Oma Schuurman on TV

As a follow up to our previous post on Oma Schuurman's posthumous award, I managed to capture a short article that was broadcast on Dutch TV on the evening of the Yad Vashem ceremony (31st October, 2006).


It includes interviews with Tante Trix and with Alex Nathans (or little Dikkie Duinroos as he was known back then), as well as the grand daughters collecting the award on behalf of the family.

There's also footage of the pre-ceremony meal, with a large congregation of the Schuurman family from Canada and the Netherlands, as well as Alex's family that came over from Israel. If you look closely you can just about spot me and Flo in the background!

It was interesting to see a bit of Jewish culture first hand and an honour to be part of such an historical and rare event. Seeing so many of Flo's family and relatives together was a also real treat!

Answers on comments

For everybody that is not interested in detailed medical information: please skip this post. We will be back soon with non-medical stories. Promise!

One commenter, Ilse, wanted to know what drugs and what dosis we are on. For her and for anybody else who is interested in the infertility saga so far), this is our history:

IVF/ICSI #1 Gonal-F, Decapeptyl, Ovitrelle 5 eggs, 3 fertilised, 2 put back, -ve
IVF/ICSI #2 Menopur, Decapeptyl, Pregnyl 2 eggs, 1 fertilised, 1 put back, -ve

I am now on the long protocol, started on 225IU and then with a higher dosage of stimulation: 300 IU Gonal-F. Plus first one shot and now 1/2 a shot of Decapeptyl a day. The cycle was preceded by 2-3 weeks of birth controls to quiet my ovaries down. We since found out that, unlike stimulation, I respond extremely well to surpression. More on that later.

Dr. Google told us that Gonal-F might work better for poor responders like me. One because it is synthetic. Some women react better to that. Two because it only contains one hormone (FSH) and not another hormone (LH) as well. This should work wonders for egg quality.

Which brings me to another subject. The one of egg quantity versus quality. That is an interesting one. Unfortunately poor response to hyperstimulation in IVF is generally indicative of the egg quality. So yes, we only need one egg, but the chances of that one getting us pregnant are slim.

I have heard a story of a woman who had 30 (!) follicles, but only one contained an egg. That one was fertilised and got her pregnant. Or embryos with poor grading sticking. Not to mention natural pregnancies when there was an ICSI-indication. It all happens. And I really hope we can be one of those urbans legends.

Another thing. I try not to worry about my uterine lining. At the moment it is too thin to be the home to an embryo. This is a side effect of the pill. It should not surprise me since I am still bleeding after more than a week, but is does disappoint me. I never had problems with my lining before. It was always a nice big cushion for the embryo to jump on.

This cycle is not looking the best so far, but we are not giving up. Yet, as the gyneacologist kindly remarked. It is just hard. Hard to give this cycle our full positive energy and cover ourselves for the potential disappointment at the same time. We really appreciate all the crossed fingers everywhere! Send any soothing, calming vibes you can our way!

Lazy ovaries

I feel my ovaries. They feel like two little knots at either side of my body. That does not correspond with the images of the ultrasound this morning. After three weeks on the pill, 7 days of Decapeptyl and 5 days of Gonal-F, one follicle is the miserable result. ONE. That is exactly the same amount as we would get without stimulation during a natural cycle.

A disappointing result after so much effort. I was convinced that was the end of ICSI number three. But much to our surprise, the gynaecologist had another idea. She told us to increase the dosage of the follicle stimulant Gonal-F and decrease the Decapeptyl. Come back on Friday.

The fact that I feel my ovaries might be a good sign. There might be some small follicles lurking about, ready to join this round. I really hope that the increased dose of medication will do the job and kick my ovaries into high gear. We are not ready to give up yet.

Tummy eggnog cocktail

After a couple of days of only taking Decapeptyl, last Tuesday we added the follicle stimulating hormones to the tummy cocktail. We use Gonal-F with the pen this time. Click and go. No more labaratoires chezcorcutt.

I still don't like needles. There is lots of trembling and quivering going on at hormones time. At my end of the needle. I close my eyes and tremble and quiver before Jonny actually sticks the needles in me. My tummy itself seems to protest this time around. I am starting to look like a pin cushion.

It's not that bad really. We have made a little ritual out of it. Jonny is my needle master and I just lie back and try not to giggle. Giggling makes my tummy muscles tense up, so it hurts more. It's over within a few minutes. And I always get a big kiss from Jonny. Then we get on with the rest of our lives. Trying not to let the IVF take over too much.

On Monday 6 November we'll find out how many follicles are growing in me.

In memory of my dear courageous Oma

Yesterday my oma (grandmother) was honoured posthumously. During an official ceremony she was awarded the title Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem. This honorary title is awarded to non-Jews who risked their lives during the holocaust to save Jews. My oma risked her live to save the live of Alex Nathans or little Dikkie Duinroos as he was called back then. On the picture she is holding baby Alex.

Newborn baby Alex came to the farm in 1943 and stayed with my widowed grandmother and her twelve children until the end of the war. He called oma 'mother' and he had loads of big 'sisters' and 'brothers' who doted on the little boy. He simply became part of the family. The dangers involved in hiding him were never mentioned.

My oma risked her own life, freedom and safety and that of her family in order to save another life. Yet she did not want to be thanked, she did not consider herself to be courageous, let alone a heroine. She just considered it her obligation as a Christian to help a fellow human being in need.

The little boy grew up, got married and moved to Israel. He now has four children and six grandchildren of his own. He was grateful to my grandmother and first nominating an then awarding oma, was his way of saying thank you. A thank you for being there in times of need. Although everybody agreed that oma would thought the ceremony was unnecessary, seeing the big extended family together would have undoubtedly filled her heart with joy.

Alex, his wife and his children all attended the ceremony. Many of my Dutch family members were there and ten of my relatives even traveled from Canada to participate. When the three granddaughters named after oma received the medal with her name on it and the certificate of honour, I felt proud. Proud of my dear courageous oma, who made the future possible.