OH! Magazine - Australian Version September 2018 | Page 24

( FOCUS ON FAMILY )
MINUS ONE: A FUND
TO MAKE BABIES POSSIBLE
Phoebe Adams has turned her own tragedy
into a way to help other families struggling with fertility.
unique Australian group has been
established, called Minus One,
which is designed specifically to help
make babies possible for people
struggling with fertility issues.
A
Minus One hopes to eventually be able to
offer five $10,000 grants, twice a year, to
help fund fertility treatment costs for
families who feel they are minus one.
The organisation officially launched in
February this year and so is still in its
infancy, but to help you understand how
this important group came to fruition, and
how you or someone you know can
become involved, here is a note from its
founder, Phoebe Adams.
‘In 2008, my gorgeous little Beatrix was
born. Beatrix was a beautiful little
surprise. We weren’t actively planning for
a baby and so the concept of ‘trying’ to
have a baby was pretty foreign at that
point; although of course I had friends
who were going through the process and
not as fortunate as we were.
Fast-forward nine years, and I now
completely understand the desperation
and sadness that comes from not being
able to successfully conceive a child.
I feel like a failure. I know that I have one
child and I should feel fortunate, but I
have always wanted two, and Beatrix has
talked about having a brother or sister for
as long as I can remember.
The thought that I might never experience
the joy of holding my own baby for the
first time again, makes me feel incredibly
sad.
24
OH! MAGAZINE ( SEPTEMBER 2018 )
After going through my own personal
battles and multiple failed IVF rounds, I
decided to create Minus One.
Trying to have a baby is not about the
money. I know most people will find the
funds if they need to, but the process is
so emotionally exhausting that I think
being able to give people a boost in some
way – any way really – can only ever be a
good thing.
My husband and I don’t have anything
medically wrong with us, but our last IVF
round yielded no embryos – not even one.
Obviously time and circumstance have
meant that it just hasn’t happened for us
yet. But, I’m still hopeful to grow our
family, and I’ll admit that setting up
Minus One really helped me get through
that last horrible experience.
I think this type of space where families
can support and encourage each other,
and keep the hope alive, is really valuable
– personally, having received so many
positive comments and feeling so
supported definitely helped get me
through the dark times and I’m really
grateful for that.
So please share Minus One with anyone
you know, who may need a bit of hope as
well. We’re still finding our way but we
have big plans, including being able to
offer that financial support in the future.’
To register your interest in the fund, or to
find out more, go to
www.minusone.family