IVF/PGD for baby Jackson

We've been happily married for over four years now, together for eight, and are looking forward to raising a family;  however, this is where we need your help.

OTC (ornithine transcarbmylase deficiency) is a genetically inherited urea cycle disorder that my wife struggled with for nearly all of her life.  The disease took the life of her older brother and the lives of several extended family members.  With your help we'd like to end this cycle, to give our children the chance to live healthy lives and have healthy children of their own.

Raising a family in the advanced stages of OTC is very dangerous, as it alters brain function via traumatic and life-threatening brain swelling.  Knowing this, Abby chose to undergo a liver transplant to rid herself of OTC. She was willing to put her life on the line (and it was on the line, see post-script) for the opportunity to raise a family.

Now that Abby no longer has OTC, she feels ready and confident to start a family.  While modern medicine has no cure for OTC, it has rendered it possible to prevent the OTC trait from being passed on through a process known as PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis).  PGD is an advanced genetic test that can only be performed in conjunction with IVF. Healthy, non-OTC carrying embryos are fertilized and transfered to the mother to be carried to full term.  The end result is a beautiful, healthy baby. 

I love my wife and would do anything to make her (our) dream of a healthy family come to fruition.  Unfortunately, this is an expensve process not covered by insurance.  We humbly ask for your support  to have the opportunity to raise a healthy family.  If you are unable to donate financically, we beg the silent prayer on our behalf.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

PS - To learn more about Abby's transplant, go to http://abbyjeansjourney.blogspot.com/2010/10/journey-this-far.html.  The transplant team is very excited for Abby to (hopefully) begin raising a family!