Meet the Smith's ~ Journey to IVF

August 1994 - I was just 13 years old.  Active in gymnastics, at a practice in the gym one day and suddenly a pain over took me.  I could not stand up, barely walk.  I was taken to the ER, from there it became countless hours, tests and doctors, and even surgery -  I was then told I had CANCER.  I couldn't understand what I was about to be put through for the next year of my life (and years later as an adult).  All I had in my head was starting my freshman year in High School, and being with my friends.  CANCER?  Stage 4??

I was rushed to the local children's hospital where I underwent the first of so many surgeries - this one was over 8 hours long.  When I woke up nearly a week later - it was time to begin the dreaded Chemotherapy.  Still unable to wrap my head around what I was experiencing - I had no choice but to just go through the motions.  I wasn't given a choice.  I was 13 - and felt like a lab rat.  One surgery turned into two, two turned into four.  By the time I realized I was 15 years old I had already underwent 8 major surgeries.  All to which they were of my abdominal cavity.  

Over the next 15 years due to complications from the surgeries I had at the "learning" children's hospital, I experienced nearly 25 more surgeries.  I was a walking medical corpse really.  Nothing more than someone that they would roll into surgery - and be in awe of what I had experienced over the years.  

Not once did I pity myself.  I would have friends, family, and community members all say, "oh you had Cancer, you poor thing."  Still to this day as a survivor I still hear those words - "You poor thing."  

NO!!! It was never about being a poor thing - it was about surviving and moving forward.  Which I feel I succeeded in very well.  Until I wanted to start a family of my own.  I learned heartbreaking news, after experiencing a couple of miscarriages.  I would never be able to have a successful pregnancy on my own.  Due to the surgeries and the scar tissues that developed it has blocked my only remaining tube.  Thus leading us to our only option being IVF.  Devastating news.  Horrible news.  After years of being poked, prodded, cut open, drugged up and sometimes even forgotten....now here it stands even more devastating news.

Nine years ago I embarked on my first round of IVF and was successful with twins.  I delivered my twins at a whopping 27 weeks and 5 days.  They each were 2 lbs at birth and 13 inches long.  68 days in the hospital they spent - but they MADE IT!!  

Then enters Dustin into our world.  God has blessed us with this wonderful, devoted man.  I couldn't imagine where the girls and I would be if we didn't have Dustin in our lives.  

Dustin and I experienced our own loss last year, and it opened our eyes to the potential of wanting to expand our family.  So I set out on the journey of looking at options for us.  We have been to several different doctors hoping that there were new advancements on surgery options for me.  However due to my extensive surgical history, it is just not safe, and IVF is my only option if Dustin and I want to embark upon adding one more to our clan.  

Now Dustin and I have decided to embark upon the journey of IVF again, as he has no children himself and would like to experience the joys of parenthood just one time.  With IVF there are associated costs that insurance in our state will not cover.  Our benefits won't even cover any testing.  (Which is ironic to me - as they paid for years of cutting me open for sometimes no reason at all) 

We are asking family and our closest friends to look into your hearts and provide a donation to help us reach our goal of becoming parents together.  This is a debt we are taking upon ourselves and while we are able to finance some of it through loans, the medications and so forth are not financeable.  We ask that each of you take a serious look at what our journey will entail, and look into your hearts and help us by providing a donation.  We will never be able to repay anyone that donates, other than our sincere appreciation and gratitude.  Thank you for taking a moment to read this brief bit and helping us on our next journey as a family.