HRC Fertility Has Two Winners in Ferring’s My Little Miracle Contest!

HRC of Laguna Hills, CA,  announced  today that its patients Nancy Cantos of Mission Viejo, CA and Lisa Tweedy of Menifee, CA received $3,000 each for their entries in Ferring Pharmaceuticals’ My Little Miracle Essay Contest. 

	The Tweedy and Cantos Families, Jane Frederick, MD and Staff

Ferring asked patients to submit essays on the topic If I Knew Then What I Know Now, using their own experiences with infertility to provide advice and hope to others facing similar struggles. Both Ms. Cantos and Ms. Tweedy described long and arduous journeys from infertility to maternity, but with happy results thanks to cutting-edge treatment advances.

The contest celebrated the births of children made possible through Ferring’s fertility treatments: BRAVELLE® (urofollitropin for injection, purified) and MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection, USP).   Ferring awarded $18,000 in education funds to six winners from around the country, for a total of $128,000 in education funds awarded since 2004.

“Nancy and Lisa both displayed remarkable perseverance in their quests to become mothers; their stories illustrate the anguish associated with infertility, as well as technology’s ability to transform lives,” said Jane Frederick, M.D., of HRC.  “We were honored to provide the innovative treatments that helped them create their beautiful children.”

Read the "My Little Miracle Contest" Winning Essays from HRC

	The Cantos Family Party, Jane Frederick, MD and Staff

"The Bumpy Road"
By-Nancy Cantos

Nancy encourages all those who yearn for parenthood to remain steadfast, work with positive people, and “keep the faith.”  Her own determination spanned ten long years, during which both she and her husband were diagnosed with a string of medical conditions preventing pregnancy. As they coped with various procedures and treatments, they struggled with their emotions, which they felt the need to keep private.

After many years of unsuccessful effort, they found Dr. Frederick and felt renewed hope.  With her help, they progressed in “textbook fashion.”  Soon they were sharing their newfound optimism with loved ones.  And their hope was well-founded. Nancy became pregnant, which she and her husband Octavio celebrated by renewing their wedding vows. (Read Nancy Cantos's Essay)

	The Tweedy Family Party, Jane Frederick, MD and Staff

Beyond Blessings, by Lisa Tweedy

Lisa tells her readers that, despite the enormous heartache she and her husband experienced through the years, she “wouldn’t have it any other way,” because of “life lessons…that have forever changed the depths of my soul.”  She poignantly describes the devastating effect that emotional pain—accentuated by infertility—had on her storybook marriage, pushing it to the breaking point.  And yet as she and her husband Robert confronted their feelings and experiences, their love blossomed as never before, giving them increased strength to meet their medical challenges.  Lisa too cites Dr. Frederick’s support, whose guidance and suggested treatments eventually led to the births of their children Lorielle Faith, age 5, and Logan Robert, age 2.

As Lisa says, “Starting a family is "easy" for most.  For some it comes without even a thought. But for others it is much different!  I will never forget the day my husband and I learned we were ‘infertile.’  It changed me…it changed him…it definitely changed our lives—forever!   Our faith became our compass and our beacon of light and hope.  And because of that, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” (Read Lisa Tweedy's Essay)