Growing Our Family - IVF
Donation protected
I am Nicole and have been married to my husband, Travis, for almost nine years.
In 2011, after trying to conceive for two years, we found that I had Stage IV Endometriosis that had gone undiagnosed and untreated for so long that I, ultimately, needed surgery to remove not only the adhesions, but also both of my fallopian tubes...making natural conception impossible and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) our only option to have a biological child. I had the surgery in June 2011. Our parents, generously, offered to help us with a round of IVF. That first round of IVF was successful, and we found out we were pregnant in August 2011. Our beautiful boy was born in April 2012. You can read about that journey here .
Now, nearly 4 years later, we are beyond ready to add to our family; however, the approximate $15,000 upfront cost of IVF (which our insurance plan does not cover) makes this incredibly difficult to do on our own.
Not that long ago, I made the decision to follow where God was leading me and left my career treating cancer patients to go into full-time children's ministry...cutting my income in half. I knew, in making that choice, that affording IVF on our own was going to be nearly impossible and that the dream of more children may have to be delayed. Ultimately, obeying and trusting my Father was way more important. I fully believed that He would provide a way for us if this did, indeed, fit into His plan for our lives. Just last night, after a long discussion with my husband about adding to our family, I spent even more time talking to my God...thanking Him for the blessings I already have and asking Him to help us find a way to have another child. He knows my heart. I never would have created this fund before this morning...before I woke up and heard His whisper...telling me to step out...reminding me that the people we love and who love us may want to help if we were brave enough to ask. This isn't an easy thing for me to do. It goes against everything in me...asking for help in this way. It hurts my pride, but God is teaching me that there is no place for that kind of pride in the midst of the miraculous.
So, I'm trying to, once again, follow where He leads. Being a mother has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and Noah's little life is nothing less than a miracle. We're asking you to help us create another little miracle. My arms and heart are aching for another sweet baby...a house full, if I'm being honest! Help us give Noah a brother or sister...help us add to our family. To explain how grateful we would be is impossible. Our son is our whole world, and another little one would be a blessing beyond words.
**In the spirit of full disclosure: While our current plan doesn't include formally pursuing adoption through an agency (at this point), if an opportunity to privately adopt were to arise before we start IVF, any money given would, most likely, go toward adoption costs. We are open to wherever God leads us!
Also, IVF is risky. While our first round was successful, there are no guarantees that another round of IVF would result in a baby. So, please know that we will do our best to honor any money given by doing all we can to ensure a successful pregnancy, but there are no guarantees in this process.
Thank you for reading and prayerfully considering helping!
Blessings-
Nicole, Travis, & Noah
Below is an approximate breakdown for how the money would be spent. This is an estimate based on my clinic's percentage of transfers resulting in live births and my age.
In 2011, after trying to conceive for two years, we found that I had Stage IV Endometriosis that had gone undiagnosed and untreated for so long that I, ultimately, needed surgery to remove not only the adhesions, but also both of my fallopian tubes...making natural conception impossible and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) our only option to have a biological child. I had the surgery in June 2011. Our parents, generously, offered to help us with a round of IVF. That first round of IVF was successful, and we found out we were pregnant in August 2011. Our beautiful boy was born in April 2012. You can read about that journey here .
Now, nearly 4 years later, we are beyond ready to add to our family; however, the approximate $15,000 upfront cost of IVF (which our insurance plan does not cover) makes this incredibly difficult to do on our own.
Not that long ago, I made the decision to follow where God was leading me and left my career treating cancer patients to go into full-time children's ministry...cutting my income in half. I knew, in making that choice, that affording IVF on our own was going to be nearly impossible and that the dream of more children may have to be delayed. Ultimately, obeying and trusting my Father was way more important. I fully believed that He would provide a way for us if this did, indeed, fit into His plan for our lives. Just last night, after a long discussion with my husband about adding to our family, I spent even more time talking to my God...thanking Him for the blessings I already have and asking Him to help us find a way to have another child. He knows my heart. I never would have created this fund before this morning...before I woke up and heard His whisper...telling me to step out...reminding me that the people we love and who love us may want to help if we were brave enough to ask. This isn't an easy thing for me to do. It goes against everything in me...asking for help in this way. It hurts my pride, but God is teaching me that there is no place for that kind of pride in the midst of the miraculous.
So, I'm trying to, once again, follow where He leads. Being a mother has been one of the greatest experiences of my life, and Noah's little life is nothing less than a miracle. We're asking you to help us create another little miracle. My arms and heart are aching for another sweet baby...a house full, if I'm being honest! Help us give Noah a brother or sister...help us add to our family. To explain how grateful we would be is impossible. Our son is our whole world, and another little one would be a blessing beyond words.
**In the spirit of full disclosure: While our current plan doesn't include formally pursuing adoption through an agency (at this point), if an opportunity to privately adopt were to arise before we start IVF, any money given would, most likely, go toward adoption costs. We are open to wherever God leads us!
Also, IVF is risky. While our first round was successful, there are no guarantees that another round of IVF would result in a baby. So, please know that we will do our best to honor any money given by doing all we can to ensure a successful pregnancy, but there are no guarantees in this process.
Thank you for reading and prayerfully considering helping!
Blessings-
Nicole, Travis, & Noah
Below is an approximate breakdown for how the money would be spent. This is an estimate based on my clinic's percentage of transfers resulting in live births and my age.
Organizer
Nicole Edwards Johnson
Organizer
Marshville, NC
