All They Want for Christmas are Two Little Feet
Donation protected
Their Story
Many of you know pieces and stories of the journey that Laura & Josh have been on since 2016. They have always dreamed of starting a family soon after they were married, but unfortunately, life had other plans.
In late 2016, Laura was diagnosed with Stage 1A Ovarian Cancer, needing emergency surgery to remove her right ovary, fallopian tube, along with her appendix and a resection of her bowel due to endometriosis. Laura recovered with Josh and her family by her side. Laura was considered one of the “lucky ones” not needing chemotherapy or radiation, which she was incredibly grateful for. At last, after a long and extensive recovery, Laura returned to work in the Emergency department as an RN and life was looking up.
Suddenly, six months later in July 2017, Laura had developed gallbladder issues
which she was told would be a “easy surgery". Two days later, she became incredibly sick and was admitted to hospital with post operative complications. These complications quickly developed into sepsis / peritonitis ( infection / slow perforation of her bowel ), requiring a 7 week hospital admission. During this time, she needed ICU level care, 4 drains in her abdomen for the infection, a PICC line for continuous IV antibiotics and TPN ( nutrition). She had fluid in her lungs (bilateral pleural effusions ) from the infection. She hadn’t walked for weeks and was so weak and lost all of her muscle mass. Laura also needed a VAC dressing on her abdomen for an area that opened due to infection. This later developed into a hernia. After almost two months in the hospital, Laura came home to her boys (Josh, and her two fur babies Trig and Riley). Josh and her mom Mary Ellen, were by her side (again) as she reconditioned over several months.
In January 2018, she had her third and final surgery for an umbilical hernia repair. It was with great relief that this surgery went well. She then returned to work in the ER and felt determined to restart their journey to bring a child into their family.
Their Fertility Journey
As you can imagine, and a lot of you know, the physical and emotional roller coaster was indescribable for Laura. She was so grateful for what she did have, after all she could have lost. Laura was finally healthy again; Her and Josh were determined to start a family of their own, but after a year of attempting and no success, they were disheartened.
Then in the fall of 2019, Josh also unexpectedly lost his job at General Motors. Despite all of this, they continued to be strong together as a couple and were reminded that timing is everything. Although, it seemed like they just couldn’t seem to catch a break.
Laura and Josh continued on with their dreams. They saw fertility specialists (a total of 3), along with advice from Laura’s oncologist and endometriosis specialist. After many tests, appointments and tears, they found out that Laura was infertile. This was due to extreme scarring and endometriosis and her only fallopian tube being blocked. They were bluntly told “no matter how many times you try, you won’t be able to have a baby on your own”.
It was a day that they felt like their dreams were crushed. Laura and Josh went from being hopeful, to feeling loss and grief. All they ever wanted was to hold a baby in their arms, but their options for this to be made possible were becoming bleak. In vitro fertilization ( IVF) was not possible as they first had hoped, due to all of Laura’s scarring and being deemed high risk after her health history. Laura was then told she would need surgery for her left fallopian tube to be removed prior to any fertility plan that required Laura to carry a baby. However, very recently, Laura was told that she is too high risk to even carry a pregnancy which then took this option off the table. Josh and Laura have, after careful consideration, now decided to use donor eggs and a gestational carrier to have a baby of their own.
Many of you may not know, but egg donation fees, gestational carrier and legal fees are all incredibly expensive (private surrogate and egg donation plus legal fees: $30,000+, plus other finances that may arise to help support a private surrogate). Laura and Josh have been dealt this difficult hand and have overcome an incredible amount in their lives, but now they need OUR help. Anyone who knows Laura and Josh can attest that they would make the most incredible parents. Therefore, finances should not be a barrier to anyone wanting to conceive and start a family of their own.
Laura once said, "On your wedding day you repeat, 'for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health..' we just didn’t realize we would be tested by many of these so soon".
From the bottom of their hearts with so much love and appreciation,
Laura & Josh Jackett xox
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Josh always at Laura's bedside during her long recovery
Laura post operative: She lost a large amount of muscle mass and required extensive physiotherapy after her stay in the ICU
Laura's scarring from her abdominal surgeries
Many of you know pieces and stories of the journey that Laura & Josh have been on since 2016. They have always dreamed of starting a family soon after they were married, but unfortunately, life had other plans.
In late 2016, Laura was diagnosed with Stage 1A Ovarian Cancer, needing emergency surgery to remove her right ovary, fallopian tube, along with her appendix and a resection of her bowel due to endometriosis. Laura recovered with Josh and her family by her side. Laura was considered one of the “lucky ones” not needing chemotherapy or radiation, which she was incredibly grateful for. At last, after a long and extensive recovery, Laura returned to work in the Emergency department as an RN and life was looking up.
Suddenly, six months later in July 2017, Laura had developed gallbladder issues
which she was told would be a “easy surgery". Two days later, she became incredibly sick and was admitted to hospital with post operative complications. These complications quickly developed into sepsis / peritonitis ( infection / slow perforation of her bowel ), requiring a 7 week hospital admission. During this time, she needed ICU level care, 4 drains in her abdomen for the infection, a PICC line for continuous IV antibiotics and TPN ( nutrition). She had fluid in her lungs (bilateral pleural effusions ) from the infection. She hadn’t walked for weeks and was so weak and lost all of her muscle mass. Laura also needed a VAC dressing on her abdomen for an area that opened due to infection. This later developed into a hernia. After almost two months in the hospital, Laura came home to her boys (Josh, and her two fur babies Trig and Riley). Josh and her mom Mary Ellen, were by her side (again) as she reconditioned over several months.
In January 2018, she had her third and final surgery for an umbilical hernia repair. It was with great relief that this surgery went well. She then returned to work in the ER and felt determined to restart their journey to bring a child into their family.
Their Fertility Journey
As you can imagine, and a lot of you know, the physical and emotional roller coaster was indescribable for Laura. She was so grateful for what she did have, after all she could have lost. Laura was finally healthy again; Her and Josh were determined to start a family of their own, but after a year of attempting and no success, they were disheartened.
Then in the fall of 2019, Josh also unexpectedly lost his job at General Motors. Despite all of this, they continued to be strong together as a couple and were reminded that timing is everything. Although, it seemed like they just couldn’t seem to catch a break.
Laura and Josh continued on with their dreams. They saw fertility specialists (a total of 3), along with advice from Laura’s oncologist and endometriosis specialist. After many tests, appointments and tears, they found out that Laura was infertile. This was due to extreme scarring and endometriosis and her only fallopian tube being blocked. They were bluntly told “no matter how many times you try, you won’t be able to have a baby on your own”.
It was a day that they felt like their dreams were crushed. Laura and Josh went from being hopeful, to feeling loss and grief. All they ever wanted was to hold a baby in their arms, but their options for this to be made possible were becoming bleak. In vitro fertilization ( IVF) was not possible as they first had hoped, due to all of Laura’s scarring and being deemed high risk after her health history. Laura was then told she would need surgery for her left fallopian tube to be removed prior to any fertility plan that required Laura to carry a baby. However, very recently, Laura was told that she is too high risk to even carry a pregnancy which then took this option off the table. Josh and Laura have, after careful consideration, now decided to use donor eggs and a gestational carrier to have a baby of their own.
Many of you may not know, but egg donation fees, gestational carrier and legal fees are all incredibly expensive (private surrogate and egg donation plus legal fees: $30,000+, plus other finances that may arise to help support a private surrogate). Laura and Josh have been dealt this difficult hand and have overcome an incredible amount in their lives, but now they need OUR help. Anyone who knows Laura and Josh can attest that they would make the most incredible parents. Therefore, finances should not be a barrier to anyone wanting to conceive and start a family of their own.
Laura once said, "On your wedding day you repeat, 'for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, and in sickness and in health..' we just didn’t realize we would be tested by many of these so soon".
From the bottom of their hearts with so much love and appreciation,
Laura & Josh Jackett xox
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Josh always at Laura's bedside during her long recovery
Laura post operative: She lost a large amount of muscle mass and required extensive physiotherapy after her stay in the ICU Laura's scarring from her abdominal surgeries
Organizer and beneficiary
Kristi Kearn
Organizer
Newcastle, ON
Laura Jackett
Beneficiary
