<div>Ever since I was little, I dreamed of finding the right person, getting married, and having children. But when I was 19 years old, I received a diagnosis that shattered that dream. 
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<div>Unfortunately, I am one of the 1 in 5,000 baby girls who are born with Müllerian Agenesis. Also known as MRKH, this congenital condition occurs when the uterus either doesn't develop properly or doesn't develop at all. And without a uterus, it's impossible to become pregnant. 
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<div>I cannot convey how much this news devastated me. Millions of women get pregnant every year. But suddenly, I'd been told that I would never, ever be one of them. I left the doctor's office sobbing so hard that it was a miracle that I drove myself home without getting in an accident. When an ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis, destroying the last shred of hope that the doctor had somehow been wrong, I sobbed so hard that I could barely breathe. 
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<div>After researching uterine transplants, IVF and surrogacy, and the pros and cons of adoption, I set my research aside and tried to get on with life. Over time, the pain slowly numbed. When my fiancé Alex and I fell in love, the pain came back, little bolts of lightning that struck without warning. A picture of Alex as a baby; an afternoon spent with a friend and her child; an idle, casual question from a student who was surprised I didn't have kids yet and told me that he thought I'd be a good mom. I hope that student is right. 
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<div>Alex and I both want children, but the road ahead is long and difficult. IVF is complicated and expensive, as you can see from this estimate provided by our fertility clinic:
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<div><strong>Phase I: Egg Retrieval</strong>
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<li>Intake appointment: $300
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<li>Fertility specialist treatment and egg retrieval: $7,272
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<li>IVF Prep: $150
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<div><strong>Phase I Total:</strong> $7,722 (Reached!)
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<div><strong>Phase II: Fertility Medications</strong>
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<li>Fertility medications: $5,196
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<div><strong>Phase III: Embryo Preparation</strong>
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<li>Embryo creation: $11,152
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<li>Genetic testing for 5 embryos: $1,425
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<div><strong>Phase III Total: </strong>$12,577
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<div><strong>Phase I + Phase II + Phase III Total: </strong>$25,495
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<div><strong>Phase IV: Surrogacy</strong>
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<li>Surrogate's fee for her time and labor
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<li>Embryo implantation
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<li>Medical care
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<li>Legal fees
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<li>Agency fees
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<div><strong>Phase IV Total: </strong>$60,000 (estimated)
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<div><strong>Total Cost of one cycle of IVF + Surrogacy: $85,495</strong>
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<div>I'm a public school teacher and Alex is a music therapist. As much as we love our chosen professions, they are rightly infamous for not being well paid. On top of that, our health insurance doesn't cover fertility treatments. 
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<div>That's why we're asking for your help. There's nothing that Alex and I want more than to start a family together. Whether your donation is large or small, every dollar brings us closer to that dream, and sharing our GoFundMe with others is another great way to support us toward our goal.
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<div>Thank you so much for listening to our story, and we hope you have a blessed day.
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<div>With love and gratitude from the bottom of our hearts, 
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<div>Elizabeth &amp; Alex
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<div><strong>Update, 6/14/25</strong>
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<div>We're married!
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/89499441_1750355910422016_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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<div>It was a wonderful day filled with wonderful family and friends. We had a blast dancing with each other, and especially with our guests' adorable children.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/89499441_1750355932593106_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
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<div>Thanks to online donors and the generosity of our wedding guests, we've reached our Phase I goal! We're so, so incredibly grateful to everyone who's supported us thus far, we can't thank you enough.
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<div>I'm going into the fertility clinic next week for a preliminary ultrasound and labs. We'd love to do egg retrieval ASAP so the eggs are the best quality possible. We're now on Phase II: Fertility Medications, and we've updated our goal accordingly :)
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Alexis Ingram

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Help Elizabeth & Alex Start Our Family

Help Elizabeth & Alex Start Our Family

Still $4,436 to go. Help us build momentum.