Fertile Action helps woman touched by cancer become mothers

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Six years ago, Alice Crisci worried she may never know the joy of motherhood. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 31.

"It was certainly the shock of my life," Alice says.

Knowing chemotherapy could leave her infertile, Alice chose a sperm donor and froze embryos. She maxed out her credit card, paying $20,000 for the chance of getting pregnant once she was cancer free. Five years later, she heard her son's heartbeat.

"As outside of the box that that might seem to a lot of people in terms of how to become a parent, it is an absolute dream come true for me," she says.

Dante, whose name means enduring, is now 8 months old. Alice has devoted her life not only to her son, but to helping other women diagnosed with cancer become mothers. Many insurance companies won't cover the costs of fertility preservation for younger cancer patients.

"You're already faced with a devastating diagnosis. There's often financial devastation that ensues. You can recover from both of those things," Alice says, "but you can't recover your fertility if cancer is the thing that takes it away."

Alice started Fertile Action, a non-profit group that provides financial aid and connects women with oncology and fertility specialists who discount their fees.

"We don't have to spin our wheels and all of our time and energy on raising money and giving out cash grants that then put profit in other people's pockets," Alice says.

By reducing the cost of preserving fertility, Alice hopes more women realize it is possible to be a cancer survivor and a mother.

Fertility action will hold its annual fundraiser on Saturday. Singer Pink will be honored.

For more information, visit www.fertileaction.org.