IVF treatment
Donation protected
Devin and I have been married for four years and are ready to welcome a child into our lives. A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), a potentially crippling disease that is taking a toll on my body and requires serious medical attention. When I consulted with my doctor about having children I was advised to get pregnant as soon as possible because the drug regimen that my RA requires is dangerous for the reproductive system and lethal to any developing fetus. The progression of my RA requires this treatment soon as possible to prevent permanent crippling. So, I am running out of time!
I am a high school science teacher and cheerleading coach. Devin is an hourly-paid laborer in construction. We, like many others, live month to month with a large portion of our bills going towards medical expenses incurred from my RA treatment.
Our desire to begin our family has led us on the journey of becoming pregnant. However, we faced disappointments immediately. Our first pregnancy resulted in an early miscarriage. Following this loss we struggled to conceive again. Given the urgency of the situation with my RA, we sought the help of a specialist. The expensive testing prescribed by the specialist revealed that one of my Fallopian tubes is blocked and that I am not ovulating every month. Thus, we subscribed to several months of infertility treatments that including drugs to stimulate ovulation and the procedure of artificial insemination. Just before Christmas I sensed my body needed a rest from fertility treatment and, amazingly, I discovered that I was pregnant again!
However, at the ultrasound we discovered there was no fetus in my uterus, but rather a mass growing in my Fallopian tube, already a few centimeters in diameter. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and approximately 2% of women experience such a pregnancy. I was given a drug which was similar to chemotherapy, to force a miscarriage. This drug is very successful in terminating most pregnancies, however, 2 weeks later, I ended up in the emergency room with severe pain and bleeding. Another ultrasound revealed that the mass was still growing in the Fallopian tube causing it to burst. Emergency surgery was performed to remove my only functioning Fallopian tube.
Now my only option for becoming pregnant is to pursue the path of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We have searched out and considered many options but our hearts keep pushing us in this direction. IVF typically costs between $15,000-$20,000. Given our modest professional incomes and my RA expenses we are not in a position to afford IVF.
Thus, we are asking for help from anyone who might be able to contribute a small amount of funding to help us reach for our dream.
I am a high school science teacher and cheerleading coach. Devin is an hourly-paid laborer in construction. We, like many others, live month to month with a large portion of our bills going towards medical expenses incurred from my RA treatment.
Our desire to begin our family has led us on the journey of becoming pregnant. However, we faced disappointments immediately. Our first pregnancy resulted in an early miscarriage. Following this loss we struggled to conceive again. Given the urgency of the situation with my RA, we sought the help of a specialist. The expensive testing prescribed by the specialist revealed that one of my Fallopian tubes is blocked and that I am not ovulating every month. Thus, we subscribed to several months of infertility treatments that including drugs to stimulate ovulation and the procedure of artificial insemination. Just before Christmas I sensed my body needed a rest from fertility treatment and, amazingly, I discovered that I was pregnant again!
However, at the ultrasound we discovered there was no fetus in my uterus, but rather a mass growing in my Fallopian tube, already a few centimeters in diameter. This is called an ectopic pregnancy and approximately 2% of women experience such a pregnancy. I was given a drug which was similar to chemotherapy, to force a miscarriage. This drug is very successful in terminating most pregnancies, however, 2 weeks later, I ended up in the emergency room with severe pain and bleeding. Another ultrasound revealed that the mass was still growing in the Fallopian tube causing it to burst. Emergency surgery was performed to remove my only functioning Fallopian tube.
Now my only option for becoming pregnant is to pursue the path of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). We have searched out and considered many options but our hearts keep pushing us in this direction. IVF typically costs between $15,000-$20,000. Given our modest professional incomes and my RA expenses we are not in a position to afford IVF.
Thus, we are asking for help from anyone who might be able to contribute a small amount of funding to help us reach for our dream.
Organizer
Stephanie Beauregard
Organizer
Las Cruces, NM
