Thinking back and looking at our journey through infertility, its so easy to forget who we were before infertility became part of our lives. With Valentine’s Day approaching and my thoughts getting consumed by our last frozen embryo transfer, I am reflecting more on the past and the memories that brought me here today.
I remember the night I met my husband, Mark, like it was yesterday. It was a wild and drunken night out with college friends in Dublin. We stumbled upon a party in my friend’s apartment building and, in our drunken state, came up with a brilliant (ok the weirdest and dumbest) plan to get in – pretending we had a sleeping baby upstairs and needed the music turned down. Despite the failed plan, we ended up spending the night talking, laughing, and dancing!
Two weeks later, we went out for drinks, and by the end of the night, I was smitten. Mark and I laughed and sang (terribly) karaoke, and I remember feeling like I hadn’t laughed like that in such a long time. We kissed, and our relationship quickly grew. Mark told me later in our relationship that the first night he met me, he told himself that is the girl I am going to marry.
I invited Mark to my brother’s birthday celebration, but I didn’t fully prepare him for what was to come. When he arrived and saw my entire family gathered there, he was momentarily taken aback. Despite the initial shock, he bravely stepped forward, showing his willingness to be a part of my life and meet my family after only knowing me for just two weeks! I knew then that he was someone special.
To this day, there’s still a debate about who said “I love you” first – Mark or myself. But what I do know is that in just six short weeks, I had fallen head over heels in love with a man who was unlike anyone I had ever met before.
I cherish the memories of our early days together – going out for drinks, making new friends, quad biking, eating out and ski trips with friends. We spent countless hours cuddled up on the couch watching movies and indulging in junk food without a care in the world.
Those were carefree days, as Infertility hadn’t knocked on our door yet. Those were the days that infertility hadn’t robbed the laughter in our home nor the hope in our hearts.
Infertility has certainly tested our love, but it has only made us stronger as a couple. The memories of when we first fell in love are still so vivid in my mind, and they serve as a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much we’ve overcome together. This Valentine’s Day, I am grateful for the love and support that we share and for the memories that will always hold a special place in my heart. No matter what obstacles come our way, our love will always endure.
