“1 in 4 women experience a miscarriage at least once in their lifetime.
1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility while trying to grow their family.
1 in 10 women are diagnosed with endometriosis.
1 in 100 women experience recurrent pregnancy loss.
These may only look like simple statistics to some, but for me, this is my life…
Hi, my name is Kenzie, and I am all of these things.
Today marks the very first day of ‘National Infertility Awareness Week.’ This is a time to come together and recognize a community of individuals who have been given one of the hardest challenges in life to overcome: infertility.
The world of infertility is one that goes way beyond what you can see from the surface. It is complicated, it is all-consuming, and more than anything else, it is heartbreaking.
There are no guarantees, and there is no map there to guide you along the way while you try to navigate through it. You continually fight for chances even if there is no way to predict the outcome that is headed in your direction, and despite all of the unknown that lies ahead, you never once lose faith that your time is coming.
Too many times though, you find yourself feeling alone and completely hopeless. You think no one else knows what you are going through, and nobody could possibly understand exactly how you feel, simply because infertility does not get talked about enough.
Yes, I know this can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss, but it doesn’t mean we should ignore it. It’s here. It exists. And so many of us are finding ourselves living in its reality.
So this week, let’s break the silence and the stigma surrounding infertility. It’s time to wear all of our scars and battle wounds openly and honestly, with no fear and no judgment.
Each of us deserves to celebrate everything we have overcome and all we continue to fight for. And our stories deserve to be told in all their entirety.
To my fellow infertility warriors, may you continue to find strength even amongst your darkest days, and hope in your future. I see you, I hear you, and I am you.
Happy ‘National Infertility Awareness Week.’ This one’s for you.”
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Mackenzie Eckinger of Ohio and originally appeared here. You can follow her journey on Instagram here and here. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
Read more from Mackenzie here:
Infertility Is Just As Hard For Husbands As It Is For Their Wives
This Empty, Unused Room Was Supposed To Be Your Nursery
I’ve Been Pregnant Eight Times, But I Still Don’t Know What It Feels Like To Be Pregnant
Do you know someone struggling with infertility? Please SHARE this story on Facebook to let them know they’re not alone.