One day out of the blue on July 29,2022, I received an email from Barb Collura, President and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. I wasn’t really that surprised to receive an email from Barb Collura because I have been a volunteer for RESOLVE for a long time. However, this email was different! This one caused me to squeal with excitement at the top of my lungs! My husband was shocked and asked me what all the excitement was for, so I had to share my email with him.

Dear Sue,
On behalf of the RESOLVE Board of Directors and the entire RESOLVE family, I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected as the recipient of RESOLVE’s Hope Award for Service for 2022. We are so thrilled and honored to have you as a recipient of one of RESOLVE's annual national awards. The Hope Award for Service is a national award given to an individual and/or organization/corporation whose work has either advanced RESOLVE or its mission in a significant manner. Sue, you have single-handedly touched every facet of our mission – with such passion and grace: advancing access to care, supporting others, advocating for legislative change, and raising awareness and funds. You are so deserving of this award!
We will present you with this award at the Night of Hope Gala on Monday, November 14, 2022. The Night of Hope will be held at Capitale in New York City, NY. The Gala will begin with a reception from 6:00-7:00pm followed by a seated dinner and the awards program. We are planning for a full house for this very special night.
Kelsey Secules, one of our colleagues who is working on this event, will be your staff liaison. From now until the event she will be updating you on details you need to know for the event. As an awardee, we would like to offer you four (4) complimentary tickets for the event. We will make a public announcement by mid-August; therefore, we ask that you keep this confidential until RESOLVE publicly announces it.
Congratulations Sue and we look forward to seeing you in New York City!
All my best,
Barb
Barbara Collura
President and CEO

After my husband and I settled down a moment, he told me that I needed to call our son, Scott, who is now 28 years old and lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He encouraged me to ask Scott, our “Miracle Baby,” to escort me on the stage to accept my award at the Night of Hope. My loving husband told me that having my son at my side was the perfect person to have at my side that night. The audience will love to see what your “Miracle Baby looks like after 28 years. He is the reason that you volunteer for RESOLVE. He is your motivation and your inspiration. I could not agree more.

Of course, I immediately called my son and told him the good news. He was so proud and excited for me. When I asked him if he would escort me onto the stage, he replied, “ABSOLUTELY! It’d be my pleasure and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

There was a lot to do to get ready for the Night of Hope. I had to write a bio, send lots of photos so that they could make a cameo introduction of me on award night, and of course, I had to prepare a brief acceptance speech. Not to mention, I had to select the perfect dress to wear for the occasion. Below is the write up that RESOLVE printed about me.

When the Night of Hope Charity Awards Gala finally came, it was a magical event. I had my husband, Bob, my son, Scott, and one of my best friends of all time, Diana Carr, there as my guests. Diana and I had spent several hours earlier in the day getting pampered by the Glam Squad, who did our hair and make up. We were Dressed to the Nines and I was on Cloud Nine. We had a celebratory glass of champagne in the hotel bar before we walked a block down the street in NYC to El Capitale, the event venue for the evening. The cocktail hour, dinner and program were executed with such style and elegance. I got through my speech without a wobble and I was even interviewed by CNN! The after-glow party was incredible and we all mixed and mingled throughout the ballroom with the most amazing “difference makers” within the infertility community. It was a night I will never forget, and surely was in the top FIVE moments of my life: 1. Marrying Bob on May 3, 1986, 2. Finding out I was pregnant on August 20, 1993, 3 Giving birth to Scott on May 1, 1994, 4. Renewing our vows in the Eiffel Tower for our 25th anniversary, and 5. The Night of Hope Award Gala. Here are a few photos of that special evening.

Some closing thoughts I want to share about one of the most special events of my lifetime: I love volunteering to help others who struggle to build their families know that they are NOT alone. I feel that I am able to give back to RESOLVE, the organization that was my lifeline when I was going through my decade-long struggle to have a family of my own. I have turned my pain into purpose and that feels wonderful to me. The warriors whom I meet on my support calls and meetings, through my Advocacy work, and in the Walks of Hope are the most amazing people I’ve ever met. They are my true and lasting reward.

The Night of Hope: One of the Top Five Most Special Events of My Lifetime