Chapter 17 - THE WOMEN WHO WERE LIED TOThe plaintiffs met in a rented conference room.
Eighteen families.
Some in person.
Some video.
Nadia attended alone.
Wesley wanted but agreed space.
Stories varied.
A single mother chose donor with Japanese ancestry so child could share her heritage; Kline substituted himself, white European ancestry, creating identity betrayal.
A lesbian couple selected donor with low hereditary melanoma risk due family history; Kline used himself, whose family had melanoma.
A married couple used husband’s frozen sperm after cancer treatment; they later learned one twin genetically husband’s, the other Kline’s? Heteropaternal superfecundation via mixed samples theoretically possible with IUI. Could be dramatic but maybe too complex. Avoid.
Instead one IVF case embryo created with intended husband sperm but record swap led donor. Kline may not be father. Keep scope.
Women described pelvic procedures performed under trust.
Consent forms.
Hormones.
Hope.
The injury was intimate.
Nadia realized public often treated fertility fraud as paternity surprise.
It was more.
Medical consent.
Bodily autonomy.
Family identity.
Medical history.
Megan said:
“People say at least you got healthy child.”
“As if child is compensation.”
Nadia felt.
Priscilla had said same.
Healthy outcome doesn’t validate process.
The group chose strategy:
Civil settlement with public factual findings.
Medical board action.
Advocate for law reform? This is current legal and could require web if factual. But fictional story can say they spoke with lawmakers generically, no specifics.
Nadia did not become activist full-time.
She had job? We haven't defined. Could be museum architect? Let's set Nadia is brand consultant? Not needed. Maybe she works as art conservation consultant. In story, she resumes career part-time. We can mention she is nonprofit communications strategist. But not necessary.
She did contribute anonymously to awareness.
June remained private.
Priscilla asked to meet group to apologize.
They declined collectively.
Not their job.
She instead submitted written statement.
One woman replied:
“Keep money, fund counseling.”
Independent victim support fund created.
Priscilla contributed.
Again without naming.
The women who were lied to were not united in forgiveness.
Some wanted Kline imprisoned.
Some only license revoked.
Some wanted public name.
Some did not.
No singular victim response.
Nadia appreciated.
The group also included intended fathers and donor-conceived offspring. But women centered bodily violation.
Wesley attended separate offspring group.
He realized his mother was original patient victim.
He grappled:
Could he sue on her behalf? No.
Could he be angry at Kline and Priscilla simultaneously? Yes.
Adult offspring said:
“We are not evidence of mistake.”
“The conduct was wrong. Our existence is not.”
Important for June.
Nadia repeated to Wesley:
“Never say I wish they used D-417 in front of June someday.”
“Because that implies wish she were different child.”
He froze.
True.
If D-417 used, genetically different child would exist.
June specifically exists because Kline sperm.
This philosophical grief complicated.
Nadia had thought:
They stole intended child.
But June would not exist otherwise.
Could she condemn act without wishing daughter away?
Yes.
She loved June as she is and condemned violation.
Both.
Therapist helped.
This became satisfaction:
No one defines child as product of fraud.
June is person.
May you like
The adults lied.
Not her existence.
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