RESOLVE Night of Hope Awards 2011

So eventually I am getting around to the reason why I went to New York in the first place - the RESOLVE Night of Hope Awards.

When I heard my book "So Close" was nominated for the RESOLVE Hope Award for 2011 for Best Book, I bravely told everything that if I win the award, I would go to New York to collect the award in person, not for a moment thinking that I would actually win the award. I was up against some pretty stiff competition. However, I had forgotten all about YOU, my lovely blog readers.  Thanks largely to your votes, my book won. And so off to New York I went to collect the award.

I borrowed a frock from my friend Natachia (no way I was buying a new dress just for one evening) and I had my hair done in the afternoon. 

The function was a lovely formal dinner at a fab restaurant called Guastavinos.  We were staying at the Intercontinental which is 300W 44th street.  The restaurant was at 409E 59th Street.  Probably about 5 kms as the crow flies.  It took us an HOUR to get there.  An hour! For a few blocks. Welcome to Manhattan. 

Luckily we left early and even luckier, we had decided to bite the bullet and use the hotel's private driver. The porter told us that the cab would have been about $10-$12, the driver was $20.  We didn't feel like waiting so we took the driver (fancy black BMW!)  Because of the road blocks for the 9/11 security and the normal Manhattan traffic, had we taken the taxi it would have cost us more than $40.  I love getting a bargain. Heh.

Anyway, we arrived in time so that I could do a 'walk through' of the award ceremony.  By the way, when I got the email talking about the sequence of events, the walk through, the ACCEPTANCE SPEECH! I nearly pooped in my pants!  What do you mean acceptance speech!  I thought I was going to the dinner, drinking lots of wine and then going home. I don't want to stand up in front of 300 people and make a speech!  My nerves!

The evening was lovely and the speech was fine.  I was pretty nervous to stand up there but mercifully it was short and the audience was lovely. Plus I had wine.

 I met some really wonderful people there, I was at the table with the ladies from the upper west side support group.  Marko and I were sitting next to a gorgeous woman who was so friendly and welcoming, we had very similar stories - twins through IVF and then a natural pregnancy afterwards. We found out afterwards that Alisyn is pretty well known.  Here are the Upper West Side ladies and I:

Unfortunately Marko and I had to leave early as we were getting up at sparrows fart to catch out flight back home (bad planning!), so we couldn't stay and bond with everyone.  The evening was fantastic and I met some great people. It was a real honour to have been nominated and to attend.

PS the actual award itself is gorgeous - a beautiful, solid glass circle

The one thing I did go away with was the realisation that pain of infertility is international.  The stories, the pain, the hope and the joy that was shared in that room was exactly the same as we have here in South Africa. However, the one thing that America does have that we don't have here in South Africa is an organisation like RESOLVE - they do amazing work and get lots of support from the industry and from patients. Awesome.  My partner Maritza and I have started something on a much smaller scale here in South Africa (Fertilicare) - but nowhere near the scope of what RESOLVE does.  It would be great to be able to do even more.

Lastly, I would like to thank Cape Fertility Clinic and Vitalab Fertility Centre for sponsoring my flight to New York so that I could attend the awards ceremony - thanks guys, you rock.

PS If you would like to buy a copy of my book it is available on Amazon and Kalahari (for the locals)

PPS This post took me an hour to do, almost as long as the drive to the restaurant. I really MUST go do some real work now - the work that helps people have babies :-) 

Comments

[Heather]

Congratulations, Tertia! And I think lots of people voted for you, not just SA :)I know your book is a big inspiration to all us out there that still want to be parents.
You look stunning in the pics, by the way.

[Nataly]

Congratulations, Tertia! I am happy to hear that you had great time in NY. You do deserve this award!

[Christine]

Tertia - I wanted to say Congrats! I read your book a few months back - and I just experienced my first failed IVF - and I keep thinking back to your story to help me get though this. Thanks for being an inspiration - you truly deserve this award!

[Kristin]

Huge congrats Tertia.

[BiancaW]

Congratulations Tertia! You have earned this with your blood, sweat and many, many tears. XXX

[web design company]

! I read your book a few months back - and I just experienced my first failed IVF - and I keep thinking back to your story to help me get though this. Thanks for being an inspiration - you truly deserve this award!

[MomAgain@40]

Congrats again! You looked stunning!
Your story has touched so many lives! Well done!

[web design company]

I read your book a few months back - and I just experienced my first failed IVF - and I keep thinking back to your story to help me get though this. .. I read your book a few months back - and I just experienced my first failed IVF - and I keep thinking back to your story to help me get though this...

[Missy]

Well done!! Your story has given so many hope and encouragement - that is priceless!

[Alida]

Well done Tertia You have come such a long way and still are inspiring people every day, love Alida

[Kay]

On behalf of all the upper west siders, it was such a pleasure and honor to meet you! Your book just arrived today--I'm so excited! I look forward to catching up when we are in Capetown in November---how exciting!

[short term rental london]

I am so happy that you won that completions as your book is so amazing I don't know why you actually had any doubts about wining

[Beth]

This is totally fabulous, Tertia. I'm glad it was a great experience. My only question is, how is it that your book was nominated in 2011, when it was published, what, four or five years ago? One would think that each year they would nominate a book that was written in that year... but apparently it doesn't matter when the book was actually written? I've just been curious about that...

Nevertheless, couldn't be happier for you; you know I love your book!