About Kara
Six hundred and three. No, that is not the cups of coffee I consume each year (though close) or the items on my poor husband’s “honey do” list. It’s the number of injections to my stomach and hips that stood in the way of me becoming what I always wanted to be—a mother.
In the beginning, I was an open book. I told anyone and everyone what we were going through. In the ensuing years, I began building walls and shutting people out from what was going on because it became harder and more debilitating to face the questions that I didn’t have the answers to.
With each passing “sorry it didn’t work” phone call I received, the feelings of embarrassment and disappointment mounted. I mean, women have babies. That’s what they DO! I buried my feelings of resentment toward my body and wondered what I had done so wrong to be subjected to walking this path. I was a good person, I went to church. I gave back. Why was I being left behind? My faith took a huge blow because “Ask and Ye shall receive” sounded like outright mockery.
To add insult to injury, our insurance did not offer any sort of provision for infertility, so thee burden of having a child fell on our shoulders, as it does for so many. They told us that pregnancy was an “elective” procedure—not treating something life-threatening—and therefore not covered.” So…let me get this straight. I can “electively” smoke my entire life, and you will cover my lung cancer? Yes. Did you know that only nineteen states have any sort of mandated infertility coverage? With 1 in 6 couples struggling with infertility, it’s heartbreaking to think that for so many, the cost is insurmountable.
In June of 2013, our prayers were answered, and our blessings came in the form of our boy/girl twins Bexleigh and Braxton! I have since dedicated myself to raising money and awareness for a disease that many keep hidden from the world, through the Starfish Infertility Foundation. While the main objective of the foundation is to raise funds to assist with the financial burden of treatment, I also provide compassion and a community of support for those struggling. In 2020, I was invited to join the Tennessee Fertility Advocates as their Nashville lead to spread infertility awareness, assist other advocates with speaking to their employers about the need for coverage, and to advocate for fertility friendly legislation in the state of Tennessee. I am so hopeful that through this effort, others will be spared from the heartache I endured.
While I hated every injection I took, I’m also truly grateful for each and every one. Not just because it gave me what I always wanted in motherhood, but something else only He knew I was looking for—a purpose.
About Foundation
