IVF, Disability, and the Road to Fatherhood | Shane Burcaw on IVF Testing, Interabled Parenting

Modern Dadhood | Unpacking Fatherhood + Parenting for Dads (and Moms!)

Shane Burcaw wants to be a dad. He and his wife Hannah Aylward make no secret of their desire to become parents as they share some of the most private aspects of their unique interabled life together in weekly videos and podcast episodes on their YouTube channel Squirmy and Grubs. But will their ability to have biological kids be thwarted by Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the disease that has found Shane in a powered wheelchair since he was two years old? Only testing and time will tell. Shane joins the Modern Dadhood conversation to share candidly about their journey with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.

Episode 80 of Modern Dadhood opens with Adam and Marc quickly recounting their recent experience at Podfest Multimedia Expo in Orlando. They shout out to a handful of new podcaster friends and gleefully giggle as they recount their antics. Then shit gets real when they introduce Shane Burcaw into the Modern Dadhood conversation. Shane is a 30 year old author, influencer, podcaster, and founder of a nonprofit called Laughing At My Nightmare, a name which brilliantly sums up Shane's amazing sense of humor and attitude toward his lifelong disability, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Shane shares candidly about his disability, his attitude toward his disability, and why he and his wife Hannah (who is not disabled) dedicate their time to advocating for those with physical disabilities, proudly representing the interabled couple population, and living an adventurous and unique life. They've documented the beginning stages of their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey on their channel and their podcast Junkyard Mayhem, and Shane openly discusses it with us. Topics include:
• What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)?
• The advancements in treatment
• Young Shane's vision for his future
• Shane's shift in his feelings of self-worth
• Challenges of conceiving when you are dependent on a wheelchair
• Shane and Hannah's options for trying to conceive
• The "testing" process and results
• The odds of having multiples through IVF
• And more!
This is part 1 of a 2 part episode.
Before closing out the episode, Adam shares a quick and ridic installment of Did I Just Say That Out Loud?

Links:
Squirmy and Grubs (website)
Squirmy and Grubs (YouTube)
Junkyard Mayhem Podcast (Apple)
Shane's books
Spinal Muscular Atrophy
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Podfest Multimedia Expo
Cycle Chats Podcast
Magical Mindset Moments Podcast
Keeping Up With The Chaos Podcast
Rich Does a Thing
Red Vault Audio
Caspar Babypants
Spencer Albee
Stuffed Animal

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