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Karla Vanessa Perez, Mexican Woman with Nonuplets… Seriously.

When I wrote about Nadya Suleman a few years ago (years ago?), commenting on how much stories like these harm the general public’s perception of infertility as well as fertility treatments, I never thought that I would be writing about Karla Vanessa Perez and her nine babies during NIAW.  The timing of it almost makes it feel like a hoax, especially after you discover that she already had triplets from a prior pregnancy.  And yet, even if it is a hoax, the comment section on Huffington Post reveals so clearly what NIAW is all about; why we need awareness and what the general public thinks about infertility.

More thoughts on this to come when my brain has stopped spinning around in my head. (And a warning — do not dive into the Huffington Post comment section unless you’re ready to read what you know you’re going to find.)

Thank you, Tara, for the heads up and discussion this morning.

 

15 comments

1 Sunny { 04.27.12 at 10:22 am }

Sigh. *shaking head incredulously*

I read the comments, despite my better judgement, and I will say that I was heartened to see many people attacking the whole “just adopt an unwanted baby” argument of ignorant commenters…

2 It Is What It Is { 04.27.12 at 10:30 am }

I’m still way too incensed about the allegations that the Catholic church fired a Catholic school teacher when they found out she pursued IVF to have a child. (I do have to say that a news clip I saw said she was diagnosed with ‘medical infertility’. Um, I don’t even want to conjure what other classifications of infertility people have).

I look forward to your commentary, though 🙂

3 Cristy { 04.27.12 at 10:39 am }

Really. Again. We’re doing this again. Can’t the media take a hint and NOT sensationalize this, while the local government can 1) start psycho evaluating this woman and 2) make arrangements for these unborn children for healthcare and adoption. Mel, this just makes my head hurt. The whole Octomom situation did some much damage to the ALI community and anyone seeking medical intervention to expand their family. Whenever someone has an argument for why fertility treatments should not be covered, they always point to that situation. Argh.

4 a { 04.27.12 at 11:03 am }

I will say that the subsequent coverage of Nadya Suleman has made it pretty clear that she has serious issues – redirecting the conversation to the proper topic is useful. Until the next person. Sigh.

5 Tara Dawes { 04.27.12 at 11:49 am }

I commented on the article to a few of the “just adopt” people, then I just got sick of hearing the same arguments from them over and over again – it was way too early in the morning to already have a headache from beating my head against the wall 🙁 I just wish people could magically get it & as much as I would NEVER wish infertility on anyone, I wish that some of these people could just walk in our shoes for one stinking day – then see how it isn’t such a simple topic with simple solutions (i.e just adopt).

6 k { 04.27.12 at 12:23 pm }

I can’t. Seriously. I can’t even bring myself to read the article much less the comments. I’ll get my information on it all from you. I’ve started to just come to the conclusion that no matter the situation, there are people who are just assholes and rather than beat my head against the wall I’m just removing myself from the situation, because my one comment in the wind isn’t going to change anyone’s mind.

7 Jonelle { 04.27.12 at 1:25 pm }

Oh crap! Not this again *headdesk* *headdesk* *headdesk*

8 Trisha { 04.27.12 at 2:13 pm }

I just cant. Things like this make me SO mad. I refuse to read the comments because I know they will be filled with mindless rantings of the ignorant regarding fertility treatments. I also can’t believe how irresponsible some doctors are. EGH!

9 AlexMMR { 04.27.12 at 2:40 pm }

So many articles over there about how great it is to be childless or that fertility treatments didn’t work. WTF?

10 Tireegal { 04.27.12 at 2:57 pm }

I read some of the comments. People who comment in these forums are usually so uninformed about infertility and treatments but they feel duty bound to judge us all however devoid of insight they are.
I think we should go back to the “good old” days where in order to get a comment published ( or a letter to the editor) you had to go to the trouble of writing a letter on paper, putting it in an envelope with the correct address and a stamp on it and putting it in a mailbox. That would reduce the amount of dangerous drivel being passed off as opinion and / or fact. Oh dear, I sound like an old fogey!
The caliber of comments on this article is about as bad as those on Yahoo. Which is usually an indication that prejudice and ignorance
rule.

11 Lucy { 04.27.12 at 5:32 pm }

Mel,

I am mexican, (although I don’t live in Mexico). When I read your post, I hurried up to a mexican news paper I read online. I read the original news and then read the following article: this is a HOAX…. The woman lied on everything!! She IS NOT pregnant, she DOES NOT have triplets…. She does have 3 kids: 5yo, 12 yo & 15 yo…. Why she lied… Noone knows…. She is being evaluated psicologically right now…. Thoug you cared to know!!

Ps. The comments on the Huffington Post gave me the chills!!! Both in terms of infertility and of racism and their way of seeing Mexico!!

12 jessidawn { 04.27.12 at 6:32 pm }

My first thought is that this is a hoax. Her due date is May 20th. Carrying 9 babies to 36 + weeks. Hoax or miracle.

13 Kathy { 04.27.12 at 7:27 pm }

Yikes about everything related to this and so relieved to hear that it was a hoax! Not happy that someone dreamed this up and so many people took the bait, but glad that it isn’t true and we won’t need to find out anymore of what could/would happen (at least for now) if it was.

14 battynurse { 04.27.12 at 9:04 pm }

I just saw this too and my heart did a dive at all the bad publicity infertility will receive. Just makes me cringe.

15 geochick { 05.01.12 at 4:28 pm }

I fucking hate these stories, even if it’s been proven a hoax. Thanks Mel for subjecting yourself to the article and subsequent comments. I can’t handle it. Why is it that everyone who says “just adopt”, doesn’t adopt themselves? Ooh, right, it’s expensive and invasive, just like fertility treatments. Fucking morons.

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