Savouring Regeneration.

I hardly know where to begin with this item being so personally attached. IVF creates around 6,000 babies per year in the UK to otherwise infertile couples. The techniques used often cause huge controversy and it has been said that it can raise the hopes of infertile couples with only a 15% success rate.

Issues have been raised regarding 'confusion' in the laboratories with the the wrong embryo being implanted in the wrong woman, leading to great concern about exactly how the entire process is carried out.

Since 1978 when Lousie Brown was born as the first test tube baby, there have been some 30,000 babies born through IVF with several different techniques used to help a woman produce more eggs.

More recently concern was shown regarding one of the most controversial advances in IVF, known as ICSI or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection, where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. Issues were raised in respect of genetic defects that could be passed onto the babies.

Many advances are currently being worked upon however which greatly increase probability factors in relation to IVF. These include a 3D ultrasound that can decipher fertility problems before IVF begins, which can determine whether a blockage in a woman's fallopian tube can harm her chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

On-going pioneering techniques could mean the end of hormone treatments and the painful retrieval of eggs from infertile women, by collecting thousands of immature eggs from the ovary and then developing them in laboratories before freezing them. This is proving a controversial issue in relation to a woman's age and the possibility that usage of the frozen eggs could be deferred as part of a personal agenda. Currently this is expected to be available within the next 1o years.

The politics relating to IVF remain clouded with only 15% of cases proving successful though statistics vary greatly across the UK.

There are many dark stories and personal illustrations from failed IVF implantations such mix ups during implantation, reactions to fertility drugs, trauma due to repeated treatment all in addition to the added high risk of multiple births.

Fertility experts in the UK say that procedures for implantation are exceedingly tight and mix ups are unlikely regarding implantation.

And To All This, I Say !...Come On ....there are so many decent, caring couples out there who deserve that chance for parenthood. It is something that many people take for granted....probably myself included. I made a choice and wham bam,....I was bloody lucky and was very blessed.

Tonight this writing is completely selfish....I admit it...this has absolutely nothing to do with work, pr, marketing or anything else happening on this planet, this is simply based on happiness and my love for Helen Louise Leigh.

For my oldest and dearest friend, ....who shared extremely personal moments, including watching my stomach twitch with 'baby kicks', counting foetal movements with me, helping me with visits from the 'grizzly' midwife as well as the hormone fairy, working with me on breathing techniques and driving the practice runs to the hospital during both my pregnancies - which to be honest all must have nearly killed her emotionally ....tonight, I am the happiest I have been in a very, very long while, for after 10 years she called me to tell me she is pregnant with twins.

Damn statistics and pondering.....this is a moment for just one thing....the celebration of life. Congratulations Helen and Matt x

1999 Helen Louise and my younger son William.

Helen

A Tragedy Relating To Tragedy

Recently, under a banner of 'fairness for all' I was appalled to read an article relating to the abduction of Madeleine McCann. In this article the author claimed to have an 'understanding' for the individual case but very clearly it demonstrated an inability to comprehend the reason for the focus behind the global message.

Whilst the heinous crime of paedophilia was not nullified, it was evident that the larger picture in relation to Madeleine McCann had been completely negated.

The perspective of 'many children suffer' was presented, however, when carefully reviewed this could clearly be interpreted as, "I care, ...but I care more about what I consider relevant." A personal agenda was evident in that it represented worldwide issues and yes indeed those issues all have a valid place under the phraseology 'worldwide attrocities'. However, the presentation seemed to diminish the abduction and it was evident that there was a criteria, a strategy that was trying to dictate where our social consciences should be directed.

For me the focus on the abduction of one, singular, innocent child serves all of us on a number of levels. Primarily to try to save ONE, just ONE, from this horrific strain of perversity, - by finding the perpetrators and punishing them accordingly WILL help to diminish this evil - for if caught it will help to serve as a deterrent. Secondly, it reminds all of us to remain vigilant on a worldwide level - abuse, war, famine, plague, disease, rape, servitude are ever present in many places throughout the world - some aspects being closer to home than we would care to imagine.

Madeleine's tragic case reminds us of the horror, tragedy and abhorrence that we as human beings MUST fully grasp and understand, in the hope, that vigilance against such dreadful crimes will help to find a way to erradicate this vile deviance.

To reduce this issue to an 'also ran' shows a deep lack of understanding and compassion for Madeleine, her family and all other parents who have lost children in similar situations.

I will not name and shame but hope that if my words are read that they ring home with the author and that they understand the reason for the dedication and focus on this individual case and will adjust their thinking accordingly - in respct of the article I say "Badly done!"

The agony of Madeleine's parents is evident - do all you can to help....contact the relevant authorities with any information, ...any information at all.

Helen

Keeping It Light

Refreshing Approach To Damage Limitation !

When it comes to marketing everyone is looking for that USP that will make them stand out from their competitors. They say that any publicity is a good thing but then you consider Gerald Ratner the former Chief Executive of the Ratner Group of jewellers who achieved infamy in his famous speech - then perhaps this view becomes more than slightly tainted.

In his notorious speech, Ratner stated:

We also do cut-glass decanters on a silver platter that your butler can serve you drinks on for £4.95. People say 'How can you do this for such a low price?' I say, because it's total crap.

Hmmm! That famous gaffe cost the company £500 million and Ratner his job!

However I do believe there are ways of looking at promotion from outside of the box - take for example this item on low fat food. Male and female will have remembered this for very different reasons - but I guarantee they will have acknowledged the product and its visuals in a 'different' and quite positive way.

This adds a new dimension to the phrase: Keeping It Light!