A.R.T. for Elena

Dear Supporters and Donors,

We have some very exciting news to share! Motherhood for our friend Elena is just around the corner! The fertility treatments you helped make happen were a success, and a long awaited little bundle of joy is expected to make it's arrival this summer!!! In honor of the occasion, we invite you to join us for a virtual online baby shower Wednesday, May 23rd at 6pm PST. You can tune in from home to rejoice in this blessed event! If you would like to send a gift for the mama to be, here is a link to some things she has selected to feather her nest in preparation for the new arrival, but please note that a gift is in no way obligatory! Your friendship and support are the greatest gifts of all! As you can see it's all unisex because the gender will remain a mystery until the birth! Thank you all again so much from the bottom of our hearts for supporting Elena in her quest for motherhood. This would not have been possible without your love and support!

-Marisa

Baby Registry Link:
https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/elena-laietcheverry-august-2018-sanmarcos/2U7OFGRUMPRGU

Hey guys! A LOT has happened since our last update! The lovely and generous egg donor successfully underwent the egg retrieval process. The eggs were fertilized with the premium donor sperm and the 6 embryos produced are now frozen! Frozen embryo transfer is scheduled for August! If you're friends with Elena on Facebook you can see the videos she posted which lay out all the details. But in a nutshell, the dream is coming true one step at a time! Very happy for our dear and brave friend Elena! Proud of her for taking action to make her dream of motherhood a reality. And tremendously grateful for all of the wonderful people who support this campaign! The need for funds to continue is still a challenge, so please continue to show your support by donating and/or sharing the link on your social media! Thank you!!!

Here's an update from our beneficiary. The IVF procedure has been delayed until April due to a scheduling conflict with the egg donor. But we are still very optimistic about the future and are past the halfway point in our fundraising goal. Please continue to spread the word about the campaign! Your support is immensely appreciated!
______________________________________
From Elena:

The child in me...
I have always wanted to be a mother. I wasn't always ready, but I have always wanted it. When I was growing up, my plan was to be married and pregnant by the time I was 25. So 20 years late and I am not where I thought I would be at all.

I don't know if other people do this, but when I wake up, the first thing I reach for is my phone. Addicted. Yes. I admit it. And the first thing I do is look at the Facebook On This Day post. I open it and start scrolling. Right now, it is Jan so its filled with photos of me at CHA and Art Venture. I'm dressed up and having a great time and doing my thing. I love seeing these pictures.

But the photos I am looking for are the ones of Matthew and Jake. If you knew me during that time, you will know it was the happiest time in my whole entire life. I have never ever felt the kind of love that those two little boys gave me for 2 years. I will never be able to hate Matt because he let me mother his two small children and I got to feel what I was missing and fill that huge hole in my heart for a short time.

So, at this point in my life. I have switched gears. From all of the sadness, depressed artwork and love of blood and pain, I am moving to my world of rainbows and baby unicorns and looking for a bright sunny sky. The child in me loves this place. The adult in me is teetering on the edge of a precipice, waiting to see if there really is going to be a child in me. I don't know how far I will fall if this does not work. But I know that right now, I am very very hopeful.