IVF help
Donation protected
Hi everyone, after a lot of thought, Nate and I have decided to start a GoFundMe to support us in our journey to start a family of our own. This decision was not easy for us, as we feel like it is our responsibility to overcome ourselves. Parenthood should be achievable for us, but it is seemingly out of reach. We have decided to share our story with you, and hope that with your love and support, we can make our dreams a reality.
Our journey officially started in October 2017, when we became happily wedded and purchased our first home. I (Julia), am one of 6 kids and Nate is one of 4. Growing up with large families, we learned the value of family bonds. We loved spending time on family vacations, seeing our relatives at family parties and gatherings, but mostly enjoyed spending time with our siblings. With similar family values, we both knew we wanted to start a family as a young couple, and we were in a position to do so.
After trying to get pregnant for over a year, we finally acknowledged something was wrong. Both of us sought medical advice to determine the source of our infertility. Unfortunately, Nate was diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia; he could not get me pregnant. The news was devastating. For those who do not know, non-obstructive azoospermia means there is no sperm in the ejaculate due to failure of spermatogenesis. It is the most severe form of male infertility and occurs in less than 1% of the male population, and within 10-15% of men who struggle with infertility. Not only did Nate have a fertility issue, but I was also diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). One of the main symptoms of PCOS is struggling to get pregnant.
Our journey abruptly halted; we struggled with the reality and magnitude of the diagnosis. Our dream of having our own family suddenly became out of reach. After researching alternatives, long discussions, and being open of our opinions, we made the decision to find a sperm donor and pursue fertility treatments. We consulted a fertility clinic, and again, had hopes of a family.
We had our first IUI (intrauterine insemination) in the beginning of November 2019, and the treatment did not take. Although the news was not what we wanted, we kept our heads high; we felt like we were making progress and we decided that we could financially afford to make another attempt. We went on to have our 2nd IUI at the end of November 2019. After 2 weeks, we found out the treatment was successful, and I was pregnant. However, it just did not feel right. I chalk it up to motherly intuition because I cannot explain why it seemed off, it just did. We made frequent visits to our local hospital for blood tests and phone call after phone call to the fertility clinic which always seemed to result in the “everything is normal” response- but we suspected otherwise. On New Year’s Eve, we went to the ER. We got the heartbreaking news that I was having an ectopic pregnancy and already begun internally bleeding. Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg cannot survive outside the uterus and can cause life-threatening bleeding if left untreated. That night I had to have emergency surgery to have my right fallopian tube removed. Once again, we were left heartbroken.
After the surgery, we revisited with our OBGYN doctor, we decided that moving onto IVF (In vitro fertilization) with use of donor sperm was our best, and safest option to become pregnant. IVF is a very overwhelming and expensive process. After two IUI attempts and an emergency surgery, we were drained; drained emotionally and financially.
Since January, we have been patiently waiting and saving for IVF, but for us, it cannot come soon enough. We have decided that we can no longer do this alone. Nate and I would be extremely blessed and thankful for any donation to help us start our family and make our dreams of starting a family, a reality. If you are unable to donate at this time, we completely understand. Please share our story and send prayers and positive thoughts. WE ARE 1 in 8, and fertility issues should be openly discussed and acknowledged. Thank you so much for reading our crazy journey. The best is yet to come.
- Julia and Nate
Romans 8:18- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Our journey officially started in October 2017, when we became happily wedded and purchased our first home. I (Julia), am one of 6 kids and Nate is one of 4. Growing up with large families, we learned the value of family bonds. We loved spending time on family vacations, seeing our relatives at family parties and gatherings, but mostly enjoyed spending time with our siblings. With similar family values, we both knew we wanted to start a family as a young couple, and we were in a position to do so.
After trying to get pregnant for over a year, we finally acknowledged something was wrong. Both of us sought medical advice to determine the source of our infertility. Unfortunately, Nate was diagnosed with non-obstructive azoospermia; he could not get me pregnant. The news was devastating. For those who do not know, non-obstructive azoospermia means there is no sperm in the ejaculate due to failure of spermatogenesis. It is the most severe form of male infertility and occurs in less than 1% of the male population, and within 10-15% of men who struggle with infertility. Not only did Nate have a fertility issue, but I was also diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). One of the main symptoms of PCOS is struggling to get pregnant.
Our journey abruptly halted; we struggled with the reality and magnitude of the diagnosis. Our dream of having our own family suddenly became out of reach. After researching alternatives, long discussions, and being open of our opinions, we made the decision to find a sperm donor and pursue fertility treatments. We consulted a fertility clinic, and again, had hopes of a family.
We had our first IUI (intrauterine insemination) in the beginning of November 2019, and the treatment did not take. Although the news was not what we wanted, we kept our heads high; we felt like we were making progress and we decided that we could financially afford to make another attempt. We went on to have our 2nd IUI at the end of November 2019. After 2 weeks, we found out the treatment was successful, and I was pregnant. However, it just did not feel right. I chalk it up to motherly intuition because I cannot explain why it seemed off, it just did. We made frequent visits to our local hospital for blood tests and phone call after phone call to the fertility clinic which always seemed to result in the “everything is normal” response- but we suspected otherwise. On New Year’s Eve, we went to the ER. We got the heartbreaking news that I was having an ectopic pregnancy and already begun internally bleeding. Ectopic pregnancies occur when a fertilized egg implants and grows outside of the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube. The fertilized egg cannot survive outside the uterus and can cause life-threatening bleeding if left untreated. That night I had to have emergency surgery to have my right fallopian tube removed. Once again, we were left heartbroken.
After the surgery, we revisited with our OBGYN doctor, we decided that moving onto IVF (In vitro fertilization) with use of donor sperm was our best, and safest option to become pregnant. IVF is a very overwhelming and expensive process. After two IUI attempts and an emergency surgery, we were drained; drained emotionally and financially.
Since January, we have been patiently waiting and saving for IVF, but for us, it cannot come soon enough. We have decided that we can no longer do this alone. Nate and I would be extremely blessed and thankful for any donation to help us start our family and make our dreams of starting a family, a reality. If you are unable to donate at this time, we completely understand. Please share our story and send prayers and positive thoughts. WE ARE 1 in 8, and fertility issues should be openly discussed and acknowledged. Thank you so much for reading our crazy journey. The best is yet to come.
- Julia and Nate
Romans 8:18- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Organizer
Julia Goodsell
Organizer
Owego, NY