Would You Donate Money For Someone Else to Have a Baby????
Posted on February 19, 2008
Yesterday a friend of mine sent me an email about a couple trying to raise funds for their upcoming infertility treatments. The couple already have children of their own, all conceived naturally. They want to add one more child to their family; however, the woman cannot conceive or carry a baby. They are seeking an egg donor and a surrogate. The media is all over this story. I don’t get it.
Here are my issues with this. They are trying to raise money through donations. Why not raise money by doing something productive or selling products? A car wash, a bake sale, a yard sale or make jewelry. None of the money donated to this family will qualify for charitable deductions on your taxes. And how about adoption? It makes more sense to me in this case than a surrogate.
What frustrates me is that this couple will probably raise the money they need for these services, which is a lot! Yet, I’ll struggle to raise $2,000 for the March of Dimes between now and April. Truly, I’d rather donate money to a couple who doesn’t have a child yet. Just yesterday I purchased a beaded watch from a friend selling jewelry to help offset the cost of their IVF cycle. My purchase will only offer them a few dollars, but if a lot of people buy a little something it will help them a lot. I’d rather help those (financially) still trying to build their families rather than those trying to ADD to it.
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5 Responses to “Would You Donate Money For Someone Else to Have a Baby????”
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I’m of two sides on this one. I mean, if I could just go and ask for the money I need, then why shouldn’t I? I don’t think the issue should be with the family doing the asking, but rather with those choosing to put up the funds. Pick your issues and back them however you can. I’d assume those contributing funds to this project are doing so knowing that the dollar they give to this couple isn’t going to be helping with other ( perhaps more “worthy”) causes like the March of Dimes.
I think asking family, friends, etc. is fine. This couple was actually asking the general public to donate money to their cause – I guess it doesn’t hurt to ask and the “ask” happens a lot when someone looses a loved one (at least the news does this a lot in Arizona). I agree with the approach by Mel at Stirrup Queen’s U.T.E.R.U.S., for some reason that seems more appropriate to me.
i think they should be greatful fot the children they already have. i myself want to have ivf but do not have the finances. i have been trying for a baby for 5 years but foiund out i have stuff all chance conceiving naturally because i my tubes have adhesions all over them and were kinked and blocked from having my appendix out when i was 4 years old. so i think they should be greatful with the hildren they have been blessed with.
I found out thursday that I have a unicornuate uterus with no fallopian tubes. After trying to conceive for 3 years, it is heartbreaking to hear my husband and I will never have a child without IVF. Unfortunately, though we are financially doing well ( we bought a home and both have decent jobs), it is too expensive for us. They should be happy with the children they do have. Love and cherish them and try not to be selfish to expect handouts for more.
I do also believe that yes they should be happy with the children they have. My husband and I have been trying for 3 1/2 years and a little under a year ago I was diagnosed with borderline ovarian cancer. I just had another surgery to finally clear me to have a baby (maybe). My husband and I will do all we can to try to afford it but unfortunatley the research I have done says we are so middleclass that we can’t afford it without a signaficant loan and we don’t qualify for the assistance program…feels like I am a senior in high school again being told no your parents make too much for you to get financial aide and they are too poor to pay for you to go also.