In January, we were elated to find found out I was pregnant. Then, in February, everything changed. What began as concern quickly became fear, and fear became an emergency. I learned the pregnancy was ectopic, developing outside the uterus and posing a serious, life-threatening risk. In a matter of hours, I went from planning to surviving. Hospital rooms replaced dreams. Medical decisions replaced everything else. I underwent emergency surgery to keep me from bleeding out due to my fallopian tube bursting. I lost the pregnancy and a tube... the trauma of that loss followed me long after I left the hospital.

Recovery was difficult—both physically and emotionally. The pain lingered, but so did the fear. Sleep was interrupted by anxiety and nightmares. The thought of pregnancy, something that once felt hopeful, became something terrifying.

I was told this was rare. Doctors said a second ectopic pregnancy in a row would be like hitting the lotto, almost impossible. I tried to believe this was a devastating, one-time tragedy. By August, after months of healing and gathering the courage to try again, I saw another positive test. This time, joy was muted. Hope felt dangerous. Every day was filled with quiet fear, constant monitoring, and waiting for the other shoe to drop. I braced myself while still praying the outcome would be different.

In September, it wasn’t. Once again, I found myself in emergency rooms. Once again, doctors delivered devastating news. Another ectopic pregnancy. Another life-threatening situation. Another loss. This time, the fear was heavier because I knew exactly what it meant. The trauma wasn’t just repeating itself; it was compounding.

Each ectopic pregnancy ruptured a fallopian tube. The second doctor did everything possible to save the remaining tube, but it was too far gone and had to be removed to save my life. I was left sterile at only 27 years old. Both my partner and I are active duty military, and we did everything we could to have a healthy pregnancy from running, lifting weights, maintaining healthy eating habits and a positive lifestyle. Despite all our efforts, we were still hit with a medical anomaly.

After the second surgery, I already knew natural pregnancy was not possible, and was told the only viable path forward for us is IVF. Navigating the next steps through the military medical system was long and exhausting.

Two pregnancies. Two ectopic losses. Six months apart. Only one option.

The funds raised will help us cover the costs of egg retrieval and the insertion of fertilized eggs at Navy Balboa Hospital. Your donations will give us back the hope we've been struggling to find. Thank you to everyone for listening and providing any type of support. This is a terrible situation to be in, and your kindness means more than I can say.