Some love stories start later in life. Theirs started in middle school.

Maria and Joe both grew up in Waterford, Michigan, and have been together since they were kids. What started as a middle school relationship grew into a lifelong partnership, a marriage, and now a life together in Grand Blanc. Through every chapter, they’ve had each other—and for more than a year, they’ve been hoping to begin their next chapter: becoming parents.

Unfortunately, that journey has been much more difficult than they ever imagined.

Over the past 2 years, they’ve done everything they could to grow their family. They’ve changed diets and lifestyles, gone through countless appointments, met with doctors and specialists, and experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage—a loss they courageously chose to share with the world.

Through all of it, they’ve continued moving forward and holding onto hope.

Their journey has now brought them to IVF, which offers them another chance at starting the family they’ve dreamed about for so long. But IVF also comes with an overwhelming financial burden, with treatments, medications, procedures, and appointments quickly adding up to tens of thousands of dollars.

That’s why we’re asking their friends, family, and community to rally around two people we love.

Our hope with this GoFundMe is simple: to take some of the financial weight off their shoulders so they can focus on what matters most—the opportunity to become parents.

Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help them take another step toward that dream. And if you aren’t able to donate, sharing their story and keeping them in your thoughts means just as much.

They’ve spent most of their lives growing up together. Now, we’d love nothing more than to help them grow their family together.

Thank you for supporting the Brown's and being part of their journey. ❤️