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>>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, FOR ANYONE WHO IS
PREGNANT OR STRUGGLING TO GET
PREGNANT, YOU KNOW THAT THE ROAD
TO BECOMING A MOM OR DAD CAN BE
FRAUGHT WITH EMOTIONS AND A LOT
OF CHALLENGES.
THAT'S WHY OUR NEXT GUEST IS
HERE TO TELL US ABOBOUT HER
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
"SPARKS -- SPARKLES OF LIFE"
WHICH IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING
FAMILIES ON THEIR PATHS TO
PARENTHOOD.
HERE TO TELL US MORE, THE
SPARKLES OF LIFE FOUNDER, RHONDA
NWOSU.
GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SPARKLES OF LIFE, WHAT'S
THAT?
>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN YOU
THINK OF WONDERFUL CHILDREN,
THEY ARE SPARKLES, LITTLE JEWELS
THAT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
BECOME A PART OF THEIR LIVES,
BUT -- BOY, I TELL YOU, AS WE
THINK ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE ON
THE PATH, IT COULD BE DIFFICULT.
IT COULD BE AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER
COASTER FOR QUITE A FEW
FAMILIES.
>> WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME UP
WITH THIS PARTICULAR
ORGANIZATION?
.
>> WELL, BECAUSE OF MY OWN
PERSONAL JOURNEY.
WONDERFUL PARENTS OF TWIN GIRLS,
RAQUEL AND RACHEL, BUT IT TOOK
US AWHILE TO GET THERE, NINE
YEARS.
WE HAD FOUR MISCARRIAGES ALONG
THE WAY.
BUT IT'S A VERY PRIVATE,
PERSONAL THING THAT FOLKS AREN'T
TALKING ABOUT.
THEREFORE, IT MAKES IT JUST A
HAIR BIT MORE PAINFUL.
>> WHO WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO
COULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR YOUR
PARTICULAR SERVICES?
>> WELL, WE HAVE AN ARRAY OF
SERVICES AND IT'S ANY ONE.
WE'RE FINDING THERE'S A
GENERATIONAL SHIFT.
WOMEN USED TO GET MARRIED -- A
COUPLE GOT MARRIED IN THEIR
EARLY 20'S.
BECAUSE FOLKS ARE MARRIED LATER,
WE CONSEQUENTLY WIND UPUP WITH A
FEW ISSUES BECOMING PREGNANT,
BUT GO A -- OUR FIRST PROGRAM IS
CALLED "HELP ALONG THE WAY."
AND "COUNT DOWN TO CONCEPTION"
WHERE WE ACTUALLY PRAY WITH YOU.
WEWE HELP YOU SELECT THE RIGHT
PHYSICIANS.
WE OFFER SUPPORT FOR YOU GOING
TO YOUR APPOINTMENTS.
AND THEN AFTER YOU BECOME
PREGNANT AND WE'RE BELIEVING AND
SURE THAT YOU WILL BE, THEN, IF
IT'S A COMPLICATED PREGNANCY, WE
OFFER AN ARRAY OF SERVICES, YOU
KNOW, HAIR, WE PROVIDE
NUTRITIONAL MEALS AND MORE
IMPORTANTLY, WE PROVIDE THE
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT.
WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES PRE-AND
POST-PARDON.
>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT FOR AN ORGANIZATION
LIKE YOURS THAT PROVIDES ALL OF
THESE OTHER SERVICES PHYSICALLY
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WOMAN AND
CHILD ARE OK?
WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO DO THE
EMOTIONAL ASPECT OF THIS?
>> WELL, BECAUSE WOMEN ARE
RENDERED NEARLY HELPLESS AND
YOU'RE FEELING -- I KNOW I FELT
THAT WAY -- YOU FEEL SORT OF
EMPTY SOMETIMES.
JUST GETTING THERE, TRYING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
AGAIN, I HAD FOUR MISCARRIAGES
OVER A NINE-YEAR PERIOD, BUT NOT
ONLY AFFECTS THE WOMAN, IT
AFFECTS THE MAN AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, HIS MANHOOD COMES INTO
PLAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE DYNAMICS OF
THE RELATIONSHIP CAN
SOMETIMES CHANGE, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, THE FAMILY
STRUCTURE THAT IS SUPPORTING YOU
YOUR FRIENDS, HOW DO THEY KNOW
HOW TO INTERACT WITH YOU?
DO THEY MENTION IT AT A HOLIDAY
PARTY?
DO THEY ASK YOU EVERY TIME THEY
SEE YOU, ARE YOU EXPECTING?
SO WE GIVE COACHING AND TIPS
JUST ON INFERTILITY ETIQUETTE.
>> INFERTILITY ETIQUETTE.
FIRST TIME I'VE HEARD THAT.
>> YES, WELL, IF YOU'RE
STRUGGLING, AND IT'S PRIVATE,
IT'S NOT PROBABLY A REALLY GOOD
THING THAT EACH TIME YOU SEE A
PERSON THAT MAY BE NEWLY MARRIED
OR EVEN A PERSON THAT'S BEEN
MARRIED FOR AWHILE, THEY MAY BE
HAVING SOME ISSUES AND MAY NOT,
YOU KNOW, WANT TO SHARE THAT
WITH YOU.
SO I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE
SENSITIVE, PARTICULARLY IF
YOU'RE IN A WORKPLACE AND
EVERYONE AROUND YOU IS
CELEBRATING AND YOU, YOURSELF,
AGAIN ARE STRURUGGLING.
IT'S LIKE EVERYBODY IS HAVING A
PARTY AND YOU'RE NOT INVITED TO
IT.
IT'S VERY PAINFUL.
>> FOR SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING
WITH CHILD BIRTH OR ADOPTION OR
CONCEPTION, WHAT DO YOU THINK
WOULD BE THE BEST ADVICE E U
COULD GIVE THEM?
>> I THINK YOU SHOULD BE OPEN.
UM, THERE ARE MANY PATHS TO
PARENTHOOD, AND TO BECOMING A
MOMMY AND A DADDY AND SO IF YOU
HAVE SOME HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY
PREVENT FROM YOU CARRYING A
CHILD NATURALLY, YOU MAY CHOOSE
TO ADOPT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF WONDERFUL
CHILDREN OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST
WAITING FOR A HOME TO GO INTO.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PATHS, AND
THEN, WE EVEN HAVE A DIFFERENT
STEP THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT
TO ADOPT AND FULLY COMMIT, AND
MAYBE YOU WANT TO TRY IT OUT, SO
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU
COULD MENTOR OR SUPPORT A FAMILY
WITH CHILDREN.
>> GREAT IDEAS.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO LET OUR
VIEWERS KNOW HOW THEY CAN FIND
OUT MORE ABOUT SPARKLES OF LIFE.
THE PHONE NUMBER 281-397-3260 OR
IF YOU PREFER, LOG ONTO
SPARKLESOFLIFE.ORG.
RHONDA, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH
AND THE BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR
ORGANIZATION.
I KNOW YOU'RE HEL
>>> WELCOME BACK.
FERTILITY PROBLEMS ARE SO
PREVALENT, O ONE IN EIGHT COUPL
HAS TROUBLE GETTING PREGNANT.
THE LATEST STUDY SHOW A WOMAN'S
BEST BET TO GET PREGNANT WITHOUT
HELP IS TO DO SO BY THE TIME
SHE'S 30.
>> SCOTTISH RESEARCHERS SAY BY
THE TIME A WOMAN TURNS 30, SHE
HAS 12 PERCENT OF HER EGGS LEFT.
THERE ARE MORE OPTIONS FOROR THE
WHO WANT TO WAIT.
>> THE COUPLES WE'RE ABOUT TO
INTRODUCE YOU TO GOT HELP FROM
THE HOUSTON FERTILITY CENTER.
>> WOMEN WHO WANT TO HAVE A BABY
THAT'S AT LEAST GENETICALLY HALF
THEIRS CAN USE A DONOR EGG.
THAT'S WHAT CLIFF AND KAREN DID.
THEY CALL CAYDEN THEIR MIRACLE
CHILD.
>> AS SOON AS WE BROUGHT HER
INTO THE ROOM, IT W INSTANT
BONDAGE.
>> OPTIONS I INCLUDE TAKING
MEDICATION AND MAKING LIFE-STYLE
CHANGES.
OTHER WOMEN CHOOSE TO UNDERGO
SURGERY ON THEIR REPRODUCTIVE
ORGANS.
FIBROIDS ARE A BIG PROBLEM FOR
MANY AND DOCOCTORS SAY IT CAUSEA
LOT OF MISCARRIAGES.
THERE'S A NONSURGICAL TREATMENT
CALLED MRI GUIDED ULTRASOUND
OBLATION WHICH USES MRI AND
ULTRASOUND TOGETHER WHICH
VAPORIZES THE FIBROID.
ANOTHER STANDARD TREATMENT IS
OVARIAN STIMULATION.
THE OVARIES ARE STIMULATED WITH
MEDICATION TO PRODUCE SEVERAL
EGGS.
A DOCTOR PLACES A PREPARED ***
SAMPLE INTO THE UTERUS WITH A
CATHETER.
THIS INCREASES THE CHANCE FOR
PREGNANCY BY INCREASING THE
NUMBER OF EGGS RELEASED PER
CYCLE AND INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF *** THAT REACH THE UPPER
REPRODUCTIVE TRACT.
>> AFTER A FEW INSEMINATIONS AND
THEN, YOU KNOW, THREE IN VITROS,
THAT'S WHEN WE REALIZED, YOU
KNOW, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE
PROBLEMS.
>> IT WAS TOUGH.
IT TOOK A LOT LONGER THAN EITHER
OF US THOUGHT IT WOULD.
>>>> JANET AND BRIAN OPTED FOR E
MOST AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT,
IN
VITRO FERTILIZATION OR IVF.
THE EGGS ARE REMOVED, MIXED WITH
***, ALLOWED TO FERTILIZED AND
TRANSFERRED INTO THE UTERUS.
AS FAR AS MALE INFERTILITY IS
CONCERNED, HORMONE REPLACEMENT
OR MEDICATIONS MAY HELP.
EVEN A DIET AND VITAMINS CAN
HELP SOMETIMES.
THE PROBLEM FOR MEN IS DILATED
VESSELS IN THE TESTICLES.
THAT'S WHAT CHRIS WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH.
HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO TALK
ABOUTT TO HELP OTHERS.
HE AND HIS WIFE CHOSE IVF AND IT
WORKED FOR THEM.
DOCTORS CAN TAKE *** FROM THE
*** AND INJECT IT INTO THE
EGG, WHICH OFTEN PROVIDES A
HIGHER CHANCE OF PREGNANCY.
>> WE ALSO TALKED WITH ONE LOCAL
WOMAN WHO CHOSE TO FREEZE HER
EGGS AND USE THEM LATER.
DOCTORS SAY THIS IS A GREAT
OPTION FOR ANY WOMAN WHO WANTS
TO PRESERVE HER FERTILITY NOW
AND WAIT UNTIL LATER IN LIFE TO
CONCEIVE.
IT'S A GOOD CHOICE FOR WOMAN WHO
MIGHT HAVE TO UNDERGO CANCER
TREATMENTS.
THIS IS AN OPTION THAT JUST CAME
AVAILABLE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.
>>> I'M JOINED BY THE OWNER AND
PRESIDENT OF A FOUNDATION TO
HELP THOSE STRUGGLING WITH
FERTILITY ISSUES CALLED SPARKLES
OF LIFE.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU, RHONDA, AND
TO YOUR PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRLS,
YOUR SPARKLES OF LIFE.
IT IS THEIR FOURTH BIRTHDAY
TODAY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LADIES.
YOU'RE SO LOVELY.
>> SAY THANK YOU.
>> HOW MUCH DO T THESE LADIES MN
AND HOW HARD WAS IT TO GET THEM
HERE?
>> I TELL YOU, WE ARE SO
GRATEFUL.
DADDY AND I ARE REALLY, REALLY
PROUD OF THEM.
THEY ARE REALLY VERY BUSY.
THEY'RE FOUR TODAY.
AND SPARKLES OF LIFE WAS BIRTHED
OUT OF THE JOURNEY.
>> WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR MOMMY.
THAT'S GOING TO HELP US HEAR
HER.
ALL RIGHT, SWEET PEA?
YOU HAVE THESE CLOTHES YOU
PRAYED OVER TO MAKE SURURE YOU
WOULD GET THEM.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WERE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A BABY.
>> YES.
THAT IS TRUE.
WE ACTUALLY PRAYED FOR NINE
YEARS.
WE HAD FOUR MISCARRIAGES AND
WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO SHOW
TODAY WAS JUST REALLY WHAT
SPARKLES IS ALL ABOUT.
THAT'S THE PRAYER, JUST BEING
INSPIRED, AND BEING ENCOURAGED
AND EMPOWERINING WOMEN TO REALL
UNDERSTAND THEIR WHOLE
REPRODUCTIVE AND FERTILITY
ISSUES AND CONCERNS.
>> CERTAINLY.
I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND
WAS FOR YOU TO HAVE A BABY AND
NOW YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
AREN'T ALONE IN THE HOUSTON AREA
WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THINGS YOU
WENT THROUGH.
YOU HAVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPARKLES
OF LIFE NOW AND YOU WANT TO HELP
OTHERS.
HOW W CAN U HELP THEM AND HOW
CAN THEY GET INVOLVED?
>> WE HAVE SEVERAL WAYS.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED
COUNTDOWN TO CONCEPTION.
THAT'S WHERE WE BELIEVE, FOR ME
IT WAS NINE YEARS, BUT WE'LL
WAIT WITH YOU AND PRAY WITH YOU,
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS
JOURNEY, ALTHOUGH IT CAN BE
LONG, CAN BE SHORT, IT'S UNIQUE
FOR SOME PEOPLE, DEPENDING ON
THE PATH THAT THEY DECIDE ON,
THAT WE WILL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND KEEP YOU MOVING SO THAT THIS
BATTLE DOESN'T HAVE TO WEIGH YOU
DOWN TOO MUCH.
WE WANT YOU TO CELEBRATE
WHEREVER YOU ARE ON THE PATH.
>> THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS.
DO Y YOU WALK COUPLES THROUGH TT
AND HELP THEM REALIZE HOW MANY
CHANCES THERE ARE OUT THERE TO
GET PREGNANT?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE DEAL WITH WOMEN WHO MAY HAVE
DELAYED PARENTING WHERE THERE
ARE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS, PCOS,
OR WOMEN THAT HAVE HAD
MISCARRIAGES.
SO THERE ARE TONS OF
POSSIBILITIES, EVEN FOR
ADOPTIONS AS WELL.
WE SUPPORT WOMEN THROUGH THAT AS
WELL.
>> SO MANY WOMEN WHO I
INTERVIEWED WHO LOST SO MANY
BABIES ALONG THE WAY, IT WAS SO
DIFFICULT FOR THEM.
YOU HAVE SUPPORT FOR THOSE AS
WELL?
>> EXACTLTLY.
AND THAT'S THE FORUM WE'RE USING
IS WE'RE USING THE SOCIAL MEDIA
AS WELL AS FACE TO FACE SUPPORT
GROUPS.
WE WORK WITH SEVERAL DOCTORS
THAT ARE HERE IN THE AREA,
SPECIFICALLY WE'RE WORKING WITH
THE FERTILITY INSTITUTE, HOUSTON
FERTILITY INSTITUTE TO HELP AND
ENCOURAGE WOMEN, GIVE THEM HOPE
TO KEEP GOING.
AS IT IS VERY PAINFUL.
>> FOR THOSE COUPLES WHO ARE
TRYING TO HARD TO GET PREGNANT,
HOW CAN THEY GET AHOLD OF YOU
AND GET INVOLVED WITH YOUR
ORGANIZATIOION?
>> WE HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENT
UPCOMING.
WE KNOW THAT MOTHER'S DAY IS
COMING.
THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS
WHO HAVE LOST PREGNANCIES AND
THAT HAVE HAD MISCARRIAGES.
WE HAVE A FORUM FOR YOU TO JUST
CELEBRATE AND COME AND HAVE A
GREAT BRUNCH.
THAT'S MAY 7TH.
IT IS A MOTHER'S HEART BRUNCH.
YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THE HEART
OF A MOTHER TO BE THERE.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE ON SOUTH
DAIRY ASHFORD?
>> THAT'S CORRECT.
AT THE VI VILA BALLROOM.
>> REMIND US OF YOUR WEB SITE.
>> SPARKLES OF LIFE.ORG.
>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT ON
OUR WEB SITE, MYFOXHOUSTON.COM.
YOUR LITTLE GIRLS ARE SO
PRECIOUS.
I'M SO GLAD AFTER ALL OF YOUR
YEARS OF STRUGGLE, YOU WERE ABLE
TO HAVE THEM.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LADIES.
I HOPE YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL
BIRTHDAY, AND WE'RE SO GLAD YOU
WERE HERE TO JOIN US AND SHARE
YOUR MOM'S MESSAGE, THAT IT IS
POSSIBLE, OFTEN POSSIBLE FOR
PEOPLE TO HAVE PREGNANCIES WHEN
THEY MAY NOT EXPECT IT,
ESPECIALLY WITH THE SUPPORT
GROUP LIKE THIS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND
HELPING US GET THE MESSAGE OUT.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOWOW IFF YOU'R
OUT THERE -- WE WANT TO BE AN
ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU THAT YOU'RE
NOT ALONE.
>> A GREAT MESSAGE TO SHARE WITH
US.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
LADIES.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!