Thanks for clicking. Anyone can read this. I just needed a hook.
Background: I have lived in Finland for more than five years and am a Finnish citizen. I am black, and my partner is white (native Finnish). We are two women, and my partner will be carrying.
My partner and I waited over a year in the public healthcare fertility treatment queue in Helsinki, only to find out that there aren’t any options for people with dark skin. Helsinki University Hospital (HUS) told us that many people have been in our situation, but they haven’t been able to offer suitable matches because they specifically do not have any donations from people with black skin. All we can do is raise awareness and wait. Increased awareness will also help other families.
All relevant information about donation can be found here: https://www.hus.fi/en/sperm-and-egg-bank Please share with anyone who may be interested! Even one share is helpful.
Things we already know / have heard (and my responses):
- Going through private healthcare will give more donor options.
(Yes, but this is not very accessible due to the additional costs.)
- Not everything is about race.
(Yes, but we naturally prefer the child shares physical traits from both of us. HUS matches parent characteristics whenever possible. However, of course we’ll love the child no matter what.)
- Finland has a low birth rate, and public resources should not be used to advance immigrant populations.
(Yes and no: 1) Everyone has the right to healthcare, and fertility treatment is part of that. 2) Someone who is half Finnish is still Finnish. 3) Finland needs more people to sustain the economy!)
- Can we ask someone we know?
(We don’t have anyone we can specifically ask, and we would prefer to remain anonymous. In public healthcare, both donors and receivers are anonymous. Our family and friends are also helping spread the word.)
- This is AI / a joke.
(I recently created this account to maintain anonymity as my previous Reddit account had my name in it. We have also printed flyers, which you may find around Helsinki. Would AI or a joke go this far?)
Please do not be cruel. We just want a family like everyone else. 🙏🏾 This is just a post to raise awareness. If you don’t agree, this post does not harm you in any way and leaving negative comments also raises awareness (though discouraged).
Thanks for engaging and enjoy the weekend! P.S.-Clocks change this Sunday.
