Juliana & Andrew's IVF Journey
Donation protected
PREGNANCY UPDATE!!
To our surprise on March 6, 2016 we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Isabella Rose came into this world 15 weeks early at 1lb 4oz and 11 inches long. Due to complications with my pregnancy and an unexpected development of severe Preeclampsia in order to save the both of us we had no choice but to deliver.
Isabella is currently in the NICU at NW Memorial Hospital. Isabella is a strong, feisty baby girl who is working so hard to grow and thrive. She is our miracle baby and the love of our life. Words cannot describe how difficult this process is for us to watch our baby in the NICU. The hospital, nurses, doctors are incredible. Please keep our family in your prayers.
Our Infertility Journey:
My husband Andrew and I got married in August 2012. Our plan was to start a family right away. After trying for nearly three years- we have experienced one failed pregnancy, three failed rounds of Clomid, countless number of hospital visits and procedures, and three failed rounds of IVF.
Last fall 2014; we were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Fertility Center of Illinois in River North. After multiple tests, blood work and consultations we discovered that my AMH (anti mullerian hormone) level was below normal for my age. This level helps estimate your ovarian reserve. My doctor then told us that my AMH level indicates that my eggs are about the quality of a 45 year old (I am only 30 years old). At this point our doctor informed us that we need to move pretty quickly and aggressively because we didn't have a lot of time. He explained we have less than 1% chance of getting pregnant naturally and IVF is our only option. This news was devastating for us to hear. We began immediately in January 2015 with our first round of IVF.
Our first try with IVF was unsuccessful. The entire process was so surreal; we were so nervous and scared each step of the way! We love our medical staff and put our faith and hopes into their hands to guide us through. It was a tough call to receive- the negative blood test. It was hard to understand what went wrong because according to the doctors I had responded very well to the medications. After our consultation with the doctor we received some answers what went wrong and what we will do differently during round 2. Our doctor told us round one confirmed egg quality was the problem for us and so he added in medications that can help with quality.
These medications were not covered by insurance and out of pocket expenses. We felt if this was our only means to up our chances we would do whatever it takes. The medications brought a lot of side effects- my body began to change tremendously during this round and that added a level of emotional stress to everything else going on. Unfortunately, round two was also unsuccessful. This news hurt too much to hear.
After Round 2 failed we met with our doctor about what went wrong. He gave us the hard truth about the reality of IVF being successful for us- due to my low egg quality. The changes made in round two that gave me better quality just weren’t enough. Those medications (HGH) have also been pulled off the market because the FDA no longer allows HGH for infertility. At this point we planned to transfer the only embryo that made it to freeze. I prepared for the frozen embryo transfer for two months however we recently found out that was unsuccessful.
We continued onto the next round in Fall 2015 and we were blessed with a positive pregancy test in October 2015. Our prayers have been answered and we are embarking on this journey to parenthood feeling so lucky and blessed. We are expecting in JUNE 2016 our miracle!!!
About Us:
Andrew and I are both educators. Andrew is a Principal in an Alternative High School in Chicago and I am an Elementary School Counselor in the South Side of Chicago. We devote our time helping youth find their way and preparing them to become successful people. We have so much love in our hearts to give our own children. We have hopes, dreams, and plans we want to pass onto them. This journey has been a battle between agony and hope and it has left us feeling complete desperation for our dreams to come true.
An experience like this changes you- it forces you to look within so hard and so deep that your entire perspective changes. You hold on a little tighter to all that you are a grateful for and you cherish each day because you know how drastically your life can change from day-to-day. It forces you to find will power you never thought you had because when you have it in your heart to be a parent one day- nothing can stand in your way.
We believe it takes a village to raise a family and we have learned first hand that without the support of family and friends we would never be able to make it through this time of our lives. We know that we will be parents- we just don't know how we will get there. We also know how loved and wanted our "one day" children are because of the outpouring of help, love, and support from loved ones. The amount of thoughts and prayers for a little one to come into this world is overwhelming. Who knew you could love something so much that wasn't even there?
As we take on this hardship emotionally and physically, we also have the financial burden. We are asking from the bottom of our hearts, with deepest gratitude, that you help us through this terribly trying time. We thank you so much for your constant love and support. We are forever grateful!!
To our surprise on March 6, 2016 we were blessed with a beautiful baby girl. Isabella Rose came into this world 15 weeks early at 1lb 4oz and 11 inches long. Due to complications with my pregnancy and an unexpected development of severe Preeclampsia in order to save the both of us we had no choice but to deliver.
Isabella is currently in the NICU at NW Memorial Hospital. Isabella is a strong, feisty baby girl who is working so hard to grow and thrive. She is our miracle baby and the love of our life. Words cannot describe how difficult this process is for us to watch our baby in the NICU. The hospital, nurses, doctors are incredible. Please keep our family in your prayers.
Our Infertility Journey:
My husband Andrew and I got married in August 2012. Our plan was to start a family right away. After trying for nearly three years- we have experienced one failed pregnancy, three failed rounds of Clomid, countless number of hospital visits and procedures, and three failed rounds of IVF.
Last fall 2014; we were referred to a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Fertility Center of Illinois in River North. After multiple tests, blood work and consultations we discovered that my AMH (anti mullerian hormone) level was below normal for my age. This level helps estimate your ovarian reserve. My doctor then told us that my AMH level indicates that my eggs are about the quality of a 45 year old (I am only 30 years old). At this point our doctor informed us that we need to move pretty quickly and aggressively because we didn't have a lot of time. He explained we have less than 1% chance of getting pregnant naturally and IVF is our only option. This news was devastating for us to hear. We began immediately in January 2015 with our first round of IVF.
Our first try with IVF was unsuccessful. The entire process was so surreal; we were so nervous and scared each step of the way! We love our medical staff and put our faith and hopes into their hands to guide us through. It was a tough call to receive- the negative blood test. It was hard to understand what went wrong because according to the doctors I had responded very well to the medications. After our consultation with the doctor we received some answers what went wrong and what we will do differently during round 2. Our doctor told us round one confirmed egg quality was the problem for us and so he added in medications that can help with quality.
These medications were not covered by insurance and out of pocket expenses. We felt if this was our only means to up our chances we would do whatever it takes. The medications brought a lot of side effects- my body began to change tremendously during this round and that added a level of emotional stress to everything else going on. Unfortunately, round two was also unsuccessful. This news hurt too much to hear.
After Round 2 failed we met with our doctor about what went wrong. He gave us the hard truth about the reality of IVF being successful for us- due to my low egg quality. The changes made in round two that gave me better quality just weren’t enough. Those medications (HGH) have also been pulled off the market because the FDA no longer allows HGH for infertility. At this point we planned to transfer the only embryo that made it to freeze. I prepared for the frozen embryo transfer for two months however we recently found out that was unsuccessful.
We continued onto the next round in Fall 2015 and we were blessed with a positive pregancy test in October 2015. Our prayers have been answered and we are embarking on this journey to parenthood feeling so lucky and blessed. We are expecting in JUNE 2016 our miracle!!!
About Us:
Andrew and I are both educators. Andrew is a Principal in an Alternative High School in Chicago and I am an Elementary School Counselor in the South Side of Chicago. We devote our time helping youth find their way and preparing them to become successful people. We have so much love in our hearts to give our own children. We have hopes, dreams, and plans we want to pass onto them. This journey has been a battle between agony and hope and it has left us feeling complete desperation for our dreams to come true.
An experience like this changes you- it forces you to look within so hard and so deep that your entire perspective changes. You hold on a little tighter to all that you are a grateful for and you cherish each day because you know how drastically your life can change from day-to-day. It forces you to find will power you never thought you had because when you have it in your heart to be a parent one day- nothing can stand in your way.
We believe it takes a village to raise a family and we have learned first hand that without the support of family and friends we would never be able to make it through this time of our lives. We know that we will be parents- we just don't know how we will get there. We also know how loved and wanted our "one day" children are because of the outpouring of help, love, and support from loved ones. The amount of thoughts and prayers for a little one to come into this world is overwhelming. Who knew you could love something so much that wasn't even there?
As we take on this hardship emotionally and physically, we also have the financial burden. We are asking from the bottom of our hearts, with deepest gratitude, that you help us through this terribly trying time. We thank you so much for your constant love and support. We are forever grateful!!
Organizer
Juliana Morgan
Organizer
Chicago, IL
