Category Archives: Infertility

CANCERCON 2017: WHY WE COME BACK

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Emily

My state of mind coming to Denver to speak as part of a young adult cancer conference was primarily one of perplexed amusement. When did I become a “leading expert” on adopting after cancer? I am simply one person with … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, fellow fighters, First Descents, Infertility, Life After Cancer | Leave a comment

the music will get you through

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Emily

There are those rare moments that shake us out from under the spell of our routine, the seeming mundanity of every day existence.  The sameness, the confusion, the seeming lack of clarity about what, exactly, we are doing, or what … Continue reading →

Posted in fellow fighters, Infertility, Life After Cancer, music, running | 1 Comment

psychic whiplash (or, “what is life?”)

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Emily

A few weeks ago, I learned that one of my friends is pregnant with her second child.  This friend went through years of heartache before having her first child, and the road to her second pregnancy hasn’t been without its … Continue reading →

Posted in Infertility, Life After Cancer, Philadelphia, running | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

invisible touch

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Emily

In an unexpected twist of fate, the presence of these writings in the public space of the Internet has revealed deep and difficult connections between my status as a cancer survivor and an adoptive mother.  I owe this in large … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, fellow fighters, Infertility, Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

a complicated miracle: parents at last

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Emily

Yesterday, a young woman reached out to me on this neglected blog, and shared a glimpse of her own cancer journey.  She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last fall at age 25, and is currently battling the post-treatment demons that … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, fellow fighters, Infertility, Life After Cancer, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

not yet

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Emily

I’ve reached the point where I have a stock reply when people ask if I have children:  “Not yet.”  It’s simple, straightforward and conveys my intention to be a parent.  Most people who ask me don’t know about my cancer … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, fellow fighters, Infertility, Life After Cancer, Work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

a survivor’s wait

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Emily

Recently, I connected with the folks at curetoday.com, the on-line branch of the well-known cancer publication, CURE.  They frequently accept contributions from guest bloggers, and I told them I’d be interested in writing about my experience as a cancer survivor … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Infertility, Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

anticipation/transformation

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Emily

Life is becoming about so much more than cancer.  Specifically, it has become about building our family.  We first engaged with our adoption agency in the fall, and now, as winter winds down, we are literally just hours away from … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Infertility, Life After Cancer | 2 Comments

ghost child

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Emily

This evening as I was leaving work, one of my colleagues, who was my office-mate when my nephew was born six years ago, asked me how he was doing.  Actually, her exact words were, “How’s my man doing?,” and I … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Family, Film, Infertility, Life After Cancer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

baby steps

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Emily

 My inclination at the moment is to stack up today’s minor emotional setback against the nightmares that so many other fighters and survivors are enduring, and just let it go.  It’s almost embarrassing to admit these feelings, but I … Continue reading →

Posted in adoption, Infertility, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment