About

Mission Statement:

My mission as The Infertility Advocate is to provide empowering information, fertility support and awareness, a strong fertility community and advocacy for affordable access to care for all those who struggle to build their families. It is my heart’s desire that others will find my book, Detours: Unexpected Journeys of Hope Conceived from Infertility, and my blog to be a positive resource. I also provide care directly, through my local and nationwide fertility support groups, my Pregnancy & Parenting After Infertility (PAIGES) support group, The RESOLVE Helpline, the Detroit, MI Annual Fertility Walk of Hope, my website and have been a guest on a myriad of podcasts. My services are compassionate, confidential, and respectful. Indirectly, I provide support through my line of fertility cards featured in my FertilityNFriendship ETSY store, my JOURNEY OF HOPE wristbands, and my pastel paintings. Additionally, I donate a portion of all proceeds of Detours, FertilityNFriendship cards and my wristband to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

My Background: I grew up in western Pennsylvania and was the youngest of four children. When I was a little girl, I used to beg my mom for a baby brother or sister. Mom would say, "When you grow up, Susie, you can have as many children as you want. But you are going to be the baby of our family." I was just four years old when I decided to become an elementary teacher because then I could "have a whole classroom of kids." I majored in English and Education in college and accepted my first teaching position in the Washington D.C. area upon graduation.

I met my husband, Robert Johnston, a U.S. Naval Officer in 1984, and we were married on May 3,1986.  I soon found out that although my mom was right about most things, she was sadly wrong about having as many kids as I wanted. However, she also taught me to never give up on pursuing my dreams.  My husband Bob and I struggled for nearly a decade to have our one and only child. The Navy didn't make infertility treatment any easier either. We moved 14 times in the first 12 years of our marriage and Bob was frequently deployed overseas... often for 6 months at a time. We even had a 2-1/2 year tour in the Philippines in the midst of our battle with infertility.

Although I didn't choose to have infertility, I eventually turned my pain into purpose after learning how to embrace my resolution of having an only child. Time has helped me accept that some things in life are completely out of my control. Because infertility affected me profoundly, it is my heart’s desire to offer my support to the infertility community. I also am passionate about supporting RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association because the people I met through this organization were my lifeline when I was in the thick of my journey three decades ago. Since then I have worn almost every “volunteer hat” for RESOLVE. I have been the Federal Advocacy Day State Captain for Michigan for six years and the Midwestern Regional Advocacy Day Captain Coordinator for two years. I am the co-Founder of the Detroit, MI Walk of Hope and I annually bring the Michigan infertility community together to walk for awareness and in solidarity on the last Saturday of the month of April during National Infertility Awareness Week. I lead local and national RESOLVE support groups both virtually and in person. In January of 2021, I started my Pregnancy and Parenting After Infertility Support Group (PAIGES). In 2022, I created a monthly PAIGES PLAYGROUP where moms and their miracle babies can get together to socialize with each other. One of my favorite past time activities is to create custom designed nursery paintings for all members of my general infertility support group who have made it to the other side of infertility. You can see some of my paintings in a gallery under the “books and gifts” tab of my website. In addition, I am a leadership board member of the Michigan Fertility Alliance and helped to create the first ever Michigan Infertility Advocacy Day (MIAD) in September of 2021. Since then, we have made MIAD an annual event in order to promote pro-family building legislation in my home state. I am also an ambassador for the European Fertility Society, which provides global trainings and webinars in a variety of languages through MyIVFanswers. I published Detours: Unexpected Journeys of Hope Conceived from Infertility in March of 2017. In my book I share the inspirational stories of my core group of warrior friends whom I met through RESOLVE over thirty years ago. A portion of the proceeds from my book, Detours, will be donated to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Ask me about our recent thirty year RESOLVE reunion.

Today, I live in Brighton, Michigan with my husband, Bob, and our Airedale Terrier, Griff. Infertility was the most difficult thing that I have faced in my life. However, today, instead of it consuming me,  I use it for the greater good. 

In-Fertility & Friendship, 

Sue A. Johnston