This family don’t ask for help, but they sure do deserve it, their story goes heartbreakingly deeper that what’s wrote here, they have suffered so much pain over the last few years yet the strength they continue to show is admirable so I’m setting this page up on their behalf in the hopes to take the pressure of them and see them grow as a family. I asked Gemma to write me a short story of their journey which you can read below.

To all our Family and Friends

For those willing to open this and read our story, Thank you.

It is with both vulnerability and hope that we share a significant chapter of our lives with you. For the past 13 years I have suffered with infertility issues after going through 2 ectopic pregnancies 9 months apart from each other and losing both fallopian tubes we was both devastated especially me being 24 years old and being told I will not conceive a child naturally and our only way is now IVF. Once I was healed and ready to go we started our first round of IVF funded by the NHS in Feb 2015, I become very ill due to OHSS (Over Hyperstimulaton Syndrome) and I was told I was pregnant in hospital our first round of IVF had worked, we was so happy!! We gained our daughter Raigan-Faith later that year who is now almost 10 years old and also desperate for a sibling!

Fast forward a few years we still had 4 embryos frozen after borrowing funds from anywhere we could we desprate to try extend our Family Further, in this process we lost 2 embryos and it was a failed round. Fast forward a few more years to August this year we decided to use one more embryo this also ended in a Failed round. We decided to go again after our friend kindly helped to pay, this was our last and final embryo, doing a back to back transfer I really thought this could of been it to then get the dreaded call 1 hour before our transfer to tell us that the embryo didn't make out of thawing we was more devastated than before as this was our last shot at actually becoming parents again.

With that being said our next steps are starting all over again with a fresh new round with fresh embryos, so today we are asking for your help and support.

For those of you that are familiar with Fertility issues, you’ll understand the heartbreak of everything as well as the financial challenges of it all. Up to this point we have paid for everything out of pocket and although we have been saving we have learnt just how much this process will cost this time round, with full transparency we are looking at about £7,000. Which includes Ultrasounds, Blood work, Sperm analysis, Egg collection, Embryo transfer, Lab fees, admin fee etc the list is ongoing. we have managed to save around 3,000 so far. We are finding it hard to save funds in this cost of living crisis, just like everyone else! So we understand if you aren’t able to donate and if you can donate then we thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

At times our pride has made us feel as though we need to do this all on our own and it has stopped us from asking for help. Over the years people have asked us how they can help but most of the time we just ask them to pray. Honestly we were too ashamed to ask for help financially, until somone told us that we need to realize that people would love to help us. And be a part of our journey.

My mum once said it takes a village to raise a child and we know we have the best village around us. That's why with humble hearts we are reaching out to ask for your help. There is not an easy way to say it but we would not be able to do this next journey alone.

How can you help?

Be a piece of our story! We will purchase a 1,000 piece puzzle. Once you have donate we will write your name or your family's name on the back of the puzzle piece. We will be 'selling' each piece for what ever amount you wish to donate you can buy 1, 2 or even 10 pieces if you wish , and the completed puzzle will be hung in the nursery in a double size frame displaying the names if who generously contributed. This will be an amazing keepsake for us to cherish forever and be reminded of the amazing village that is behind us.

Our friend has set this GoFundMe account for us as we couldn't bring ourself to do so as time isn't on our side due to my endometriosis. Whether it's money, a prayer, or positive vibes sent our way we are so grateful for your support and just to know baby Simmonds will be so loved and know the village it took to make it all possible.

From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you!

Gemma, Dan and Raigan-Faith x