Anna and Mac - 2nd Round IVF
Donation protected
Intro about Jessie
When I met Anna in May 2013, I knew I was getting a new coworker at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, but I didn’t know I was meeting my future best friend. Anna and Mac have supported me during some trying times, and I them. So, though neither of them would ask, I know that they could use their community’s help now. Please read below and consider contributing to make their dream of having a family come true.
Breast Cancer Rocked Their World
Mac and Anna were newlyweds trying to plan a family when Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer derailed their plans but never their dreams for a family. Luckily Anna and Mac were able to complete fertility preservation prior to Anna starting chemo and they froze 3 embryos for the future. Unfortunately, in North Carolina, insurance is not required to pay for any fertility preservation for cancer patients so all expenses were out of pocket.
Trying for a Family
Due to Anna's type of cancer, she has to be on hormone blocking medication for 5-10 years. The oncologist approved a 2-year break starting in Jan 2018 for she and Mac to try and start a family. After getting pregnant naturally, it was deemed an ectopic pregnancy and Anna was forced to go through a devastating surgery to remove the rupture and one of her fallopian tubes. You can read Anna’s full blog post about their ectopic pregnancy loss.
Due to the cancer timeline and having to go back on medication, Anna and Mac decided to try again with a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle .
They were elated to learn the FET was successful and spent the holidays on cloud nine sharing the joyous news with close friends and family. Tragically, 2019 brought heartbreaking news. At 7 weeks, it was discovered that the embryo had no heartbeat and Anna had to have a D&C surgery for the miscarriage.
Maintaining Hope for a Family
While heartbroken, Anna and Mac’s fertility specialist is optimistic for their future. It’s great news that Anna could get pregnant and carry a child. Due to the timeline for Anna to go back on the cancer medication, it is important they begin another FET cycle soon but the financial impact of the breast cancer treatment, the ectopic pregnancy surgery, and their first FET cycle have wiped out their funds.
They are uncomfortable asking for money but with so many people asking how they can help they agreed to let me share their story and accept donations for the next IVF cycle. Anna has done so much for the breast cancer community and everyone in her life that we all want to give back and help her and Mac achieve their dreams of a family.
All funds raised will go directly to the cost of their next FET cycle in 4-6 weeks at UNC Fertility.
Any amount helps, and if you are not able to give please know that sharing this page and their story is enough. Thank you for the unwavering support of Mac and Anna during this difficult time.
Learn more about Anna's cancer journey and their fertility battles on Anna's blog My Cancer Chic where she provides support and inspiration to young women facing adversity.
When I met Anna in May 2013, I knew I was getting a new coworker at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, but I didn’t know I was meeting my future best friend. Anna and Mac have supported me during some trying times, and I them. So, though neither of them would ask, I know that they could use their community’s help now. Please read below and consider contributing to make their dream of having a family come true.
Breast Cancer Rocked Their World
Mac and Anna were newlyweds trying to plan a family when Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer derailed their plans but never their dreams for a family. Luckily Anna and Mac were able to complete fertility preservation prior to Anna starting chemo and they froze 3 embryos for the future. Unfortunately, in North Carolina, insurance is not required to pay for any fertility preservation for cancer patients so all expenses were out of pocket.
Trying for a Family
Due to Anna's type of cancer, she has to be on hormone blocking medication for 5-10 years. The oncologist approved a 2-year break starting in Jan 2018 for she and Mac to try and start a family. After getting pregnant naturally, it was deemed an ectopic pregnancy and Anna was forced to go through a devastating surgery to remove the rupture and one of her fallopian tubes. You can read Anna’s full blog post about their ectopic pregnancy loss.
Due to the cancer timeline and having to go back on medication, Anna and Mac decided to try again with a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle .
They were elated to learn the FET was successful and spent the holidays on cloud nine sharing the joyous news with close friends and family. Tragically, 2019 brought heartbreaking news. At 7 weeks, it was discovered that the embryo had no heartbeat and Anna had to have a D&C surgery for the miscarriage.
Maintaining Hope for a Family
While heartbroken, Anna and Mac’s fertility specialist is optimistic for their future. It’s great news that Anna could get pregnant and carry a child. Due to the timeline for Anna to go back on the cancer medication, it is important they begin another FET cycle soon but the financial impact of the breast cancer treatment, the ectopic pregnancy surgery, and their first FET cycle have wiped out their funds.
They are uncomfortable asking for money but with so many people asking how they can help they agreed to let me share their story and accept donations for the next IVF cycle. Anna has done so much for the breast cancer community and everyone in her life that we all want to give back and help her and Mac achieve their dreams of a family.
All funds raised will go directly to the cost of their next FET cycle in 4-6 weeks at UNC Fertility.
Any amount helps, and if you are not able to give please know that sharing this page and their story is enough. Thank you for the unwavering support of Mac and Anna during this difficult time.
Learn more about Anna's cancer journey and their fertility battles on Anna's blog My Cancer Chic where she provides support and inspiration to young women facing adversity.
Fundraising team (3)
JESSICA BISHOP
Organizer
Carrboro, NC
Anna Crollman
Beneficiary
Anna Crollman
Team member
Mac Crollman
Team member
