YOU DID IT – YOU PASSED THE BAR!

There are lots of infertility and adoption events going on right about now.  The RESOLVE of the Bay State Chapter is holding it’s annual conference this weekend.  We send some goodies up for the auction, but anyone reading in the Boston area should head over to the conference (Nov 7th).  We hope to be there in person next year, but this year with the conference coming on the heals of my trip to Montreal to speak at the American Bar Association, and attend the 65th Annual Meeting of ASRM in Atlanta, we just couldn’t do it.  Those goodies we sent are pretty awesome though.  Free consultations on adoption, a free egg donation contract, free signed copies of The Infertility Survival Handbook and The Ultimate Insider’s Guide to Adoption . . . I hope we made up for not being there in person.  Concerned Persons for Adoption is having their annual conference (also the 11/7) in New Jersey at Rutgers University.  I wasn’t able to attend that event either, but we did send handouts on what you need to know about third party assisted reproduction and adoption in NY and NJ and an offer for copy of one of my books.

I will be speaking and have an exhibition table at the annual APC Conference, held this year in Brooklyn, NY at St. Francis College on November 22nd.  I will be speaking on Adoptive Breast Feeding and Marketing and Targeting in Adoption: how, when and where to find a birth family.

We’re also working on changes to the Stork Lawyer website.  All the web site design for The Stork Lawyer Connection has me wanting to freshen up the Stork Lawyer site as well (plus we have to add all our new staff!!).

I am off now to post a general blurby blog and to work on the website for The Stork Lawyer Connection.  Oh yeah, I have homework for my coach too (maybe something to blog about)!  And another sweater to knit for a client . . . TGIF!

Breathe Liz, just breathe!

Tags: Announcements, Egg Donation, The Infertility Survival Handbook, The Stork Lawyer Connection, The Ultimate Insider's Guide to Adoption

September 28, 2009 | By: Liz | Filed under: Current Affairs, adoption

From Today’s New York Law Journal

Lawyer Accused of Stealing In Adoption Scheme

A Roslyn lawyer already under investigation in connection with real estate fraud was arrested Friday and charged with stealing thousands of dollars from prospective adoptive parents. Nassau District Attorney Kathleen M. Rice said in a statement that Kevin Cohen, 41, promised couples “babies that didn’t exist” and pocketed the money while telling them the funds were in escrow accounts while the adoptions were pending.

One couple paid Mr. Cohen $65,000 after he falsely claimed to have located two prospective birth mothers who sought to adopt out their children, Ms. Rice said. Mr. Cohen, founded the nonprofit Roslyn Adoption Annex in 2004, which provides services to adoptive parents and adopted children. He is charged with second-degree grand larceny, first-degree scheme to defraud and third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument. Mr. Cohen pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon but remained behind bars on $250,000 bail. — Vesselin Mitev