A small miracle

Today, a small miracle happened. For the first time since they were formed back when I was in utero in 1986, some eggs left my body alive. Six of them, to be exact. And of these, five were mature and got to be introduced to the most attractive hand-picked sperm cells from my favorite human. How amazing is that? Somewhere, right now, in some hidden lab in some fabulous petri dishes, the very first cell divisions of my future children may be happening.

Survived 33 injections - and not so much worse for the wear!

I'm scared to write any of this down because our next update is coming in less than 24 hours. By tomorrow, all the possible futures of those little petri-dish maybe-babies could go up in smoke. The only thing in my control is my attitude for retrieval cycle number two, which starts in just two days. That round of eggs is finally awakening after nearly four decades of slumber, and it's in my power to ensure they get exposed to the most well-rested, nutrient-rich, and stress-reduced environment possible. But right now those poor gals are being robbed of their good night's sleep by my curiosity over the happenings in a lab in downtown Oakland.

Made it to egg retrieval and fertilization day!

Holding on to two things at once can be incredibly hard: though tomorrow may prove this cycle's efforts were for naught, today was a small miracle. I got a taste of a world where a human life can be conceived in a lab. It's an extraordinary step towards women staking the same claim to bodily autonomy as men, where two humans can each enjoy creating a biological family together without one of them having to profoundly compromise their physical well-being. (Of course, in a world where the external uterus is still relegated to animal research and is only currently being developed to help preemies, a woman must still sign up for the nine month ordeal, but in a place like America where this is thoroughly regulated, that woman doesn't have to be mom: she can be someone who's signed up voluntarily, who's passed physical and psychological screenings, who's had a proven track record of uncomplicated pregnancies, who'll be guaranteed good medical care, and who'll be compensated fairly for her efforts.) What a remarkable future.

It's ironic in a time where women's reproductive rights are so endangered that I am getting to explore such privilege. But, despite the legal and political challenges ahead, as someone who believes profoundly in the potential good in new technologies, I'm so excited for what the future could hold for the women of our children's generation.