Help Us Grow Our Family: Our Fertility Journey

In 2018, we began our infertility journey, filled with hope and determination. Like many, we spent over a year trying naturally before seeking help. When we arrived at our fertility clinic, we were overwhelmed with options—IUIs, IVF, endless tests, and daunting costs. After a failed IUI, we were overjoyed to finally see a positive pregnancy test—we were expecting twin boys!

However, in September 2020, our world was shattered. We learned that our Baby B, Holden, no longer had a heartbeat. Leah was flown to Sioux Falls for an emergency C-section to save our son Asher. We later learned that a blood incompatibility had caused Holden’s passing. To make things even harder, we were told that trying to conceive naturally again would be high-risk for both Leah and any future babies.

Determined to grow our family, we pursued another IUI using donor sperm, which sadly ended in a miscarriage in April 2022—we named that baby Jo.

By July 2022, we turned to IVF using a different donor as our last resort. We were blessed with five embryos and chose to do a fresh transfer with one, freezing the remaining four. Our rainbow baby, August, was born in April 2023.

In February 2025, we began the process of transferring one of our frozen embryos. Our transfer day was February 26th, and ten days later, we were thrilled to see positive pregnancy tests. But soon, our excitement turned to heartbreak—Leah’s HCG levels weren’t rising properly. After a week of monitoring, they started to drop. Our doctor confirmed what we feared—a miscarriage. Further testing revealed concerns about Leah’s uterine lining and a possible inflammatory reaction to the medications used for the transfer.

Now, we are facing another uphill battle. We need further testing and another embryo transfer to continue growing our family, but the financial burden is overwhelming. Our insurance does not cover any fertility treatments, meaning every test and procedure must be paid out of pocket—with testing being $4,552 and an embryo transfer $7,128.

We are asking for support from our friends, family, and community as we navigate this difficult journey. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps us take the next step toward bringing another beautiful child into our family.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for your kindness, and for your support—whether through donations, prayers, or simply sharing our journey. We appreciate you more than words can express.

With love and gratitude,

Jon, Leah, Asher, August & our babies not here with us