IVF Fundraising for Baby Hickman
As a young girl I had it all planned out- graduate high school, go to college, be married by 24 and pregnant by 26. It was not until our last puzzle piece didn’t quite fit into place that we realized God had a different plan. We have been married for 3.5 years, and as a couple, we have always strived to make wise choices and pray through the details of every decision. That is why we felt to lay two years of marriage foundation before trying to conceive a child, giving us time to enjoy being married and grow as a couple before raising little ones. Little did we know that we would struggle with infertility and our man-made timeline would be derailed.
Battling infertility has been nothing short of an emotional roller coaster. Unsuccessful in trying to conceive a child for nearly two years, we realized something was wrong. We first visited Urology Associates of Tennessee in May and Tyler's test results showed both low sperm count and low motility. This was the first of many bad reports to come that seemed to grow darker and send us into a desperate downward spiral. We sunk into our lowest valley when receiving a report from yet another physician that we would not be able to have our own biological children. To be honest, our faith was wavering and we were gasping for air, trying to hang on to any last bit of hope that would surface.
As a seemingly last ditch effort, we visited Dr. Shep in Louisville, literally begging God for a miracle but, quite frankly, not being able to fully believe for one. As a specialist in male fertility, we knew that Dr. Shep’s report would either confirm or deny the devastating news with which we’d been previously pounded again and again. I felt certain that my heartbeat was externally audible as the kind doctor pulled up his chair to deliver his news. And my heart nearly stopped when he explained that we do, after all, have a shot at having our own children! It turns out that Tyler was born without vas deferens. He explained that because this was not a sperm production problem but more of a “plumbing” issue, that IVF would, in fact, be an option. That was most definitely the best “bad plumbing” news we had ever received!
Although this did not completely terminate our troubles, it was a breath of hope and sign of life. Just the renewed possibility of having a baby with both of our DNA sent us over the moon! Now as we step into the next season of our journey with still a long, unknown road ahead, we are pressing more than ever into the Lord’s promise that His ways are higher than our ways. And although we do not understand all the “why’s”, we know that He is faithful, He is good, and He is always with us. Tyler’s procedure was on September 26th and although we knew there were no guarantees we got the call the following Tuesday with the HALLELUJAH news that we were going to be able to proceed with IVF. We are blessed to be in some of the most capable hands in the nation. Tyler and I, along with the doctors, are very hopeful for successful IVF, and we are very excited about this next step in growing our family.
As could be expected, medical bills have and will continue to pile up. I cringe to extract the mail from our mailbox each day in dreadful anticipation of the next bill. Tyler works full time as an accountant and also coaches high school basketball. I am a full-time graphic designer for a local real estate company and, in addition, do free-lance design work on the side. We value hard work and have acquired extra jobs to cover these additional expenses. Every hour and every penny is absolutely worth it, but we are going to need some additional help to be able afford the IVF anytime soon. That is why we are asking for your help. We are asking you to pray and give what you feel led to give. Thank you in advance for your prayers, kindness, sacrifice and partnering with God to make miracles possible for people like us.
With sincere and thankful hearts,
Hope and Tyler Hickman (and in faith, baby Hickman to come!)
