I started updating this issue, but didn't have a chance to finish today. You may read it entirely from our email group site at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hannahs/message/49 for now. I'll upload what I have so far. Thank you for your patience.
Hannah
To Hannah
September 2001 All rights reserved. Copyright © 2001. Issue #20
Providing "Christian Support for Fertility Challenges" including infertility or the loss of a child at any time from conception through early infancy.
A monthly publication of Hannah's Prayer Ministries.
PO Box 168, Hanford, CA 93232-0168 http://www.Hannah.org · Hannahs@Hannah.Org · voice mail / fax - (775)852-9202
Table of Contents, Issue #20, Sept. 2001
This month's topic: Treatment and Diagnosis
Looking For A "Sweet" Way To Support Hannah's Prayer?
The Perfect Patient Hannah's Prayer Director, Stephanie Bixler
Plan With A Purpose Secondary Infertility
Jenni's Journal: Finding The Right Doctor Hannah's Prayer Founder, Jennifer Saake
What Infertility Has Done For Me Hannah's Prayer Director, Stephanie Bixler
Wanted: An Advertisement For A Physician Sandra Glahn
E-mail Pals Are Back In Action!
Ladies In Waiting Spotlight Group
Newsletter Submission & Reprint Information
Looking for a "Sweet" Way to Support Hannah's Prayer?
We realize that infertility or the loss of your child can cause financial strain along with the emotional, physical and spiritual suffering. Because we do not want anyone to feel financially pressured by this ministry, we are committed to not charging membership or subscription fees for our services! While the desire to ease the financial burdens of our members is of high importance to Hannah's Prayer, we often find ourselves struggling to finance all the areas of ministry we would like to provide. Monthly bills include web site hosting, telephone charges, postage, library and study materials, business supplies and more. There are many special projects in our long-range ministry plans that simply are financially unattainable at this time. To meet the costs of continued ministry growth we are looking for creative ways to expand our financial options. Until now, our primary (and at most times, only) funding has been directly through voluntary, tax-deductible (for those paying United States taxes) contributions. All such gifts are greatly appreciated and used prayerfully to help ease the pain of those who turn to us for comfort. If you are able to help with the financial needs of this ministry you may make a donation through your PayPal (www.paypal.com) account to hannahs@hannah.org or you may mail a check (in US funds) to: Hannah's Prayer PO Box 168 Hanford, CA 93232-0168 USA We are pleased to announce some exciting new options. Help us to help others while you enjoy the benefits of these fund-raising programs! It is our pleasure to introduce you to our new Fund Raising Partnership Cards from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Here is how the program works: You purchase a $20 Partnership Card from Hannah's Prayer and Hannah's Prayer will get to keep $10, a 50% profit for each card we sell. Your twelve-punch Card will allow you up to 12 free dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts with the full price purchase of any 12 dozen of your choice. There is a limit of 3 free dozen per visit (with the purchase of 3 dozen). Your Card will bring you a saving of over $65 worth of free doughnuts! A great value for you and a helpful financial boost for Hannah's Prayer. Hannah's Prayer is offering a pre-order deadline of September 15, 2001 for our first shipment of Cards. If you wish to purchase one or more Cards, you may send a check to Hannah's Prayer in the amount of $20 (per card) or you may email your order through PayPal (www.paypal.com) to the address of hannahs@hannah.org. Hannah's Prayer, PO Box 168 Hanford, CA 93232-0168 If you miss the September 15 deadline, we plan to purchase a second set of Cards on October 1, 2001. Cards will be mailed from Hannah's Prayer to our fundraiser participants within two weeks (if not sooner) of these purchasing dates. Future participation in this program will be dependant on the response you make to these initial program trails. Hannah's Prayer Ministries is a California based nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. We will always strive to operate with the highest possible integrity in the area of finances as in all other areas of ministry. All staff members are unpaid volunteers who are proclaiming Christians and have personal experience with the heartache of fertility challenges. This ministry has a "debt-free" policy and is only able to provide services as funds permit.
Volunteers Needed!!!
Hannah's Prayer Director, Stephanie Bixler
Hannah to Hannah
Finding the Right Doctor
What Infertility Has Done for Me
Hannah to Hannah
An Advertisement for a
Physician
Email Pals Are Back In Action!
Hannah to Hannah
Ladies In Waiting Spotlight Group
Volunteers Needed!!!
Hannah to Hannah
Volunteers Needed!!!
In the Next Issue of Hannah to Hannah
Hannah to Hannah
Newsletter Submission & Reprint Info
Volunteers Needed!!!
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*Looking For A "Sweet" Way To Support Hannah's Prayer? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *The Perfect Patient -Copyright © September 2001, Stephanie Bixler, General Director, Hannah's Prayer Ministries Through the years, I have learned a great deal from the friends I have made while trying to conceive. One topic that keeps coming back into our conversations is how to be a good patient. Treatments and diagnosis can be overwhelming and at times frustrating but there are things that we can do to make the appointments smoother. There are things we as patients can do to increase medical efficiency and minimize emotional suffering from the treatment process. Here are some suggestions for becoming "The Perfect Patient": 1. The perfect patient approaches infertility as a couple problem. The fact that one spouse may be identified as having "the problem" does not negate the effect it has on both husband and wife. The infertility workup, evaluation, and treatment is much better dealt with when the spouse participates in at least some office visits and has an understanding of the tests they must go through. The more involved a couple is together in the medical treatment process, the better able they are to support each other and make a decision on options. 2. The perfect patient communicates honestly, openly, and directly with the physician. This begins by abandoning the concept of doctor but rather as a person with special skills. Communications can then flow more naturally and are less intimidating. 3. The perfect patient asks question about the treatment regime. Direct questions about the shortcomings, possibilities of failure, and alternative tests and therapies might include: · What are the advantages of this test? · Why does this test need to be timed in this manner? · Does this test cause any pain, discomfort or complications? · What is the percentage of complications from this particular test of treatment? · What are the benefits of this treatment over others? Answers to these kinds of questions, or anything else the patient does not fully understand, should be very clear before undergoing tests or treatments. Then, having this understanding and knowledge, the perfect patient can more confidently follow directions. 4. The perfect patient tells the doctor when he or she is failing them. It seems that one of the hardest things for patients to communicate to a physician is when they are unhappy with the way they are being treated. For example, perhaps one of the office staff responded curtly or the doctor sounded demeaning. The hurt from such incidences can go deep and ultimately effect the doctor/patient relationship. However, the doctor cannot be held accountable without first being made aware of the patient's feelings and then being given the opportunity to respond. As in any relationship, both the positive and negative issues that occur between doctor and patient need to be discussed and not avoided. 5. The perfect patient seeks education on both the medical and emotional aspects of fertility problems. Traditionally, infertility patients are often the most medically well-versed of all patients. However, they may overlook information about the feelings brought on by their infertility. 6. The perfect patient finds ways to reduce the stress caused by infertility. Patients need to understand that infertility is stressful, which is normal, expected, and not permanent. However, to deal with the stress, support mechanisms are needed. Guidance and understanding can be found through support groups (Hannah's Prayer, RESOLVE and other local agencies), or by seeing a therapist whose specialty is infertility counseling. Hobbies, vacations, social interaction, and exercise can help make the problems less overwhelming. Infertility can be an isolating experience unless patients find other people with whom to share these feelings. 7. The perfect patient realizes when infertility treatment "burn-out" is being experienced. This may come out in unresolved marital conflict, sexual problems, or always feeling apprehensive, anxious, or depressed. The couple might consider finding ways in their sexual relationship to separate work (trying to get pregnant on schedule) from play (love making). Or they may want to think about taking a vacation from temperature charts, tests, and medications to alleviate some of the stress. The perfect patient is an active participant in the treatment process rather than a passive recipient of medical intervention. While we trust in God's plan and know He is in control of our infertility,we as infertility patients, can do many things to make the process much smoother. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Plan With A Purpose Michelle Sims, a member of Hannah's Prayer Infertility has been a part of our lives for the past 4 years. After becoming pregnant with our first child after only a few months of effort, we were somewhat disturbed and confused when the conception of our second child did not occur within a year. We were right in the midst of what seemed like constant questions from others concerning having another child, and we were beginning to get nervous. Most of our friends were having their second child and they were wondering why we were not. Fervent prayers for another child were being lifted up month after month and the answer was always, "Not now." I poured over each and every book and internet site that I could find concerning infertility, and, after discussing it, we decided to consult with a doctor. I can remember how awkward we felt waiting for our consultation with a local ob/gyn who did quite a bit of infertility work. It was agonizing to witness the sea of pregnant women sitting in that waiting room. It was almost as though we did not have the right to be present. As I sat there with tears running down my face, questions were at the forefront of my mind, "Why is God blessing that family with a child and not us? Are we doing something wrong? Are we not the kind of parents that we should be?" The doctor that we saw reviewed some previous testing that had been done and tried to reassure us. "You two have had a baby before, just give infertility treatment some time. I think it will work." Through all of the testing that was done, not one doctor could pinpoint any significant problem that would cause a couple not to conceive while undergoing infertility treatment. We got on the roller coaster of treatment and were not at all prepared for the ride. Our faith was tested each and every month. Trying a new protocol would get our hopes up, only to be dashed to the ground when the pregnancy test again said negative. Finances were severely stresses, which caused me to have to return to work. Although our son was able to attend preschool at the school where I was teaching, tremendous guilt consumed me that I would have to give up time with him at home to be able to finance trying to conceive another child. Family and friends tried to understand, but not having experienced this situation themselves, only seemed to further alienate us with their probing questions and insensitive comments. We were in utter despair. After a year and a half of trying various treatments, and bypassing some that were too expensive, we did become pregnant. We were so excited and felt free of our burden for the first time in so long. I can remember driving to church that Sunday after we learned of our pregnancy and feeling that I could finally attend church again with an open, exposed heart. During infertility treatment, it is difficult to arrive at church and see families pouring out of their mini-vans with two, three, or more children. We had put up such a high wall to survive in the "fertile world", that we had forgotten what it felt like to carry such a light load. One short week later,we lost our sweet little miracle to a miscarriage. While many around us sent up prayers for us and offered to help with our older son, very few knew what to say. From the way others behaved, it was as though I was just not feeling well. I wanted to scream, "I do not have a virus, we have lost our baby!" Again, devastation consumed us and the wall grew even taller. Six months later God again answered our prayers, and our son was conceived. This pregnancy was successful and his birth was one of the most joyful days in our lives. We gave him the name, Ian, meaning "gracious gift of God". There are days when I hear of someone experiencing infertility and my heart aches for them. I know the pain and isolation that they feel, and the struggle that they have to keep their faith strong. I can honestly say that throughout our struggle, our most painful experiences were due to insensitive comments and behaviors from those closest to us. It has only been recently through many prayers that God has healed our hearts. I found that I had to make the decision to forgive them; the pain and bitterness was not just going to simply fade away. As a Christian, I know that God led me down this painful path with a purpose. I am aware that God has a plan for my life and that He will use this experience to allow me to minister to others. My heart will always bear the scar of infertility and we will never forget that precious baby that is with the Lord, but it is the Lord's will for our lives that we live for Him and refuse to let Satan steal the joy that He has so graciously given to us. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Jenni's Journal: Finding the Right Doctor (c) Copyright 2001, Jennifer Saake, Hannah's Prayer Founder "Patient refuses selective reduction." The words jumped off the page at me as I was reviewing some of my old medical records. My mind vividly flashed back to that long-ago day when I was interviewing a new RE ("Reproductive Endocrinologist" or infertility specialist) for the first time. I had come to his office as a new patient in the sense that I had just moved to this state and needed to reestablish myself with a physician who could handle my infertility care. I was not, however, a "new patient" in the sense of inexperience. We had already been traveling down the long road of infertility for well over five years and had seen 8 or 9 previous doctors in our quest to build our family beyond the two of us. As Christians I believe that God calls us to be responsible, informed and clear about our options and limitations while battling through the jungle maze of infertility treatment. We are taught by society to trust our doctors and not to question that they know best. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the medical issues of reproduction and blinded by our desperation for children to the point where we let our doctors dictate the path first, then only check in with God after the course is set. After my first referral from my family physician to an ob/gyn whose business card proudly announced his special interest in infertility, I felt great hope that we would soon be pregnant. His initial evaluation was that I simply was not ovulating and his claim was that this was the easiest kind of infertility issue to resolve. With a prescription for the fertility drug Clomid and reassurance that I should easily be pregnant within six months, I left his office very happy. Two years later, after much reading, personal research and talking with other fertility patients, I finally realized that I had been receiving sub-standard and often inappropriate treatments. It was time for a change! No doctor is the perfect fit for every patient. There is no law saying that you must stay with the first doctor you find. Give your doctor a fair chance, but if you are not satisfied with your care, let him know and give him a chance to fix things. Ask LOTS of questions and push for detailed answers until you feel you have a full understanding of the issues. Your doctor does not know everything. He is human, with human limitations (cannot read every new medical article published about your specific condition, has bad days, doesn't always do things right the first time) and human emotions of his own (pride, personal opinions of right and wrong, personality conflicts, stresses outside work). HSG, HCG, IUI, IVF, post-coital, endometrial biopsy, luteal phase, follicles… The tests, treatments and very terms used can all become so confusing. In trying to even understand what all these things mean it is even harder to understand what all the consequences may be! Again, ask questions and do your own research until you really understand what your doctor is talking about. Don't be afraid to bring other tests and treatments to his attention and find out his views on things you are not yet actively dealing with. As you gain a big picture of what your options are and where your treatment may be headed, take it all before God and ask Him for very clear direction. Write down your limits and share them with another couple who will hold you accountable to not be swayed by the emotions and the moment when your doctor proposes something outside your boundaries. For my husband and I personally (and I am not saying these are the limits God will give your family, I'm just using our own experiences as an example), we felt convicted early on in our infertility journey that if we were to have a biological child it would need to come from my egg and my husband's sperm and be carried in my body,otherwise we would adopt. If we had to look at donor or surrogate issues, we felt that we would respond to the introduction of a third person in our marriage for the sake of conception as a form of adultery and that it could cause great harm to our marriage. My husband also had a very strong conviction against masturbation, causing much frustration when the issues of sperm collection for tests or insemination were important. We resolved this by having our doctor prescribe a special sterile "fertility condom" or "condom for insemination," allowing us to collect through the act of loving intercourse. When I was seeing my new RE for that get-established visit and still far from being pregnant, why was my chart marked so prominently with words about refusing abortion of one of more babies in a multiple- birth scenario? It was another limit we were setting. I wanted this doctor to know from the outset that any time one of my eggs and one of my husband's sperm were united in conception, that from that moment on we would consider this our child, a unique person with value and soul. He was firmly instructed from the start to do everything in his power to keep me from getting into a compromising situation of being pregnant with more babies than he felt I could safely carry to term in any given pregnancy. Yes, we wanted children, but not so desperately as to put any of our babies' lives at risk because there were "too many." It was a long journey, but by seeking God for wisdom with each step, becoming educated about our medical issues and options, setting firm limits within the convictions God gave to our family and persisting until we found the doctor that was right for us, we survived! Appreciating the amount of thought we had put into becoming informed and our honesty in setting strong limits, our doctor went out of his way to help us work for our goal. Within two years of that first consultation we were back in our RE's office to introduce him to our son! "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:2-5 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *What Infertility Has Done For Me. Copyright © September 2001, Stephanie Bixler, General Director, Hannah's Prayer Ministries About a year ago a fellow infertility patient at my doctor's office told me of a way she has resolved her inability to conceive. She keeps a list of all the positive things she has learned from her infertility taped to her bedroom mirror. On the days that she is struggling she looks to her list for uplifting reminders that there is some positive things in her life. I took her idea and went home and started my own. We all know the downside, so here's the upside (for me anyway). I've learned that God does have a plan for me although I can not see it at times. (Jeremiah 29:11) I've learned that I can be a VERY patient person I've learned that I can deal with needles and pain better than I ever thought I could. I've learned that I can be supportive to others that are experiencing the same thing as me. I've learned that I can educate myself and in some cases know more than the Doctors and Nurses treating me. I've learned that I can be a very positive person. I've learned that I can be tolerant. I've learned that I am not nearly as selfish as I thought I was. I've learned that feeling sorry for myself gets me nowhere, but is sometimes warranted. I've learned that I can forgive insensitive people. I've learned to be assertive and that I can say what is done or not done to me by doctors. I've learned that I actually do have organizational skills. I've learned the answer as to why I really want children. I've learned that if I don't actually give birth to a child, I will survive. I've learned that my marriage can survive when tested. I've learned that I can trust internet strangers with my very personal details. I've learned everything I ever wanted to know about my body. I've learned everything I ever wanted to know about reproduction. I've learned that infertility has changed me and made me a better person. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Wanted: An Advertisement for a Physician "A merry heart does good, like medicine…" Proverbs 17: 22 (NKJV) In the infertility journey, many of us have had to learn a lot about medicine - pills, injections, intrusive medical testing of all kinds - but it is easy to loose the ability to laugh. We hope this "advertisement" will put a little smile on your face as well as help us all remember that the medical staff we work with are only human too. Reprinted from When Empty Arms Become a Heavy Burden (Broadman & Holman Publishers, © 1997) with permission of the author, Sandra Glahn. "WANTED: Physician. Must work seven days a week while enjoying a strong marriage and family life. Will attend conferences for professional development, but is always in the office; never takes vacations but cultivates many outside interests and international perspectives so as to be well-rounded and interesting. Must be old enough to have decades of medical experience, yet young enough to be in touch with next year's technology. Must have an outstanding staff, which is voluntarily underpaid, making it possible to offer the most up-to-date service at minimal cost. Will schedule appointments for unlimited amounts of time with each patient to whom he or she devotes undivided attention. Must never require anyone to wait. Will return phone calls within five minutes while adhering to a full surgical schedule to keep skills sharp. Must work long hours, yet intelligently discuss the plot of last night's sitcoms to put patients at ease. Must have the humility to say, "I don't know," or "I need help," but will never need to say either. Will instantly be able to assess whether a patient needs a strong dose of hope or caution. Must never say the wrong thing. Is a genius, yet sociable, sensitive, and witty. Must have a reputation for demonstrating a wonderful bedside manner. Is always in a good mood, and can handle with ease and pleasure any number of patients lacking any or all of these qualities." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *HP E-mail Pals Back In Action The past few months, Jenni has been actively updating our web site. One of the improvements she has made is the new penpals pages. The Hannah's Prayer penpal pages are all now be up and fully loaded to the web site and functional. If you are interested in finding a penpal or posting your own story, you can see all the lists at www.hannah.org/ministries/penpal.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Correction From Last Issue In last month's issue we listed the book Misty, Our Momentary Child by Carole Gift Page: as out of print. We are pleased to announce the book is back in print under a new title Misty: A Mother's Journey. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Treatment and Diagnosis groups - Ladies in Waiting Spotlight Group Ladies in Waiting, the e-mail ministry of Hannah's Prayer, has many special groups relating to treatment and diagnosis. LIW has groups for PCOS, Annovulation (without PCO), Endometriosis, Tubal Factors and Unexplained Infertility. If you would like to join any of these groups, please visit www.hannah.org/ministries/liw.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Upcoming Events (Hannah's Prayer is not directly related to, nor has any financial interest in the following organizations. We prayfully list them to help you find other resources that may be of blessing or encouragement to you.) Premature Ovarian Failure Seminar – What is POF? Wednesday, September 13,2001 from 7:00 to 9:00pm Kehilath Isreal Synagogue, Overland Park, Kansas, USA Presented by RESOLVE of Kansas City. For more information, contact 913-791-2432 International Adoption Information Meeting Thursday, September 12,2001 Richmond, Indiana An information adoption meeting regarding adopting outside of the United States. For more information, contact Karin Price at 765-855-2732 or by e- mail at Karin@dillinadopt.com 2001 POF Conference Friday through Monday, September 28 through October 1,2001 Alexandria, Virginia, USA For more information check out their website at www.pofsupport.org 2001 Turner's Syndrome (TSSUS) National Conference Friday through Sunday, October 12-14,2001 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA www.turner-syndrome-us.org "Parenting from the Trenches" Conference with Denise Goodman of Ohio, the Saskatchewan Adoptive Parents Association and the Saskatchewan District Local Foster Families Association. Friday and Saturday, October 12-13,2001 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada e-mail: adoptive.parents@sk.sympatico.ca RESOLVE of Houston – Symposium focuses on adoption and infertility options: RESOLVE of Houston proudly presents its 3rd annual infertility & adoption symposium – REACHING FOR RESOLUTION 2001. Sunday October 28th, 2001 at Crowne Plaza Hotel Brookhollow, located 5 minutes north of the 610 Loop on Highway 290 at 12801 Northwest Freeway from 8am to 5pm. The symposium will have over 30 workshops designed to educate Houston individuals & couples suffering with infertility. Some of the topics covered are: Adoption 101; Assisted Reproductive Technologies - IUI, IVF, ICSI, Blastocyst & more; International vs. Domestic Adoption; Male Factor Infertility; Adoption & Texas Law; Egg/sperm Donation & Surrogacy; How to choose an Adoption Agency; and Ask the Expert Panel. A full program & schedule of events can be viewed on our website: www.resolveofhouston.org Caleb Ministries 7th Annual Women's Discipleship Retreat Friday through Sunday, November 2-4,2001 Springmead Beach (South Myrtle Beach), SC www.calebministries.org ACAA (America China Adoption Association) Seminar Schedule 2001 – various dates and cities around the United States: This is a free seminar whether you are just beginning to consider adoption or have decided to adopt, this seminar will be of value to you. We will present an overview of what God's word says about adoption in a multimedia program called, "The Spirit of Adoption." For more information go to www.america-china.org January 12,2001 Coping, Caring, and Connecting: A Conference for Infertile Couples and Those Who Support Them. First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. Cost $12 includes lunch. Open to the public. For more information, contact Mitch Miles, 214-969-2411. Speakers: Sandra Glahn,Th.M. and William Cutrer, M.D. *Is your organization sponsoring an infertility, adoption or infant loss seminar? If so, please let us know (e-mail Stephanie at newsletter@hannah.org) so that we may consider your announcement for an upcoming issue of Hannah to Hannah. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*In the Next Issue National Infertility Awareness Month and Pregnancy Loss Week The October newsletter submission deadline is September 15,2001. Has God given you something to share that you think would minister to others? Hannah to Hannah is written by, for and about "modern day Hannah's" – couples facing fertility challenges. You are welcome to submit original thoughts, stories, poems, scripture passages, book reviews, pen-pals requests, baby memorials or celebration announcements, fertility –related humor or other articles to this newsletter. When sending a submission, please be sure to let us know that the information you are sending is intended for publication consideration. Due to space limitation, we are unable to include all submissions while some submissions may be edited or file for future use. Issue #22 / November 2001 – National Adoption Awareness Month – submissions by October 1,2001 Issue #23 / December 2001 – Holiday Coping – submissions by November 1,2001 Issue #24 / January 2002 – Keeping Your Marriage Strong - submissions by December 1,2001 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hannah's Prayer is an international, interdenominational, Christian support network for couples who have experienced or are experiencing "fertility challenges", including, but not limited to, primary and secondary infertility and all stages of pregnancy/early infancy loss. Hannah's Prayer attempts the meet the mental, emotional and spiritual need of couples experiencing fertility related difficulties through prayer, understanding, love, friendship, shared information, biblical counsel and godly wisdom. We offer this monthly newsletter, Hannah to Hannah, along with many other resources such as our web site, chat room, e-mail groups, pen pals and local contact people throughout the United States and around the world. Because we understand that fertility challenges may cause financial suffering in addition to spiritual, emotional and physical pain, we are committed to not charging membership or subscription fees for your services. The gifts of those who are able to contribute to the ongoing needs of this ministry are our only regular source of income. Their gifts are greatly appreciated and prayerfully used. This ministry has a "debt free" policy and is only able to provide services as funds permit. Hannah's Prayer Ministries, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) corporation. Guidelines for reprinting from this newsletter For an individual organization to reprint an article first published in the Hannah-to-Hannah newsletter, permission must be received in writing from the Hannah-to-Hannah editor or the specific article's author. The reprint on any article from this newsletter must include a printed mention of when and where the article first appeared and the mailing address of Hannah's Prayer. Example: "The Waterfall" by April Whiddon Matthews has been reprinted by permission and first appeared in the Spring 1997 issue of Hannah to Hannah, the newsletter of Hannah's Prayer, PO Box 168 Hanford CA 93232-0168. A copy of the publication in which the Hannah to Hannah article is reprinted is to be sent to Hannah's Prayer within one month of publication.
Hannah's Prayer is a California based, non-profit 501(c)(3)
organization, established Jan 1, 1995. All staff members are unpaid volunteers who are proclaiming
Christians (from a range of denominational backgrounds) and have personal
experience with the heartache of fertility challenges. 
was
designed exclusively for Hannah's Prayer by