Worth Every Shot - Adele’s IVF Journey!

Hello Friends and Family,

Many of you have reached out about how to support my IVF journey, and I truly appreciate it!

BACKGROUND STORY

Just to give you some background information, I have been working on my fertility journey since February 2020, right before the pandemic hit. I have spent thousands of dollars during this time with the hopes of conceiving and welcoming a new baby into my home. I have faced many challenges along the way. Since 2010, I have suffered from Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), a chronic inflammatory skin condition related to the immune system, causing painful boils and abscesses. This condition is mainly in my groin and armpits, which often caused mobility issues. My last major surgery for HS was in August 2020. It took me a few months to recover from that. I'll always have scar tissue, but I've had no major flares that require surgery since then.

In 2021, I had to complete 6 months of Accutane for chronic hormonal/cystic acne. Due to the severe birth defects of Accutane, I was unable to do fertility treatments during that time. Due to various stages of immobility, I gained a lot of weight and became prediabetic. In 2022, with the assistance of a dietitian and Mounjaro/Wegovy, I was able to lose over 40lbs and reverse the effects of prediabetes within a year. I was unable to do fertility treatments while on that medication as well. In 2023, during my first Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), my doctors discovered that I had over 9 fibroids within my uterus and blocking my fallopian tubes. I had fibroid removal surgery in May 2023 and was cleared to start fertility treatments a few months later. From December 2023 - April 2024, my partner and I tried naturally, along with multiple rounds of medicated intrauterine insemination (IUI), with Clomid and Letrozole. Unfortunately, that relationship ended in May 2024, due to domestic violence. Treatments were successful; however, I experienced chemical pregnancies/miscarriages before and after the physical assault. The last few months have been extremely hard, but I got through it.

MOVING FORWARD

I'm so grateful for my amazing VILLAGE! My friends, family, sorority sisters, neighbors, co-workers, supervisors, other domestic violence survivors, and other women dealing with infertility, have all continued to keep me motivated and prayerful. I'm also very grateful for my personal therapist (Mya) for our weekly sessions and the Guilford County Family Justice Center for providing additional bi-weekly DV counseling for the past 6 months. However, I do not want that experience to overshadow my ultimate goal. I'm only mentioning it now so people can fully understand all I have endured to fulfill my heart's biggest desire. In October 2024, I was officially cleared by my doctors to start in vitro fertilization (IVF) with the assistance of a donor. IVF combines a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg outside the woman’s body in a lab. After this process, one or more fertilized eggs would be placed in the woman’s uterus, ideally resulting in implantation in the lining of the uterus for full-term development.

The fertility clinic I am working with has an above 80% average success rate across age groups up to 45 years old. Due to my medical history, I am an ideal candidate, and I have a very high chance to finally get to bring a baby home! During my recent genetic testing, I also discovered I am "Heterozygous for the 4G/5G deletion-insertion allele of the plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene." I know...you have no clue what I'm saying! Basically, elevated PAI-1 levels are associated with an increased risk for pregnancy complications, such as early miscarriages. The medications utilized before, during, and after IVF will help me retain my pregnancy. I will also be having another fibroid removal surgery during my egg retrieval. Unfortunately, my health insurance does not cover IUI or IVF. I am starting this fundraiser to help offset the pending costs of IVF. The medical procedures required are about $15,000-$20,000, plus another $6,000-$8,000 for medications per cycle. Multiple cycles can quickly become financially overwhelming. My hopes are to have success with my first frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. The majority of my savings have already been used for associated medical expenses. I turned 40 years old in July 2024, and I am not in a position to take on another part-time job for insurance coverage. I would like to start the IVF process as soon as possible, as this may be my last opportunity to have a baby.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story! Please feel free to share with any friends or family members you know who may also be able to support! For those that do not feel comfortable utilizing GoFundMe, I will also be accepting donations via Zelle and ApplePay. Again, I truly appreciate any support offered. =)

-T. Adele Mayfield