Impact

Recently an old friend of mine approached me about using my blog in teaching a unit on ethics to high school students.  Flattered, I drafted a short statement to address what sorts of ethical decisions I weighted in as I was deciding whether or not to become a donor. 

In what way(s) did your personal ethics factor into the decision you ultimately made to become a donor?

My response:
Choosing to donate my eggs was an easy decision for me. I find nothing morally wrong with egg donation. Morally, I do not read into egg donation as being unnatural. In the past, I have personally been troubled by genetic screening, where parents choose the genetic dispositions of their offspring through invitro fertilization. This was a factor when I began researching egg donation. However, these parents had tried for years, they were not looking for a perfect child, but their child. Invitro fertilization was their last option to have a child naturally. Although they technically "chose" me out of a set of photos and questionnaires, I felt their choice was based on personal decisions made in good faith, to have a child they deserve and one that looks like them.

My family voiced their uneasiness regarding my decision. They felt it was God's role and that by creating life in a petri dish between my eggs and the husband's sperm was unethical and against God's plan. I do not feel this way. Just as we hope couples who are able to conceive naturally, these couples have, or I hope have, passion and love in their relationship.
My eggs are important, they are integral. Spiritually it came down to love, not genetics. Just as one may argue, “we are what we are because of our genes”, or someone else will argue it was how we were raised, I have no doubt their child will grow up with the same love and affection I received from my parents, whether or not they are genetically related to me.
Ultimately, it was my upmost faith in people and the personal journey each of these couples had suffered. I am grateful for my health and my supportive family. In being physically able to donate, it was the least I could do for a couple who wanted a family.

Today I was informed on how the class went:  "The lesson/discussion went AMAZING and the students were all utterly transfixed by your blog and the beautiful statement you sent me."  Most importantly, she added, "Thank you again for being so open and willing to share your experiences." 

As I enter the professional arena, I am happy that I maintain this blog and am able to share my experiences.