Long Island Parents Reunite To Celebrate In Vitro Miracles
MELVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A reunion held on Long Island Tuesday was years in the making – and began even before the honored guests were born.
As TV 10/55 Long Island Bureau Chief Richard Rose reported, the proud parents of roughly 100 babies reunited Tuesday with their doctors to celebrate their little miracles.
It was picture day for the Caliguri family – Robert Caliguri, his wife, and two youngsters – who celebrated with all the moms and dads of 99 other children born through in vitro fertilization at a clinic in Melville.
"Every guy, I think, wants a son or daughter," said Robert Caliguri, of Valley Stream. "But you know, I have two sons. I'm very happy with it. You know, they're the joy of my life now."
It was especially joyful when one considers that the Caliguris had tried for five years to have children. Next week, they will get to sing a happy first birthday to their twin sons, Marcello and Lorenzo.
"Somebody who's been trying for six months for a year who doesn't concede is considered to be infertile," said Dr. Steven Brenner of Long Island In Vitro Fertilization.
Brenner said he has seen thousands of parents unable to have children, for a variety of reasons. But advancements in the in vitro fertilization procedure have made it safer, and there is less chance now of having multiple children.
"The trend in the field right now is really to do single-embryo transfers, and to reduce the chance of having multiples," said Jane Tibaldi, executive director of Long Island In Vitro Fertilization.
Crystal Nevinn of Medford endured months of checkups and blood tests, but her doctors successfully extracted an egg, fertilized it in the lab, and placed it back in her uterus. Seven months ago, Alexa Melia came into the word.
"She's a great baby, and very social, and very active - on the go," Nevinn said.
There were lots of kisses for the many proud parents at the event, as they were relieved that their dream of a family has come true.
"A couple of years – it took a few years of trying, and we wouldn't be where we were if it wasn't for this very wonderful place, so we're very lucky," said Suzanne Sanford of East Setauket.
Suzanne and Keith Sanford have had two children through in vitro fertilization – William, 4, and Daniel, 1 – who is already showing the hallmarks of a future TV technician. He took the foam windscreen right off Rose's microphone.
Each year, 45,000 babies are born in the U.S. through in vitro fertilization.
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