Joy (Movie) - Nomi's Pics

  Naomi Weisman is a Canadian-Australian and mother of three who loves to ramble with her dog, cook for family and friends, and laugh whenever possible.

My mom was truly born to be a mother. She was nurturing, energetic, creative, and intelligent, with an extraordinary sense of fun that made everyone around her feel loved and at ease.

When my parents married in 1961, my mom was just 22 years old. However, after years of enduring excruciating pain, she was diagnosed with severe endometriosis. The diagnosis brought with it the heartbreaking reality that she might never be able to have children naturally.

They held onto hope for a couple of years, trying everything they could. But ultimately, my mom had to undergo a complete hysterectomy, and with that, my parents' dreams of having biological children were dashed. It was a crushing blow, one that left them grappling with the painful reality that their hopes for a family of their own might never be realized.

Fortunately for my siblings and me, my mom and dad were open-minded and able to create the large family they had always dreamed of through adoption. They were blessed in a way that many others in similar circumstances weren't. 

This truth is poignantly captured in Joy, a film that beautifully portrays the journey of in vitro fertilization and the birth of the first "test-tube baby"—a groundbreaking moment in the fight for hope and family.

Set in 1968-1978, this film tells the story of Robert Edwards (James Norton), a quirky, visionary scientist; Jean Purdy (Tomasin McKenzie), a determined nurse with a strong work ethic and independent spirit; and Dr. Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy), a soft-spoken, open-minded, and innovative surgeon. Together, they embark on a journey to develop a revolutionary method that would give infertile women the chance to fulfill their dreams of having a child.

Joy highlights the severe lack of research funding for women's health issues and powerfully portrays the immense challenges faced by the scientists and the women who volunteered for the study. They battled fierce opposition from the church, the state, the media, and the medical establishment—forces determined to stand in the way of their important work.

I couldn't help but think about my mom throughout the entire movie. I kept wondering: if she had been transported 15 years into the future, would she have been afforded the chance to experience pregnancy and childbirth?

In the end, I believe the biological aspect wouldn't have mattered to her—she always considered us kids "hers," no matter how we came to be. But the opportunity to create life within her, to experience that connection firsthand, would have appealed to both her scientific curiosity and her deep, nurturing nature.

I have several friends and family members who have gone through IVF treatments, many of whom were fortunate enough to conceive and give birth to healthy babies. They are incredibly lucky to have benefited from the groundbreaking work of this dedicated team of scientists and doctors.

Joy is an emotional and enlightening journey that powerfully reminds us how the efforts of a few individuals can profoundly change the lives of so many, offering hope and possibilities to families who otherwise might not have had a chance. 

Mom would have loved this, I'm sure. I highly recommend this film.

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