obligatory thankful thanksgiving post

It was about two months or so ago as I was blinking the sleep out of my eyes and obliging Bella’s morning belly-rub request, thinking about my busy work day ahead and wishing I could sleep a few more minutes before hopping into the shower. That’s when I realized, on that day last year I could not do any of the menial things I was about to do. I could not shower. I could not take Bella outside. I could not cook myself breakfast. Let alone, drive my car, go to work, etc. In that moment, I was so many things – grateful, amazed, ecstatic, all the emotional words. And from that morning on and every day since then, I have felt this insane amount of gratitude towards being given another chance at this awesome thing called life. Who beats cancer four times? That’s just crazy.

I am never going to stop being appreciative of the life I continue to live and doing my best to make a difference in the world. I am lucky to be here and thankful for every single moment I have.

Cheers to family, friends, stretchy pants, and Thanksgivakuh!

Thankful for the Publix baker for making this for me. All the frosting!

random acts of kindness

So I had this little idea of how I wanted to celebrate my 30th birthday. A few days later I was being followed around by a news crew (or three).

I mean, holy crap y’all.

I got the initial idea months and months ago. In between Netflix marathons and sleeping, I started formulating a plan of how I could repay all the kindness and love that was bestowed upon me in my time of need. There is nobody that can survive just life in general without support, and I had gotten plenty of it. I wanted to pass the “good juju” onto others. When it was getting close to my birthday on July 20th, I decided I wanted to do something a little different than the typical food, boozing, and dancing. (Don’t worry, I got plenty of that in as well. Cheers to my roommate for being the last one standing with me at 5:30am!) So the week leading up to my birthday, I performed 30 random acts of kindness to celebrate my 30 years on this lovely planet. These included bringing donuts to a local fire station, giving strangers in the baby section of Target a small gift card, visiting a children’s shelter and spending time with the kids, dropping off treats at the Humane Society, and leaving a smiley face note on a random car, among many other things. I saved the most “meaningful to me” act for last, which was leaving Gatorade, snacks, and an inspirational note to the patients in the waiting room of my clinic. As someone who is a year out from treatment and been in their shoes, I hope I gave them some encouragement (and a sugar rush).

But it didn’t end with my 30 “RAOK”. I decided to also invite my 1,000+ Facebook friends to join me in perfoming their own random acts of kindness, one or more. And I asked everyone to post a comment or photo of what they did, to share with everyone. And oh my, the response. Y’all, seriously, I was overwhelmed in the best possible way I have ever been. The page was passed along to friends of friends, then friends of friends of friends, and then the news stations started calling and wanted to feature my story. Then people from all over, multiple states, strangers, joined in. Every five seconds my phone was blinking with a notification of someone’s post. I would look at the page whenever I got a moment and try to keep up with all the wonderful things people were doing, and try to hold back the happy tears.

At the end of the week, there were 450-500 random acts of kindness recorded on the Facebook event page. (I tried to get an exact number but I lost count a couple times.) There were even more than that performed, personal ones that people didn’t feel comfortable sharing but expressed to me verbally that they had participated.

I cannot thank everyone enough for being a part of this incredibly special birthday celebration. I think we all made a little dent in the negativity in this world, and certainly brought a lot more kindness to people than they are accustomed.

As I mentioned above, there were multiple news stations that interviewed me and shared my story, which was a bit nervewracking (I am a much better writer than speaker) but ended up being amazing. I also was featured on the radio and a couple blogs. Check out the links at the bottom of the page.

It was about midweek when CNN came to interview and follow me around. When the journalist from CNN had completed his interview with me, he asked the rest of the crew if they had any additional questions. One of the interns spoke up – he was 21 and had never met anyone with cancer or knew of anyone with cancer before, which in itself is incredible in this day and age. He said he couldn’t imagine at his age, the age I was diagnosed, having to hear that news and deal with everything that followed, and he asked me how I was able to not be bitter or angry at the fact that I fought cancer through most of my adult life.  Nobody had really asked me that before, and I honestly didn’t know how to respond. I mean, I definitely had days where I was frustrated, and sad, and really frustrated, but I don’t think I’ve ever been angry or bitter. I guess I’ve always thought, who am I to be bitter? There are so many people fighting for their lives today, it’s not fair for me to say “Why me?”. Because, why anyone? I told him I’m not sure where it came from, that I’ve always been an optimistic person and it just came from within me to use my energy for fighting my disease and not with being angry at the world for my circumstances.

I thought about it for the next few days though. How was it possible that I have not developed any bitterness in these nine years that I have heard “You have cancer” four times? How have I stayed positive through it all?

I realized that the reason I am able to not hate my situation, is that my disease and fight have given me the ability to see the “silver linings” moments. To appreciate every single day and every single moment to the fullest. That I really have no choice but to stay positive and survive as long as I can. Cancer changed my life, a fact that in some regard I have to appreciate. Who knows where I would be, what kind of person I would be, what my career would be, without this cancer diagnosis. I would like to think I would still be working in non-profit, and still be spreading random acts of kindness with the world, but there’s no way to know. So I recognize that cancer has afforded me the insight to be the person I am today. And that makes it easier to deal with the fact that this asshole cancer has given me some setbacks in my life. And now it’s just time to make up for time lost, obviously.

Oh, one more thing. On Friday, I got my (almost) 1 year post-transplant scans and biopsies back, and they remain all clear.

Excuse me, I meant to say, “”AAAAAALLLL CLEEEEEEEEEAAAR!”

I will celebrate officially one year in remission at the end of December, but this is a huge landmark. I’m hoping when I meet with my doctor in a couple weeks to officially review my status and progress, he’ll crack a smile and maybe even give me a hug.

Check out the Facebook event page and the various feature pieces below.

Lauraine’s Spread the Love Birthweek Challenge

WSB Channel 2 story

11 Alive story

CNN story

All News 106.7 story

Pretty Southern blog post

Midtown Patch blog post

progress report

I remember back in the winter when the doctors first allowed me to start eating apples, provided my sister peeled them for me. I hadn’t been allowed to touch or eat any uncooked fruit or vegetables for months. It was a baby step, but it was progress. I honestly am amazed every day at how far I have come in such a short time. Remember like eight months ago when I was attached to a pain medicine pump, fighting a fluid baby, and residing in a hospital?

Since then, my progress has grown exponentially. So to sum up where I am at right now, here’s a little progress report I made for myself. It will be printed and stuck to my parent’s fridge with a gold star and big smiley face magnet.

Health: B

My clinic appointments have decreased to just once every three weeks. Each visit they check my blood work then my midlevel physician and I shoot the shit about any latest health issues. The only thing I miss about having these appointments more often is time to catch up on my reading while I sit in the waiting room for upwards of two hours waiting for my lab results.

My eye has stopped watering constantly! Now there are only tears when I’m hearing a great mission moment from a fellow survivor, laughing during a game of Cards Against Humanity, or watching the end of that Zillow commercial.

My lungs are really my only problem area right now. A combination of “mucousy bronchial tubes” and typical allergies makes for a little difficulty breathing. But I’ve got another appointment lined up with the pulmonologist to switch my steroid inhaler and hopefully that will help.

Oh, that pesky cancer thing? Still gone as far as I know! Next round of scans and results are approaching in the coming weeks. I’m doing my best to block any worrying out of my brain to leave room for more important things like what I’m going to wear to the Braves game Friday.

Social activities: A+(+++?)

If you’re my friend in real life, Facebook friend, Tweep, or stalker – then you know. My social life has gone from zero (literally, z.e.r.o.) to 60 (or more like 120) in a short time. If you were locked up for eight months you would be out and about every chance you got too. Don’t hate, participate. I’m living and loving every second of every day.

Work: B+

It’s been almost two months since I’ve been back, and I feel pretty much back in the swing of things. I am still part-time for now, but hoping to be back full-time very soon. My brain usually hits a wall at about 3:00pm, which is when I head home to nap. However, last week I worked my first FULL day – and on a Monday no less! It has been so incredible to reconnect with my Light The Night teams that I’ve worked with for years, and know I have been in their thoughts as much as they have been in mine. I did have my first fight with our computer system, and let an “I need a vacation” slip out. Hey, I love my job but I’m still human.

Travel: A

It wasn’t a trip to Croatia, but I did just return home from a stellar weekend in New Orleans with my Pops. I heard some of my favorite music, ate more food in four days than I have in the entire month, and saw some old familiar faces. I’m back about 5 lbs. heavier but my soul is much lighter.

In August, I’m off to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico for a week on the beach with some of my favorite people. It is going to be pure, unadulterated shenanigans. Our own house on the beach with a private pool? Pinch me. And bring me a fruity rum drink in a coconut while you’re at it.

And if all things work out, hopefully I’ll be taking a lil’ boat trip in November.

Not too shabby.

Hair growth: B-

My locks are coming in slowly but surely. At this moment I would say it is between Seth Rogen circa Green Hornet and Seth Rogen circa Knocked Up. Grow hair grow!

So overall I would say, a pretty great report card with some room for improvement. This summer is going to be one for the record books – weddings, trips, music, love, friends, and basking. I’ll be blogging all about it so that I can remember these times when I’m old and gray.

And on the note for progress in general, let’s all hope for some progress with the Supreme Court announcement shortly. Equality for all.

Now, check out this video shot by yours truly (I was a few beers deep, so excuse the slight shakiness in the beginning) of just one of the amazing street, record store, and club performances I caught in New Orleans. I mean, electric violin and Nirvana? Yes, please.

fifteen minutes

They say what goes up must come down, but I’ve been up and I see no down in my future. It’s hard to believe it has been a whole month since I’ve been set free into the world. I am still ridiculously excited, optimistic, forever smiling, that girl that appears entirely too giddy for no reason if you spotted me across the room and didn’t know why I was hugging everyone. I am smiling right now. It’s not getting weird yet, is it?

So what have I been up to, besides drinking lots of green juice?

Visiting many patios (and enjoying my own) in my newish ‘hood in Midtown, a lake weekend in Tennessee, playing in the Botanical Gardens, getting back into the swing of things at work, hanging out with my favorite band of all time – Yeasayer, shopping in stores and touching things, cheering on the Braves…and those are only a handful of the things in the last two weeks.

Oh, and I was on the news yesterday. And then (what felt like) a million people saw my story, commented, shared, texted, and made me feel like the king queen of the world. If this is my “fifteen minutes of fame”, I couldn’t think of a better thing to be known for than sharing my story of survival along with my friends’ good work for a great cause.

I have always had UHmazing support from everyone when it comes to my “so non-profit” life. Run into me at lunch or at the bar and likely the conversation will turn to me professing my love for LLS and the work we do, asking you when I should sign you up to volunteer, requesting you skip that morning Starbucks for a week and donate the money instead. And why shouldn’t I –  I’m the living proof right here that your dollars help. But these past few months have been beyond anything I could ask for. The enthusiasm, hard-earned money donated, shared happiness, endless Facebook posts, simple kindnesses shown to me is too much for words.

I will continue to do all in my power to inspire you to appreciate every day, every moment, every mundane task we all have to do but take for granted (seriously, grocery shopping for myself is still a highlight of my day). Here’s me, very humbly thanking you, for allowing me to do this.

If you missed it yesterday, click here to see my television debut, and please consider making a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through Lauraine’s Table.

my strange addiction

There were many jokes made about what would happen when my sister’s cells took over my body after the stem cell transplant. Would my boobs grow larger to match hers? Would I start wearing my hair in pigtails and climbing trees? The doctors told me it was possible I would develop her allergies. Well, those things did not pass over to me but I will tell you what did – her green juice addiction.

Rebecca moved home to be my caregiver, donor, roommate, grocery shopper, dog walker, chauffeur, etc. Almost every day she would get a green juice from Whole Foods, and almost every day I would eye  it with disgust and decline to drink one. Then, two weeks ago, something crazy happened. I woke up with the strongest craving for a green juice. Completely baffled by this urge, I decided to drive over to Whole Foods and look at the green juice, confident that once I got there I would end up buying a brownie instead. I walked over to the counter, and watched as the two people in front of me did shots of wheatgrass along with their own green juices. Still thinking in my head, “gross…” as I stepped up to place my order. But the body wants what it wants and so I went for it, choosing the Green Lemonade – a mixture of spinach, celery, kale, apple, lemon, and cucumber. It tasted a bit like dirt and lemon, but I liked it. I immediately texted Rebecca, sure that it was her cells influencing my desire for this new healthy thing. Am I one of those people who drinks green juice now? What the hell is going on? When would the super powers kick in? I had so many questions. Of course, she was ecstatic to learn of this new me. Until I told her I thought it may be better with some vodka mixed in.

The following day I again was craving green juice. Damn these cells. I went across the street from my new home where there is a conveniently located Arden’s Garden. There were happy people everywhere, sitting at the “bar”, drinking their green juices and wheatgrass shots. I ventured slowly over to the fridge to peruse my options. There were different colored juices to choose from, but I only wanted green. I had to have green. I selected pH Solution – a mixture of water, kale, spinach, celery, cucumbers, and lemon. I liked it even more than the green juice I’d had the day before. That moment I knew, there was no turning back. Hi, my name is Lauraine and I am a green juice addict.

On Friday I took a step up and ordered a Spinach Slam – a smoothie of spinach, mango, and pineapple juice. I loved it. However, I’m still waiting for the super powers to kick in.

came + saw + conquered

I guess I should have thought of a better phrase than – It’s my coming-out weekend! -, but the server at Mi Cocina who welcomed me to “the family” made it absolutely worth the confusion. My “coming out” week has come and gone, and holy crap what a week it was. Champagne was flowing, the sun was shining (most of the time), and everyone was dancing. I totally conquered the last week of April, and alright, perhaps it conquered me a bit as well. It was all completely overwhelming, but at the same time felt like no time had passed at all since I’d seen those familiar faces. I just put back on my old party shoes and it was like nothing had changed.

The only person not loving it all was Bella. She showed her displeasure my shedding like crazy all over the house, or at least I assume she did it on purpose. Dogs can control that, right? Sorry boo. You’re just going to have to get used to sharing me again.

The most common question I got (aside from Q. How the hell did you not go crazy? A. I think I did, a little.) was what was the first thing I did.

Well, everyone on the edge of your seats for the answer, the very first thing I did was get a manicure & pedicure.

Were you expecting a more exciting answer? Here’s the thing folks. I have had enough life-risking (albeit cancer and not fun-related) adventures for the foreseeable future. I am ready for normal, calm, everyday life stuff. Getting my nails done, meeting friends for dinner, visiting all my favorite people and places in the city, etc. There will be no jumping out of planes or swimming with sharks this week. That’s not to say that I won’t one day do those things. I certainly want to experience life to the fullest as soon as the doctors allow. But for these first weeks just give me a patio, a delicious meal, and good friends.

Now, make no mistake, there absolutely will be fun and travel during my summer. As soon as the doctors permit, I’m jetting off to some fabulous location. Croatia, anyone?

It has been exactly a week since my release and it still feels surreal. I don’t think I will ever forget how amazing this feeling of freedom is, and the immense appreciation I have for the ability to do normal things again. Yesterday, I confirmed a dinner plan with some girlfriends. It made me smile like a freak for the next two hours.

Oh but hey, I’ve got to run. It’s my first day back at work curing cancer.

gird your loins, atlanta

I’m breaking out of isolation jail in less than one week.

I’ll borrow a scene from Jessie Spano to express my feelings: “I’m so excited!!…I’m so excited!!…I’m so, scared!”

Scared, only because I know my first weekend out I will want to party from the windows to the wall, but will probably only make it to the floor.

I know it has been a while since I’ve seen most of you, so here’s a couple helpful hints for when you see your neighborhood cancer ass-kicker…

Bring on the hugs and kisses! I won’t break, promise. My immune system is ready, so give me your cooties.

Ask me any and everything you want about my treatment, recovery, and how the hell I survived this mess. I’ll do my best to answer it. Clearly I am not shy. Remember that post I wrote about being constipated? Yeah.

Or, make zero mention of anything cancer-related. Hey, if you don’t want to talk about it, neither do I! It won’t hurt my feelings if you want to avoid the topic entirely. How ’bout them Braves?!

You like my hair? Thank you! It’s a wig. So why wear one if I’m just going to tell people it’s a wig anyway? Because it’s pretty and I like playing with it. It’s not a self-conscious thing, it’s a feeling-like-my-old-self thing. Plus, what girl doesn’t want long gorgeous hair that always looks good? I paid good money for it.

What did you say your name is? I’m sorry, it’s the chemo brain. I am frequently losing my train of thought, staring off blankly into the horizon, forgetting what that thing over there is called with the things and the stuff. Chemo brain feels like the equivalent of chugging some wine (+ vodka + getting stoned) and laying in the sun all day. My response time is just a little slower than average. Please forgive me if I don’t remember that conversation we had last summer, I barely remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.

And that’s all folks! I am ecstatic and looking forward to seeing my closest friends, my neighbors, my tweeps, the Trader Joe’s cashier, that girl who told me I looked gorgeous in the bathroom right after I threw up, the stylist at Madewell, my favorite bartenders, your Mom, that hot guy over there with the tattoos, and the Marta security guard. Have your people call my people, Shit. Is. On.

repercussions of a cure

Now that the “big fish has been fried”, it’s time to start dealing with the repercussions of the past two (or, eight, really) years of cancer treatments. Chemotherapy and radiation is poison, plain and simple. Most cancer treatments wreak havoc on your body, hence the vomiting, losing hair, weakness, etc. But the good news is that everything can be dealt with, and in the grand scheme of things it was worth it. Duh, I’m alive!

Here’s a little bit of what I’m dealing with these days, and the specialty medical fields with which I have become acquainted. Never a dull moment…

Specialty: Pulmonology. My lungs have been slightly damaged since I had radiation, which has only gotten worse over time and with more chemo. I have a not-cute persistent cough due to “mucous-ey bronchial tubes”. Treatment: Steroid inhaler twice a day for the foreseeable future. So far so good!

Specialty: Optomology. The Stevens Johnson syndrome (an allergic reaction from a chemo drug) damaged my tear ducts and my eyes have been watering constantly for the past year because they can’t drain properly. The doctor was able to correct one eye with a simple procedure, but the other eye requires surgery that is taking place on Monday. Treatment: The doctor will implant a tiny clear tube that will run between my two tear ducts and down my nose, in hopes of reopening the canals and keeping them open when the tube is removed three months later. The doctor showed me really, really close up pictures, which I will spare you. The tube will be visible, but unless you open your eyes while we’re making out (which is weird) it won’t be too noticeable.

Specialty: Orthopedics. Being basically bed-ridden for months will do some damage on your muscles and joints. Combined with bone deterioration from chemo, and a ninety year old could beat me in a foot race right now. Since I have returned from the beach, where I walked more than I have in a long time, I’ve had a constant pain in my left hip. Treatment: TBD. I have an MRI tomorrow and we’ll go from there. In the meantime, I am moving real slow with a pimp-like swagger.

Include the doctors I already see, and I have quite the arsenal! There will be even more doctors to meet and specialties to explore in the coming weeks and months, as my body continues to fight to get healthy. I have some blood flow problems in my extremities, a side effect from yet another chemo drug. And eventually I will need to see a dermatologist about the Stevens Johnson scars covering my legs.

The silver lining in all of this? My ticker is doing wonderfully and has no damage at all. I am told that the skipping-a-beat thing when I watch a Ryan Gosling sex scene is totally normal.

happy happy joy joy

The last time I had amazing news it took me a few weeks to share my thoughts here, because I needed time to process everything. Back in December, the first round of scans after my transplant had come back clear. I was showing “NED” (No Evidence of Disease) for the first time in years. But I couldn’t escape the worrisome thoughts of the cancer immediately returning. Go away negative thoughts!

Not the case this time. The delay in sharing the news that MY SIX MONTH POST-TRANSPLANT SCANS ARE ALL CLEAR!! on my blog was because I was immediately whisked away with some wonderful friends to spend a long weekend at the beach.

That’s right. I’m still cancer-free.

My immediate reaction was shock, then just complete overpowering joy. After undergoing so many treatments in a row over the past three years and them all failing, I naturally had my doubts about this one. But lo and behold, it’s working!

To quote my doctor, he is “extremely optimistic”. Hey friend, I like the way that sounds. Obviously with my history, I won’t be completely out of the woods for a while. But six months is a heck of a start.

The icing on the cake (Seriously, tons of icing, like Gigi’s cupcakes icing.) is that my “freeeeeeeedoooooooooooom” date has been set. The roller coaster that has been my isolation schedule – indefinite at first, then to end in March, then extended to May – is coming to an end towards late April. Early release for good cell behavior! The exact date is top secret for now. I mean, I don’t want to cause the city to shut down for a National Lauraine Frank Day or anything. Or maybe I do…

The even MORE icing on the cake (So, a box full of Gigi’s cupcakes eaten in one sitting? Sugar rush!) is that I am returning to work in May! I am beyond thrilled to work for such an amazing organization, who has kept my seat warm and already has a working “Lauraine’s To-Do” list ready upon my return. Honestly, I would be happy simply mopping the floors for LLS. In other words, I cannot wait to jump back in  – cannonball while throwing a thumbs up – to the cancer fight in any capacity, from the other side of the line.

I am still “working out the bugs” on a few things, more updates to come on that. But for now, let’s all just bask in the amazing feeling of not having cancer.

(Bella basking this past weekend at Seabrook Island, SC)

would you save a life?

While everyone was out over the weekend in their green tutus and knee socks, I was home doing the usual, sitting on the couch conversing with Bella. We did get out in the sun for a bit on Saturday and Sunday and had a nice walk in the park, and I’m happy to see some freckles on my shoulders once again. On Friday night, I clicked on Rock Center with Brian Williams.  The first story happened to be about bone marrow transplants, so of course it immediately piqued my interest. My interest quickly turned to surprise and disappointment as I watched the story of a mother searching for a bone marrow match for her daughter. I have been thinking about it since that night.

Part of the story involved the mother having two more children (twins) in hopes they would be a match for her first daughter, and they both end up born with the same blood disorder and needing bone marrow transplants themselves. Absolutely heartbreaking. And I’m not going to touch that part of the story with a ten foot pole.

The main focus was this mother’s legal fight for individuals to receive compensation for donating their bone marrow. Mind you, not for widening the search in the world and locating more matches, necessarily, but for people to actually follow through with their donation. This just STUCK with me. Apparently when matches are found through the registry, often the person does not agree to donate their bone marrow. These are willing individuals who had been tested with a cheek swab and entered into the registry, not just random, unknowing people off the street.

“‘It could be in some cases, that the donor is on vacation, or the donor’s work does not allow them to take off from work.  Or it may be that they never really wanted to be a donor at all,’ he said.”

I’m sorry, what? You’re on vacation and can’t be troubled to save someone’s life? It literally made me sick to my stomach. Were these people not well-enough informed about the donation process and simply too scared to follow through? Yes, years ago, it was a painful surgery of removing bone marrow from your hip. These days however, as my sister can attest, it is a much simpler procedure. While it is not as simple as giving blood, it is far less painful than it used to be. Her donating involved a week of injections, a placement of a catheter for the day and a few hours of being hooked up to a machine.

I had no idea that “backing out” was such a prevalent problem. Why would someone refuse to donate their bone marrow if it meant saving someone’s life? Wouldn’t you feel extremely guilty? I honestly feel guilty when there are blood drives and I can’t participate because of my cancer.

“Joan Chelsen’s brother, Roy, was a 9-11 firefighter, diagnosed with a blood cancer that required a bone marrow transplant.  Doctors found a perfect match for Roy in 2009, but three days before the transplant, his donor backed out and the family was never told why. It took 10 months to find another donor, but by then it was too late and Roy died.”

I cannot imagine the stress (on top of having cancer) of waiting for a match, finding one, then having them back out at the last minute. I am so fortunate to have a sibling who was a match. What if it was a relative who was sick, would that have changed this person’s mind about donating?

The other aspect of this story: the compensation for donors. Now immediately I thought, why not? People are paid to donate plasma. Ok, well that’s an easy process though – you get in, give blood, get out. Well, women get paid (quite a large sum) for donating their eggs. And that involves a much deeper involvement. So what’s the problem with paying people to donate bone marrow, if it means more lives are saved?

The National Marrow Donor Program (Be The Match) actually opposes compensation to donors in the US. It would narrow the search which is currently worldwide, to only compensate US residents. They also feel it would lessen the quality of the donor pool, that people would not disclose all necessary information.

“‘We think that they’re telling the truth because they have an altruistic motive, there is no financial incentive to lie to us,’ Boo said.”

I can definitely see both sides of this argument, and plan to do further research on the topic. How often are donors found outside the US for US residents, and vice versa? How much of a difference would a payment make to individuals to follow through with their donation? Would it truly make a difference in the amount of lives saved?

The main question in my head, however, is not regarding “to pay or not to pay”. It is how someone could refuse to potentially save a life. To me, that would be the greatest achievement in the world. Why is it so controversial? Perhaps I am too close to the cause. I am genuinely curious about people’s feelings on the matter. Would you step up if you got the call? If not, what are your reasons?

The court ruled in favor of the mother in California to compensate donors, and it is now being passed to the Attorney General and possibly Supreme Court. To read the full story: click here.