Hi, my name is Steph, and sharing this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Asking for help does not come easily to me, but right now I am at a point where I know I can’t do this alone.

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of being a mum. It has always been my heart’s greatest wish. But life hasn’t made the journey easy.

I have endometriosis and adenomyosis, conditions that not only cause daily pain but also make it extremely difficult to conceive naturally. Time is no longer on my side—I recently turned 40, and every month feels more urgent. Doctors have told me IVF is now my only chance.

I am incredibly grateful that we can access IVF through the public system here in Australia, but what many don’t realise is that it still comes with a huge financial burden. There are the costs of medications, specialist appointments, time off work, and in my case, repeated travel from Mildura to Melbourne for procedures and surgery. Before I can even begin IVF, I need to undergo surgery to remove a fibroid from my womb—yet another step, another trip, another expense.

While I am lucky enough to have a lot of emotional support, I am carrying the financial burden alone. My fiancé is currently out of work and struggling to find a job, which means the financial weight is falling mostly on me. My family are not in a position to help financially either—they are not well off, and I cannot ask them for money when they are also trying to get by.

I also worry about my elderly father, who lives in Melbourne and is in the early stages of dementia. After losing my beautiful mum unexpectedly earlier this year, he is alone now, and I carry the emotional weight of trying to care for him from afar as well. Taking time off work to be with him and my family during Mum’s passing was something I’ll never regret, I needed to be there, but it left me even further behind financially, leaving me not only devastated by the loss of my mum, but with even more financial stress.

I am currently more than $50,000 in debt. I work hard, but no matter what I do, it feels like I’m sinking deeper. I am terrified that the constant stress about money will take an even greater toll on my body and my chances of a healthy pregnancy. Stress and fertility do not mix well, and right now, I am carrying more than I can manage.

At this point, I have all but given up hope.

I am not asking for miracles, just for a little help to ease the load so I can focus on grieving for my mum, healing, IVF, and the hope of holding my baby in my arms one day.

If you can contribute, no matter how small, you will be part of giving me a chance at something I have wanted my entire life. If you can’t, simply sharing this fundraiser would mean the world.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking the time to read my story, and for your kindness in helping me take this next step.

With love and gratitude,

Steph