I really like my fertility doctor. In the 8 years he's gotten to know my nether regions, I've grown to really like him. The first couple of years he was a little shy and stifled, and rarely laughed at my jokes (like once at a 7 am CD3 vagicam appointment I walked in and said "Ah! I love the smell of stirrups in the morning"). But little by little he's cracked and now we're like old buddies. I can guarantee the things he'll say to me at appointments, he almost always asks me if I've been getting sun (I'm half mexican and am always browner than the average white lady), and 90% of the time he comments on my socks (then again, I am not wearing pants, so they are obvious). Today, the first thing he did was comment on my hair. He asked me if I had a new stylist, then he cocked his head to the side and said "You look really different". I said "well my hair is purple"... and we both laughed.
He asked how I was, and what I was doing for Thanksgiving (hosting 15 people, thankyouverymuch). He asked how my anxiety was and if I was getting time to run. Just before we got down to business, I told him I had a new tattoo, and pulled up my sleeve. He looked over it carefully, quietly, and finally I said:
"do you know what they are?"
"ravens?"
"Yes, black birds, one for each embryo you have transferred into my body"
He stood, holding my arm, solemnly, with a pained look on his face as I said
"Six for the ones who didn't take, two white ones for the miscarriages and this one, this one is Ruby."
He ran his finger over each bird and squeezed my hand. He looked me in the eye and didn't say anything. The nurse (who is relatively new) stood there with my 3 inch thick file with tears in her eyes unsure of what to do.
Finally he pulled out his phone and said he needed to take a picture of it and then of me (which made me laugh since I didn't have pants on), because he wanted to keep this in his thoughts.
Sometimes it's important to remind them how extensive my history with them is, and that quite frankly it's not all happy sappy shit. There is a person behind that 3 inch thick file, a person with a heart that has been broken more than once. I'm pretty sure they got it.
oh wow. full on blubber-face here on duke st. <3
Posted by: sara | November 17, 2011 at 02:59 PM
Ugly cry over here. <3 Your doctor sounds really nice.
Posted by: Candice Aiston | November 17, 2011 at 03:03 PM
tears... gotta prop the glasses up on top of my head... <3 to you
Posted by: ~claudia | November 17, 2011 at 03:07 PM
*sniff sniff* I'm pretty sure they got it, too. {hugs}
Posted by: Karen C. | November 17, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Yep. Tears. I've got them.
Much love to you. I'm sorry that we've both had to experience this same pain. And I'm glad to have met you, you've made my infertility journey easier.
Posted by: BreAnna | November 17, 2011 at 03:24 PM
What a beautiful idea for a tattoo, Korin.
And wow. I had no idea how long your journey has been. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Posted by: Shasta | November 17, 2011 at 05:31 PM
Wow. What an awesome man. and hauntingly beautiful tattoo. Much love to you my dear friend.
Posted by: Nichol | November 17, 2011 at 07:33 PM
What a touching post. Love the tattoo!
Posted by: Joie | November 17, 2011 at 09:42 PM
You are so very right fucking on.
Posted by: Roccie | November 18, 2011 at 09:42 AM
Beautiful. Sad, and beautiful.
Posted by: Devon | November 18, 2011 at 12:50 PM