Mother Of Twins Says She Met Donor and Lifelong Friend On Facebook

You've been a single woman for eight years, your 34 years old and then you wake up one day and think to yourself, "I want to have a baby now."  Ok, now what do you do next?

In a story that was first reported by the Daily Mail, that's what happened to Sarah Mangat when she decided she wanted to be a mother. Then she immediately began investigating sperm banks to help fulfill that dream, that goal. However, she found the facilities to be “too impersonal.” So Mangat turned to Facebook for help.

She lives in Canada and joined a group called “Canadian Sperm Donors,” where she chatted with a potential donor before meeting him in person. She endured 14 months of fertility tests and treatment including medically monitoring her cycle. She also spent just over six grand on hormonal injections to increase her fertility.

"At the sperm bank, you can only meet them when your child turns 18," Mangat said. "But I wanted to know the person before that." The guy checked out and exactly nine months after meeting him, Mangat found out she was pregnant with twins. “I nearly had a heart attack when they told me there were two."

While the future mother of two says she was thrilled to be pregnant, the following nine months were no walk in the park, as she was plagued by cervix issues that put her at risk for premature delivery. But she got through it with the support of, believe it or not, her sperm donor. She and her baby's donor became “close friends” over the course of her pregnancy.

She said that the experience has left her with twin daughters and a lifelong friend. "You can't wait forever for the right person to come into your life," she says. "If you're thinking about doing it alone, I say do it. It's the best decision I ever made."

A new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General is warning people that loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our county have become a public crisis. Advisories are reserved for issues deemed significant public health challenges that "need the American people's immediate attention," according to a statement from Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General.

He said that loneliness and social disconnection are more common than we realized. "In recent years, about one in two adults reported experiencing loneliness. It's also more widespread than many other health issues including smoking, diabetes, and obesity," said U.S. Surgeon General.

The report released on Tuesday, titled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, "warns that the physical consequences of poor connection can be devastating, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease; a 32% increased risk of stroke; and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults."

People are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. Murthy said that many young people now use social media as a replacement for in-person relationships, and this often meant lower-quality connections. The advisory reported that this was most pronounced in young people aged 15 to 24 who had 70% less social interaction with their friends.

There are ways to combat the loneliness epidemic in the U.S. In response, the advisory outlines a new national strategy based on six foundational pillars. One of the foundational pillars would be strengthening social infrastructure, which includes things like parks and libraries as well as public programs. Another would be reforming digital environments to "critically evaluate our relationship with technology."

Joining a class or a club presents an opportunity to meet a group of people who share at least one of your interests. can also provide a sense of belonging that comes with being part of a group.

Volunteering for a cause you believe in can decrease loneliness. It can also bring about a new found purpose and a deeper sense of gratitude. 

Reconnect with those already a part of your life by calling friends more often or going out with them more.

Pets can prevent loneliness as well as connect you with other people. Walking a dog opens you up to a community of other dog-walkers, and an adorable dog on a leash tends to be a people magnet. 

Find connections in every day life by interacting in small ways with acquaintances or strangers you encounter. There's a study that says doing so contributes to our social and emotional well-being.

Do what you can to take care of yourself especially when you are feeling down. Eating nutritious food, exercising, and getting enough sleep will only make you feel better.

Pick up a hobby or take yourself on a date. Take some time to invest in yourself and your interests and keep your mind occupied in the process.

Research suggests that loneliness and symptoms of depression can perpetuate each other, which means the more lonely you are, the more depressed you feel, and vice versa. Sometimes just "getting out there" and meeting other people isn't enough. It's possible to still feel lonely when you're around them, which could actually be a sign of depression or social anxiety. If this is the case for you, seeing a therapist may help with feelings of loneliness.