Kellie Gerardi, a female astronaut undergoing IVF, hit back at critics who accused her of 'wasting' her fertility in her 20s. Gerardi, a payload specialist and director of human spaceflight, shared her response on Instagram alongside a breathtaking video of herself in space.
A female astronaut undergoing IVF has responded to critics who accused her of 'wasting' her fertility in her 20s. Kellie Gerardi, 35, a payload specialist and director of human spaceflight at the International Institute for Astronautical Science s, addressed the insensitive remark with a breathtaking video of herself in space. The post, which captured the moment Gerardi gazed down at Earth, garnered 298,672 likes and 7.7 million views on Instagram.
\Gerardi shared that the clip was taken during a moment of profound realization. Looking down at her home planet from space, she was overcome with emotion, contemplating the physical distance between her and her daughter. \Gerardi has been candid about her struggles with secondary infertility and her IVF journey, acknowledging the range of opinions and misconceptions that arise when sharing such personal experiences publicly. She specifically addressed the common assumption that her fertility issues stem solely from her age, emphasizing that infertility can affect women in their 20s as well. Gerardi rejects the notion that pursuing her career alongside motherhood is selfish, stating that she doesn't consider any moment of her 20s wasted and that she hopes to set a positive example for her seven-year-old daughter. She expresses her desire that her transparency will encourage others to think before making thoughtless remarks online.\Gerardi's journey to motherhood began with a surprise natural pregnancy after over a year of trying to conceive. Despite this initial experience, she recognized the possibility of future fertility challenges as early as age 25. Becoming a mother made her dreams bolder and her sense of purpose deeper, inspiring her to encourage her daughter to explore her full potential. After seven years of secondary infertility and three recurrent losses, Gerardi decided to pursue IVF shortly after turning 35. She shared that they have recently transferred their only healthy embryo and are eagerly awaiting the results. \Gerardi openly discusses the physical, mental, emotional, and financial burdens of IVF, acknowledging the invisible labor many women carry while navigating these challenges alongside their other responsibilities. \Gerardi's passion for space began in her hometown of Jupiter, Florida, where she had early exposure to human spaceflight. This ignited a desire to explore all aspects of space science, from policy to hardware and microgravity research. Over a decade later, her research institute appointed her as a payload specialist on the Galactic 05 science mission. In November 2023, she became the 90th woman to fly to space. \As a payload specialist, Gerardi's role involved operating experiments and conducting research in space. While she felt well-prepared scientifically, she was profoundly impacted emotionally by seeing Earth from outer space. One of her most unforgettable moments was gazing down at her home planet and realizing the physical separation from her daughter. Her video resonated with viewers who offered support and condemned the cruelty of the initial comments. Many expressed their admiration for Gerardi's courage and determination, while others shared their own experiences with fertility challenges
Space Exploration Women's Issues SPACE EXPLORATION IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) WOMEN IN STEM FERTILITY ISSUES SPACE TRAVEL
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