Everyone has been witness to a little girl, hair astray, with her sticky little fingers clinging on to her baby doll. Carrying her baby everywhere she goes, doing everything that she witnessed her mama doing for her, consoling her, feeding her, making sure that HER baby gets everything she was raised to know that she needed. Being the best mama that she could be, even as a toddler. It's an instinct we are born with, integrated into our own DNA.

Flash forward 30 years. Imagine that same sweet faced, innocent girl finding the love of her life, settling down in their home, with their fur babies, but still missing something. They decide that it is time to expand the family and start to try for a whole family of their own. At this point, it's a waiting game. But the odds are in their favour right? She’s 33, he’s 27. They have their whole lives ahead of them, They do all the necessary work, from prenatal vitamins and bloodwork, home ovulation kits. Anything and everything that was in their control, they did it. Numerous pregnancies tests, numerous negatives, bringing with them a little bit more heart break each time. Before they know it, ten months have gone by. They need more answers, so she goes for more bloodwork, and the doctor tells her everything looks fine, she's healthy and it's just a matter of time. Then, as if a switch had been flicked, her period doesn't show up and the hot flashes start, the brain gets a little foggy and the feeling of always being tired sets in. she thinks ‘This is it!’. But the sticks don't ever get the double line. Maybe her hormones just aren’t high enough yet. Let's wait another month before doing another test. Negative. Time for more bloodwork. This time, the doctor doesn’t sugar coat it.

“Your ovaries aren’t working. You are post-menopausal.” 

DENIAL.

She goes to an OBGYN for a second opinion. Three letters. That’s all it took for that once sweet-faced child's world to come crashing down. POF. Premature Ovarian Failure. Her reproductive system has essentially thrown in the towel, called it quits. The fat lady has finally sung.

My daughter, Rae Healey, is unable to bear a child from her own egg. There is no treatment, no miracle that can be pulled, for her to conceive her own child. Science has created hormone therapy to help with low estrogen problems, mood enhancers, testosterone boosters, but not the ability to reverse POF. Hormone therapy is still required though, to help prevent osteoporosis and heart disease caused by having a lack of estrogen at such a young age.

The dream isn’t over. With the help of a fertility clinic, we are looking at having an egg donor and then doing IVF. Unfortunately, neither are covered by health care or insurance. After the cost of hormones for both the donor and the recipient, all the tests and the fertilization, and then the implantation, it could be between $20,000 and $24,000. It is a huge price tag, but can you really put a price on creating life? There is nothing more important in life. It is our purpose, and one that my daughter feels everyday.

 Please, if you can, help my daughter in this journey. Every little bit helps, and please, keep her and John in your prayers.