Fertility Treatments for Samantha
Donation protected
Samantha was diagnosed with Endometriosis in the summer of 2015. By February 2016, she had had two surgeries for the endo and had also been further diagnosed with pelvic floor disorder, interstitial cystitis and ovarian cysts. During her recovery from her second surgery,
Samantha met Tyler on Match.com. Samantha first came across his profile and “bypassed” it; a few minutes later, Tyler messaged Samantha. He had no recollection that he had actually met
Samantha before…about 20 years prior. Samantha was quick to remind Tyler that they had gone to daycare together when they were in elementary school and Samantha and Tyler’s brothers had played on the same soccer team. What a small world it seemed to be.
Samantha and Tyler went on their first date in mid-February 2016; and the rest is history. They signed a lease for a townhome only four short weeks after they started dating; they were inseparable and were ready to start their life together. Three months into dating, they found out they were expecting their first child. Samantha had beaten the odds; doctors had told her that she may never be able to carry a child. Tyler,
Samantha and their families and friends were ecstatic, to say the least.
Samantha had an extremely difficult pregnancy with many complications that resulted in her having to have weekly ultrasounds. At 33 weeks pregnant, Samantha was having her routine ultrasound when she looked over at the ultrasound tech and her heart dropped; she could tell from the tech’s face that something was wrong. Her doctor came into the room to tell Samantha that baby’s kidneys and ureters were enlarged and she would have to go see Maternal Fetal
Medicine to follow up; but he told her not to worry as this is common and it often corrects itselfbefore birth or shortly thereafter.
Bryson Dellas Disrud was born on February 2 nd , 2017 at 2:52am. Bryson appeared to be healthy and a “normal” little baby. Bryson was a difficult newborn, didn’t sleep but an hour or so at a time and had some vomiting spells in the first few weeks of life. Samantha knew something
wasn’t right and was anxious to have the first appointment with the pediatric urologist when Bryson was 5 weeks old. Samantha went to Bryson’s appointment at the U of M with her mom that day. He had an ultrasound and then had another test to look at this kidney’s and urine
output. Samantha was holding her 5 week old little boy when the doctor came in and told her that her little boy was going to need surgery, and he was going to need surgery pretty quickly. The next day, Bryson had his first surgery for Posterior Urethral Valves. There were lots of unknowns at this time and not a lot of answers. However, Bryson’s surgery was successful and his kidney function was stable. Samantha and Tyler were able to take Bryson home after 5 days
in the hospital.When Bryson was 6 months old, he underwent his 2nd surgery. This surgery was also successful and Bryson is now a healthy and happy 20 month old little boy. There will be obstacles to
overcome as he grows, but for now, Samantha and Tyler have been told that he can live as a“normal kid.”
Six months after giving birth to Bryson, Samantha’s endo pain returned; she underwent her third surgery in October 2017. Six weeks later, Samantha was told that she had a 9 cm cyst on her right ovary; she underwent her fourth surgery in December and lost her right ovary and fallopian tube. Immediately following this surgery, Samantha and Tyler began trying for another baby. In June 2018, Samantha was told that there was a cyst on her left ovary and that the cyst itself had to be removed. She underwent her fifth surgery in late June 2018; luckily, they were able to save the ovary and her doctor told her that it looked healthy. Samantha and Tyler continued to try for another baby; her doctor told her that if she wanted to have more children, she needed to do it NOW.
In August 2018, only 6 short weeks following surgery, another large cyst was found on Samantha’s only remaining ovary. She elected not to have another surgery – being out of work for 2 weeks, finding childcare for her son while she recovered, the medical bills – it was just too much to go through again. Samantha’s doctor told her in September that they couldn’t waste any more time; she would likely lose the only ovary she had within the next year. He explained that it was time to refer to fertility specialists as they were running out of time to get pregnant on
their own. These words were not ones that anyone wants to hear.
Samantha and Tyler are beginning their journey with fertility treatments. And like many others, their insurance covers NOTHING.
They want nothing more than to have another child and for Bryson to have a little brother or sister. But the costs of the treatments are preventing them from living out their dreams.
Asking for help from others is never easy, especially when it comes to money. The medical bills they have already endured over the past year are overwhelming as it is and time is running out.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Any extra money raised will be donated to men and women struggling with fertility.
Samantha met Tyler on Match.com. Samantha first came across his profile and “bypassed” it; a few minutes later, Tyler messaged Samantha. He had no recollection that he had actually met
Samantha before…about 20 years prior. Samantha was quick to remind Tyler that they had gone to daycare together when they were in elementary school and Samantha and Tyler’s brothers had played on the same soccer team. What a small world it seemed to be.
Samantha and Tyler went on their first date in mid-February 2016; and the rest is history. They signed a lease for a townhome only four short weeks after they started dating; they were inseparable and were ready to start their life together. Three months into dating, they found out they were expecting their first child. Samantha had beaten the odds; doctors had told her that she may never be able to carry a child. Tyler,
Samantha and their families and friends were ecstatic, to say the least.
Samantha had an extremely difficult pregnancy with many complications that resulted in her having to have weekly ultrasounds. At 33 weeks pregnant, Samantha was having her routine ultrasound when she looked over at the ultrasound tech and her heart dropped; she could tell from the tech’s face that something was wrong. Her doctor came into the room to tell Samantha that baby’s kidneys and ureters were enlarged and she would have to go see Maternal Fetal
Medicine to follow up; but he told her not to worry as this is common and it often corrects itselfbefore birth or shortly thereafter.
Bryson Dellas Disrud was born on February 2 nd , 2017 at 2:52am. Bryson appeared to be healthy and a “normal” little baby. Bryson was a difficult newborn, didn’t sleep but an hour or so at a time and had some vomiting spells in the first few weeks of life. Samantha knew something
wasn’t right and was anxious to have the first appointment with the pediatric urologist when Bryson was 5 weeks old. Samantha went to Bryson’s appointment at the U of M with her mom that day. He had an ultrasound and then had another test to look at this kidney’s and urine
output. Samantha was holding her 5 week old little boy when the doctor came in and told her that her little boy was going to need surgery, and he was going to need surgery pretty quickly. The next day, Bryson had his first surgery for Posterior Urethral Valves. There were lots of unknowns at this time and not a lot of answers. However, Bryson’s surgery was successful and his kidney function was stable. Samantha and Tyler were able to take Bryson home after 5 days
in the hospital.When Bryson was 6 months old, he underwent his 2nd surgery. This surgery was also successful and Bryson is now a healthy and happy 20 month old little boy. There will be obstacles to
overcome as he grows, but for now, Samantha and Tyler have been told that he can live as a“normal kid.”
Six months after giving birth to Bryson, Samantha’s endo pain returned; she underwent her third surgery in October 2017. Six weeks later, Samantha was told that she had a 9 cm cyst on her right ovary; she underwent her fourth surgery in December and lost her right ovary and fallopian tube. Immediately following this surgery, Samantha and Tyler began trying for another baby. In June 2018, Samantha was told that there was a cyst on her left ovary and that the cyst itself had to be removed. She underwent her fifth surgery in late June 2018; luckily, they were able to save the ovary and her doctor told her that it looked healthy. Samantha and Tyler continued to try for another baby; her doctor told her that if she wanted to have more children, she needed to do it NOW.
In August 2018, only 6 short weeks following surgery, another large cyst was found on Samantha’s only remaining ovary. She elected not to have another surgery – being out of work for 2 weeks, finding childcare for her son while she recovered, the medical bills – it was just too much to go through again. Samantha’s doctor told her in September that they couldn’t waste any more time; she would likely lose the only ovary she had within the next year. He explained that it was time to refer to fertility specialists as they were running out of time to get pregnant on
their own. These words were not ones that anyone wants to hear.
Samantha and Tyler are beginning their journey with fertility treatments. And like many others, their insurance covers NOTHING.
They want nothing more than to have another child and for Bryson to have a little brother or sister. But the costs of the treatments are preventing them from living out their dreams.
Asking for help from others is never easy, especially when it comes to money. The medical bills they have already endured over the past year are overwhelming as it is and time is running out.
All donations are greatly appreciated. Any extra money raised will be donated to men and women struggling with fertility.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jennifer M. Metzger
Organizer
St. Paul, MN
Samantha Volkman
Beneficiary