How Ellen Pioneered In Vitro Fertilization

It’s 1984. Ellen Weir Casey is on the set of a talk show, ready to be interviewed about her miracle baby. The first so-called test tube baby born in Colorado. The lights dim, the cameras rolls, and the host coils up, ready to strike:

“So don’t you think you’re playing God?”

Ellen was ready for her: “No,” she said. “I thank God for the gifted scientists and physicians who gave me this treasure–my own baby.”

Ellen Weir Casey is the hero I didn’t even know I had until about a month ago. A pioneer I am so grateful to have been able to thank in person.

Because Ellen and other brave women paved the way, often in the face of outright opposition to this new medical technology of in vitro fertilization, moms like me are holding babies today. Or in my case trying to sneak in a hug every now and again with my now 17-year-old in-vitro baby.

In fact, in 2019, about 84,000 babies were born through in vitro fertilization in the U.S. alone, a statistic that thrills Ellen.

When I clicked the button to admit her to our zoom chat, she lit up the whole computer screen. You’ll know what I mean as soon as you hear her start telling her story. You can just hear her big smile, and that laugh of hers…

Today we’re going to hear Ellen’s story, with a little bit of mine woven in, and then we discuss how it felt to go through fertility issues and how to best support others who are going through them. Warning: you might need a tissue. I still can’t get through the interview without one.