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Pa ge 2 2 T hu rs da y, D ec em be r 1 1, 2 01 4 - T he IF P - H al to n H ill s - w w w .th ei fp .c a Thank You for Voting us #1 11555 Tenth Line, Georgetown Corner of River Road and 10th Line (Across from Eagle Ridge Golf Course) 905-873-1354 info@terraglen.com www.terraglen.com Hospital tours welcome and visiting hours encouraged. ♥ Preventative Medicine ♥ Wellness and Senior Programs ♥ Mobile/House Calls ♥ Dental Services ♥ Surgery ♥ Chiropractic Care and Laser Therapy ♥ Separate Cat Suites for boarding ♥ Spacious runs for all breed dog boarding Georgetown's favourite Veterinary Services 3 Years in a Row Dr. Keith DaSilva Specialized dentistry for infants, children, teenagers and all patients with special needs New Patients Welcome! 13219 15 Sideroad, Georgetown 905-877-0900 Fax 905-877-0500 No referral necessary. COMMUNITY A local woman who has been on a long and bumpy journey to become a mom has launched a crowd-funding campaign with the hope of making that dream a reality. Jenny Lorito, who is 38 and single, has always known she wanted to be a mother. She spent three years trying to adopt through the Children's Aid Society, but when that didn't happen she decided to try to have a child naturally. During the initial screening for In- trauterine Insemination (IUI) she was shocked when her blood work revealed that she had Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML). "CML is a blood cancer that affects the bone marrow. It is not caused by the environment, lifestyle or genetic factors. Getting it is just dumb luck," said Lorito. "However, as far as cancers go, this kind of leukemia is treatable and patients live long, happy, stable lives. Had I not gone in to become a mother, I would not have found out I have leukemia. Taking the step to become a mom saved my life." After her diagnosis, her doctor recom- mended she begin in vitro fertilization (IVF) to retrieve her eggs before starting a lifetime of chemotherapy. With the support of her close friends and family, nursing staff and doctors Lo- rito began a whirlwind month of in vitro fertilization (IVF), a bone marrow biopsy, an egg retrieval and dealing with her leu- kemia diagnosis. At the end of it she had one viable blastocyst embryo. The embryo was preserved to implant once she adjusted to her leukemia treat- ment. There was hope she could take a break from the daily oral chemotherapy (which she began on Mother's Day 2013), to carry her baby, but she learned that would be too great a risk to her health and carrying her own child was not a practical solution-- so surrogacy appeared the only viable option. "What began as a very affordable pro- cedure (IUI) quickly snowballed into a sum almost 100 times the initial amount. As a single, self-employed artist and arts educator this sum is unfathomable," said Lorito. "The last piece of the puzzle is my sur- rogate. I have a strong network of family, friends and clients who live nearby. My nieces and nephews can't wait to meet their cousin, my students are lined up to help babysit and my doctors are behind me in this quest. Against all odds I made this embryo-- my underdog, my fighter (just like Rocky), my Rocco." She plans to name her baby Rocco. Lorito launched a crowd-funding cam- paign last month on Indiegogo called "Go Rocco!" It can be found at https://www.in- diegogo.com/projects/go-rocco She hopes the campaign will bring in the needed funds to make her dream of becoming a mom a reality, and also to raise awareness about cancer and fertility. Gifts and perks have been donated, which people receive for making a dona- tion. To date $15,465 has been raised. The GO Rocco! Campaign closes on midnight Dec. 25. Any extra funds that come in (above the $90,000 goal) will be donated to Fertile Future to help those with cancer become parents. The Go Rocco! Campaign can also be found on https://www.facebook.com/pag- es/Go-Rocco/1562838090598035 and on twitter at https://twitter.com/go__rocco Local woman wants to have a baby-- but needs the community's help By Lisa Tallyn ltallyn@theifp.ca JENNY LORITO 'Taking the step to become a mom saved my life.' --Lorito