October is breast cancer awareness month.  A topic I am very passionate about.  With 1 in every 8 diagnosed it is no surprise that I personally know too many friends, colleagues, clients and even my own mother who have endured this devastating diagnosis.

This past weekend, I had the distinct privilege of being a sponsor at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Awards which was held at the beautiful Kennedy Center in Washington DC.  The production was flawlessly produced by my previous client and now very dear friend, Joy Zucker-Tiemann.  This past summer Joy offered me a ticket to the show and I respectfully declined her kind offer and said, “Heck no, such an important cause, I need to be a sponsor!”

With behind the scenes access, Saturday day and evening at the Komen event was truly humbling.  I met so many wonderful and very talented fund raisers, committed scientists working to end breast cancer and thousands of dedicated volunteers all to raise awareness and education for early detection and the need for more research.  I met celebrities, Olivia Newton John, Lynda Carter, Cynthia Nixon and Stephanie Mills to name just a few.  I heard the stories of global leaders like Ida Odinga, a dynamic woman who empowers Kenyan women to have a voice.  I saw Laura Bush receive a well deserved lifetime achievement award for launching groundbreaking educational and healthcare programs for women in more than 75 countries globally.  The celebrity voices of Ricardo Chavira, Jennifer Griffin and Andrea Mitchell rang loudly to emphasize that we will not stop until breast cancer is curable.  The sheer scope of commitments, efforts, talents and hope was endless.

But for me the highlight of the weekend was meeting Robin Roberts.  Robin’s poise, compassion and graceful demeanor made her the most eloquent voice in the house.  As Master of Ceremonies, Robin was truly a master!

Robin had been my idol for many years.  Even before she she earned her stripes as a breast cancer survivor, Robin always symbolized for me devotion, hard work, commitment and integrity.  I learned this about Robin while reading her book “From the Heart: Eight Rules to Live By” which speaks directly to her special character.  Her goals, dreams and commitment to self are clearly identified in her candid writing.

As a true leader, Robin led the audience through a very emotional, informative yet hopeful two hour award ceremony.  Robin spoke “from the heart” about her own battle with triple negative breast cancer and how support from Susan G. Komen organization, colleagues, close friends, and strong family helped her to endure her journey through cancer treatment.  Robin’s eloquent plea for advocacy, raising awareness, offering education about early detection and the importance of raising additional funds for more research resonated loud and clear nationally.  Compelling videos clips of cancer survivors emphasized these topics and solidified Robin’s powerful message.  Robin had always been my idol, but after this weekend she is not only my idol but also my hero.

The memory of the weekend would not be complete with out accolades for the lady whose vision became a reality, Nancy Brinker, Founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.  Since 1983, Nancy had created the largest organization for education and fundraising for cancer victims.  This organization has helped millions of women and their families to identify valuable resources  before during and after diagnosis.  Nancy too is a pillar of strength and has made it her primary mission to put cancer at the top of the World Health Organization’s agenda.

I too had an opportunity to share my small part in raising awareness with Barbara Harrison on NBC.  In a short segment I believe that together we were able to disseminate valuable information on advocacy and fertility preservation options for those facing any dreaded cancer diagnosis.

It was definitely an action packed weekend and I am so blessed to have played even a small part of to help promote the cause.  Thank you Joy for your friendship, the sisterhood that has bonded between us, the many opportunities you gave to me including sharing a special morning with your beautiful daughter Jade!

With so many moving parts to surrogacy it is no wonder the process can be overwhelming. Learning to be your own best advocate, effectively planning financially, physically and financially help you maximize your chances of success and minimize your financial expenditure.

The first step in building the foundation is preparing to pay for treatment and the ancillary costs associated with surrogacy. Finances are specific to individual circumstances. Sometimes savings are available, often the sale of portfolio items are used to fund treatment. A third popular option are various borrowing opportunities. All of the above should be discussed with a tax professional and or financial planner in the context of your individualized circumstances. It is also vital to plan and prepare for multiple treatment cycles. In my experience balancing hope with caution is what helps my clients to approach treatment with clear expectations and realistic parameters.

The second step in building the foundation is to identify the fertility center, the Reproductive Endocrinologist and the Embryologist who have above national average success rates for the type of treatment you are exploring as well as a specialty in treating your specific diagnosis.

The next resource is identifying the right donor and/or surrogate. Seeking ideal criteria in a perfect stranger is often a very intimate process. There is always some level of risk in the decision making process. Being your own best advocate is helpful in mitigating and or eliminating potential stumbling blocks. Identifying a candidate on line can be risky since they are not screened and you will not have the benefits of a third party to act as an intermediary. On the other hand, it is necessary to be aware of onerous contracts with recruiting agencies.

The fourth brick in the foundation is understanding the legal terrain and how it affects your specific situation. Surrogate friendly states vary across the country. Surrogate friendly means that parentage can be achieved at some future point after birth. But from state to state this varies greatly. Some states require pre birth orders to get intended parents names on the birth certificate after the birth and other states require a formal adoption after the surrogate delivers. Other states are favorable in getting intended parents names on the birth certificate at birth, as long as one parent is biologically related to the child. Furthermore, often how the embryos are created, and with whose biological material is relevant to the big picture. Thus, the individualized situation can and does impact the selection of a surrogate candidate from state to state. Finally, selecting a surrogate with like-minded intentions for the term of the pregnancy is essential.

There is still more to consider. Most health insurance policies have exclusions for surrogates. Therefore, it is essential to analyze policy alternatives that may help you to save thousands of dollars in the future. Some states offer maternity policies, other states offer nothing. Disability and complications only polices can often be purchased to offset financial risk. But it is the gap analysis performed by the licensed insurance agent that can help uncover what is best for your given situation, the surrogate, the state where she will deliver, and how these factors impact your individual risk adversity given your personal financial situation.

Another extremely important and often overlooked resource in family building is estate planning. Prior to surrogates going to embryo transfer it is essential to engage an estate planner to draft directives and desires and prepare effectively for any unforeseen circumstances. This provides the most protections for all involved parties.

Building the foundation for treatment is essential. Knowing all available options, researching the viability of each options, interviewing several reproductive specialists to determine if you are in the right place are all very relevant and key factors to consider before patients begin the journey.

When making educated decisions to pursue treatment options, I encourage my clients to take into consideration all the facts. Because making informed medical decisions is the best way to maximize their chances of success and minimize their financial expenditure.

As one of the first infertility consultancies in the United States, Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC was founded by Mindy Berkson in 2005. With more than a decade of experience at physician’s offices, and egg donor and surrogacy agencies, Berkson assists individuals working through the often-challenging roadblocks of infertility, by providing the best information and resources available to them from around the world – all in one location.

Lotus Blossom Consulting works with individuals on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration clients’ emotional, physical and financial infertility issues and then develops an individualized, comprehensive plan, to help clients make informed decisions and pull together a team of unbiased professionals to accomplish a treatment cycle. Mindy is a sought-after infertility expert and has appeared on countless media programs and speaker panels educating audiences on the topic of infertility, egg banking and surrogacy. For more information about Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, call toll free (877) 881-2685, email mindy@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visit the web at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com or www.infertilityconsultant.com.

I am proud to announce that Lotus Blossom Consulting has officially established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring new life to families who are struggling to conceive.  motivation and intention in creating this grant is to offer a free fertility treatment for those who could not otherwise afford it.  To learn more about this fund and how it came to fruition, please click here.

Applications for a free treatment cycle are now being accepted.  The board of directors will select from applicants who meet the following criteria:

• Have a history of infertility, and provide a physician documented medical indication for exploring IVF treatment along with the application
• Demonstrate a financial need; defined as a gross combined annual income less than $80,000. A copy of the last two years’ IRS tax returns and two of the most recent pay stubs is required.
• No insurance coverage for infertility treatments.
• Do not currently have any children.
• Be under age 40.
• Be current legal citizens of the United States and living in the United States at the time of the award and subsequent treatment.

Thank you all for your help and support for this great cause. 

CHICAGO, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, a Chicago-based infertility consultancy with clients around the world,announces the availability of their free E-Book, Financing Your Infertility Treatment, available on their website at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com. The E-Book addresses the financial aspects of infertility, and it will be available beginning with National Infertility Awareness Week, November 4 – 10, 2007, and beyond.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, most infertility cases — 85% to 90% — are treated with conventional medical therapies such as medication or surgery. Yet, infertility treatment can be costly, success rates are not guaranteed, and insurance benefits may be limited.

“Beyond simply the medical issues, there are so many factors to consider when dealing with infertility,” says Mindy Berkson, co-founder  Blossom Consulting. “Proper financial planning and utilization of insurance benefits in the right order can help you effectively minimize costs, maximize insurance benefits, and save significant out of pocket expenditures. Lotus Blossom’s E-Book can help.”

The E-Book, Financing Your Infertility Treatment, provides an overview of financing options available, with particular emphasis placed on individualized tax situations, specific insurance benefits, and the total financial resources available before undergoing the infertility journey.For more information on the E-Book, contact Lotus Blossom Consulting tollfree at (877) 881-2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visit them on the web at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.

ABOUT LOTUS BLOSSOM CONSULTING, LLCAs one of the first infertility consultancies in the United States,Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC was founded by Mindy Berkson in 2005 after her own personal battle with secondary infertility. With extensive experience in all aspects of infertility, from egg donors and surrogates to in-vitro fertilization, Lotus Blossom Consulting works with individuals on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration clients’ emotional,physical and financial infertility issues then develops an individualized,comprehensive plan, including relevant insurance information, to help clients make informed decisions. Lotus Blossom Consulting has worked with many individuals to enrich their lives by helping them to fulfill their dreams of having children.

For more information about Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, call tollfree (877) 881- 2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visitthem on the web at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.

Before beginning any discussion about insurance coverage, it’s important to explain the status of fertility benefits in the United States. Not every employer is required to cover fertility treatments; this benefit is delineated per state.

“The economics of health care is of vital importance to our patients, and to society generally. Using a standard measure like cost per additional year of life, infertility treatments are one of great bargains in modern health care,” stated David Adamson, MD, President-elect of ASRM. (Full Article Here)

Wow! It was actually shown in a study that adding ART as a benefit of a health insurance plan only increased the cost of insurance per member an eensy weensy bit.

The ASRM is the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The information and studies they do are published in peer-reviewed journals (the good kind) and the results are really promising!

Lotus Blossom Consulting has established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring hope and new life to those in need. Through this grant, we are offering a free fertility treatment cycle for financially needy individuals.