Becoming an egg donor was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. From the moment I learned about egg donation, I was convinced that it was something that I wanted to do. Unfortunately, it was because of an awful experience that I discovered egg donation, but I’ve learned that often good things can come of tragedy. I had an abortion in May of 2009, and afterwards I started researching the possibility of being a surrogate mother to an individual or couple. It was then that I discovered egg donation and immediately committed to the idea. I didn’t even know it was a possibility until I stumbled across it in my research.
When I got pregnant, I was on birth control (Nuva Ring). The shock of the pregnancy was nothing compared to the horror of realizing that the man I was with at the time was not a very nice person. In the same week that I learned of my pregnancy, I learned that he was doing drugs when I was not around, and when I told him the news he became violent and angry. I ended the relationship and went home to live with my mother. When I made the decision to have an abortion I think I must have cried for two weeks, but I believe I made the best decision that I could have at the time. It is because of that horrible experience that I am so excited to donate to another individual or couple.
I’m now engaged to a wonderful guy, and I know that there will be a time when I welcome a pregnancy (even an unexpected one). I am so happy that I will be able to have a family with him someday, and it is important to me to be able to give that same chance to someone who is ready. Anyone going to such great lengths to start a family truly deserves to have that, and if I can help that happen I would be honored. In a small way I feel like I am giving back what I took away, even though I know that I can never undo or nullify the abortion. My primary motivation, however, is to help someone bring a child into the world. The whole process of egg donation and IVF is an extension of the miracle of creating life and I am grateful and happy to be able to lend myself to such an amazing purpose.
- BHED donor, Maggie #8228
