Bring Home Baby W
Donation protected
David and Jessica Wolgemuth are asking for your help to raise funds for a surrogate. A surrogate is a wonderful woman who will carry our babies for us in her uterus. Our embryos are ready and waiting in the lab, and we can’t wait until the day we can bring them home!
We were married in April 2017 and started trying for a baby right away, as we both desired a large family. Jessica is a teacher, and David is a compositor in the film industry. After a year of trying, we were diagnosed with severe male factor infertility (sperm problems) as well as endometriosis requiring surgery for Jessica. We were told that our only option was IVF (In Vitro: the most advanced and invasive fertility treatment). At this point we had no idea we would have uterus issues requiring surrogacy.
In 2018 we did 2 egg retrievals (gathering eggs from the ovaries) where Jessica underwent surgeries, many injections, and complications requiring trips to the emergency room to treat Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome .
In October 2018 we had our first embryo transfer: the doctor placed 2 of our embryos into Jessica's uterus, but unfortunately they miscarried. Knowing it doesn’t always work the first time, in January 2019 we transferred 2 more embryos but they also miscarried. Jessica was then diagnosed with adenomyosis, a painful condition of the uterus which can prevent the ability to carry a pregnancy. With no treatment available, we tried a third time with hope: We transferred 2 embryos but they again miscarried.
Our doctors then diagnosed Jessica with an extremely rare inverted chromosome . This means that most of our babies will have abnormal chromosomes and miscarry. So we tested our frozen embryos and found 6 healthy embryos. After many delays due to Covid, in June 2020 we transferred a healthy little boy embryo; but he still miscarried.
As we have exhausted all other options, our doctor has advised surrogacy for our five remaining embryos: we have 2 boys, 2 girls, and 1 unknown baby.
We connected with a surrogacy agency called Assisted Reproductive Concierge that charges smaller fees for the sake of helping families. However, each successful surrogacy still costs about 100,000. This includes the agency fee to connect us with a surrogate and facilitate the process; compensation for the surrogate herself; IVF clinic costs; medications; health insurance for prenatal care and delivery; life insurance for the surrogate; attorney and legal fees; and miscellaneous expenses such as maternity clothes for the surrogate.
You may remember the tragic scene from Finding Nemo , where all the baby fish are eaten by the barracuda— except for Nemo. As heartbroken as the dad is for all he has lost, he puts everything he has into taking care of Nemo. This is us, but with five little babies remaining who need a surrogate so we can bring them home.
We are grieving for all the babies we have lost; and we are grieving that Jessica will never experience the joy of being pregnant. But outweighing all of this is the fate of our remaining embryos: we are fighting for our children to have a chance to live.
As you can imagine, this process has been heartbreaking and expensive. All together we have lost 19 babies who we will never know. Jessica has undergone 8 surgeries in the IVF process. Financially we are now at the end of what we can do by ourselves.
Our fundraising goal is gargantuan; but little by little with your help, we know we can reach our goal. We are looking for prayers, one-time gifts, monthly supporters, and shares on social media.
You can also help promote our cause by "liking" our Facebook Page and by participating in our Behind-the-Glass Challenge:
Thank you for your support to bring home Baby Wolgemuth.
#bringhomebabyW
We were married in April 2017 and started trying for a baby right away, as we both desired a large family. Jessica is a teacher, and David is a compositor in the film industry. After a year of trying, we were diagnosed with severe male factor infertility (sperm problems) as well as endometriosis requiring surgery for Jessica. We were told that our only option was IVF (In Vitro: the most advanced and invasive fertility treatment). At this point we had no idea we would have uterus issues requiring surrogacy.
In 2018 we did 2 egg retrievals (gathering eggs from the ovaries) where Jessica underwent surgeries, many injections, and complications requiring trips to the emergency room to treat Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome .
In October 2018 we had our first embryo transfer: the doctor placed 2 of our embryos into Jessica's uterus, but unfortunately they miscarried. Knowing it doesn’t always work the first time, in January 2019 we transferred 2 more embryos but they also miscarried. Jessica was then diagnosed with adenomyosis, a painful condition of the uterus which can prevent the ability to carry a pregnancy. With no treatment available, we tried a third time with hope: We transferred 2 embryos but they again miscarried.
Our doctors then diagnosed Jessica with an extremely rare inverted chromosome . This means that most of our babies will have abnormal chromosomes and miscarry. So we tested our frozen embryos and found 6 healthy embryos. After many delays due to Covid, in June 2020 we transferred a healthy little boy embryo; but he still miscarried.
As we have exhausted all other options, our doctor has advised surrogacy for our five remaining embryos: we have 2 boys, 2 girls, and 1 unknown baby.
We connected with a surrogacy agency called Assisted Reproductive Concierge that charges smaller fees for the sake of helping families. However, each successful surrogacy still costs about 100,000. This includes the agency fee to connect us with a surrogate and facilitate the process; compensation for the surrogate herself; IVF clinic costs; medications; health insurance for prenatal care and delivery; life insurance for the surrogate; attorney and legal fees; and miscellaneous expenses such as maternity clothes for the surrogate. You may remember the tragic scene from Finding Nemo , where all the baby fish are eaten by the barracuda— except for Nemo. As heartbroken as the dad is for all he has lost, he puts everything he has into taking care of Nemo. This is us, but with five little babies remaining who need a surrogate so we can bring them home.
We are grieving for all the babies we have lost; and we are grieving that Jessica will never experience the joy of being pregnant. But outweighing all of this is the fate of our remaining embryos: we are fighting for our children to have a chance to live.
As you can imagine, this process has been heartbreaking and expensive. All together we have lost 19 babies who we will never know. Jessica has undergone 8 surgeries in the IVF process. Financially we are now at the end of what we can do by ourselves.
Our fundraising goal is gargantuan; but little by little with your help, we know we can reach our goal. We are looking for prayers, one-time gifts, monthly supporters, and shares on social media.
You can also help promote our cause by "liking" our Facebook Page and by participating in our Behind-the-Glass Challenge:
Thank you for your support to bring home Baby Wolgemuth.
#bringhomebabyW
Organizer
Jessica Wolgemuth
Organizer
Riverside, CA