Help Tasha and Philip cover the cost of IVF

My name is Laurie Holscher and I am raising funds to assist my daughter, Tasha Cummings, and her partner, Philip Durant, to afford In vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF is a fertility treatment used for couple who have difficulty becoming pregnant due to issues of infertility. IVF is extraordinarily expensive and out of the reach of working class families like Tasha and Philip.

This is their story. It is a story of heartbreak and trauma, but also of hope.

Tasha and Philip longed to start a family and were thrilled when they quickly got pregnant with their baby girl in the Spring of 2019.  Tasha loved being pregnant and their joy was shared by many family and friends at their baby shower in early December 2019.  Three weeks later, one month shy of their due date, an ultrasound showed a beautiful, healthy, thriving baby girl. Sometime that night, however, the baby's movement caused a cord compression, critically reducing her oxygen supply.  By morning she was gone.

Two days later, on December 22, 2019, Tasha and Philip's daughter Sila Alexandra Durant was delivered stillborn and baptized in her father's arms. Their grief was almost unbearable. With the love and support of their families and friends they have been working through their grief and healing one day at a time. They light a candle for Sila every night and she is loved and remembered by our families every day.

Tasha and Philip had been together 10 years before deciding to start their family. It was a difficult emotional recovery after the loss of Sila.  Eventually they felt ready to try and get pregnant again with the blessing of their doctor. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as before and months went by with no pregnancy. After many appointments and consults with fertility specialists, it was determined that their only chance at achieving a successful pregnancy would be via IVF. 

Tasha is a strong, caring, funny and hardworking woman. She is a talented barista and has worked for Peet's Coffee for over 10 years in various roles. She loves working in the coffee industry-especially because of the opportunities to connect with people on a daily basis. Philip is a gifted Teaching Assistant in Special Education and has worked for Seattle Public Schools for over 15 years. He is a loyal, gentle and loving man who loves Tasha with all his heart and will be an amazing father. Having a child has been a lifelong dream for both Tasha and Philip.

As dedicated and hardworking as Tasha and Philip are, they don't have the income necessary to pay for IVF and it is not covered by insurance. Our hope in setting up this fundraiser is to share their story and help raise the money they will need to make their dream of having a child a reality. We would be grateful and honored by any donation, large or small, you could make to help Tasha and Philip realize this dream.