After nearly 5 years of trying to grow our family, we have been met with unexpected obstacles and heartache. After years of trying to conceive, we began fertility treatment in May 2018. In the process of testing to determine why we had not been successful, we were soon interrupted by abnormal test results. In February of 2019 I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. I immediately began treatment to fight the cancer and after 6 months, the cancer was gone. This victory was short lived, however. Only 3 months later, in November 2019, the cancer was back. Cancer treatment resumed, along with waiting and hoping to someday be able to grow our family.
We did almost a year of more aggressive treatment, but October 2020 brought devastating news. The treatment did not work. The cancer was still growing. My doctor made it clear that, for the sake of my health and life, treatment aimed at preserving my uterus was no longer an option. I needed an emergency hysterectomy.
In October 2020, friends and family rallied together in amazing ways to raise funds to pay for an emergency egg retrieval. Everything was completely paid for in just 6 days. The egg retrieval and fertilization was more successful than we could have ever dreamed. We have 12 beautiful embryos, frozen and waiting for our next step.
In November 2020, I had my hysterectomy. They did find stage 1 grade 1 cancer, but it was confined to the uterus. Meaning no further treatment was required! No chemo, no radiation! Just follow-up appointments with my amazing oncologist every six months for the next 5 years.
We are so excited to announce what we feel is God’s beautiful plan to grow our family. When I was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2019, I called my best friend Rachael to share the news. The first thing she said was “I’m so sorry.” She then said that if we ever needed a surrogate, she would be honored. We thanked her but seemingly dismissed the offer, hoping and praying that we would never need that beautiful gift. Here we are after three years and her offer is still on the table. More than that, Rachael and her husband Cesar feel absolutely honored and excited to give us this gift of parenthood.
Many surrogates make thousands and thousands of dollars through this journey, and the end result often costs intended parents $100,000-$150,000. Rachael has graciously and selflessly offered to carry our baby altruistically. This means that she will not be paid through an agency. While Rachael will not be compensated for her service, it is our goal to bless the Solis family through this journey as much as we can.
We have detailed our estimated costs below. You would think that a friend carrying a baby would be reasonably priced but in California, the legal fees and insurance is astronomical.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
Lawyer Fees $15,000
Health Insurance $10,000
Psych Evaluation $2,000
Transfer Fee $1,900
Transfer Meds $1,200
Travel/Lodging $2,800
Misc $2,600 (prenatal, clothes, childcare)
Monthly Stipend $4,500 ($500/month for Solis family: groceries, car payment, other necessities)
Total: $40,000
To help raise these funds, we will be hosting several fundraisers over the next 6 months. Here’s our plan for fundraisers in the near future:
GoFundMe Donations
Elderberry Syrup
T-shirts
Yard Sale
Puzzle Pieces
Essential Oil Kits
Wooden signs/key racks/door hangers
Tamales
As we have walked the deep valleys of this journey, we have been refined in painfully beautiful ways. Yet through it all, we have unwavering faith that God is good and we can trust him, even in this great sorrow and unexpected path to parenthood.
Words could never express how thankful we are to those of you who have followed our journey, prayed for us, donated and offered much needed encouragement and support. We are in awe of our beautiful community, never letting us feel alone in the fight against cancer and infertility. And we know we will not be alone in this uphill battle toward becoming parents.
While there are many things that can go wrong in the coming months, we are hoping with everything we have that 2021 brings us Baby Jaquez.
With so much love and gratitude,
Sam and Jesse Jaquez
We did almost a year of more aggressive treatment, but October 2020 brought devastating news. The treatment did not work. The cancer was still growing. My doctor made it clear that, for the sake of my health and life, treatment aimed at preserving my uterus was no longer an option. I needed an emergency hysterectomy.
In October 2020, friends and family rallied together in amazing ways to raise funds to pay for an emergency egg retrieval. Everything was completely paid for in just 6 days. The egg retrieval and fertilization was more successful than we could have ever dreamed. We have 12 beautiful embryos, frozen and waiting for our next step.
In November 2020, I had my hysterectomy. They did find stage 1 grade 1 cancer, but it was confined to the uterus. Meaning no further treatment was required! No chemo, no radiation! Just follow-up appointments with my amazing oncologist every six months for the next 5 years.
We are so excited to announce what we feel is God’s beautiful plan to grow our family. When I was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2019, I called my best friend Rachael to share the news. The first thing she said was “I’m so sorry.” She then said that if we ever needed a surrogate, she would be honored. We thanked her but seemingly dismissed the offer, hoping and praying that we would never need that beautiful gift. Here we are after three years and her offer is still on the table. More than that, Rachael and her husband Cesar feel absolutely honored and excited to give us this gift of parenthood.
Many surrogates make thousands and thousands of dollars through this journey, and the end result often costs intended parents $100,000-$150,000. Rachael has graciously and selflessly offered to carry our baby altruistically. This means that she will not be paid through an agency. While Rachael will not be compensated for her service, it is our goal to bless the Solis family through this journey as much as we can.
We have detailed our estimated costs below. You would think that a friend carrying a baby would be reasonably priced but in California, the legal fees and insurance is astronomical.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
Lawyer Fees $15,000
Health Insurance $10,000
Psych Evaluation $2,000
Transfer Fee $1,900
Transfer Meds $1,200
Travel/Lodging $2,800
Misc $2,600 (prenatal, clothes, childcare)
Monthly Stipend $4,500 ($500/month for Solis family: groceries, car payment, other necessities)
Total: $40,000
To help raise these funds, we will be hosting several fundraisers over the next 6 months. Here’s our plan for fundraisers in the near future:
GoFundMe Donations
Elderberry Syrup
T-shirts
Yard Sale
Puzzle Pieces
Essential Oil Kits
Wooden signs/key racks/door hangers
Tamales
As we have walked the deep valleys of this journey, we have been refined in painfully beautiful ways. Yet through it all, we have unwavering faith that God is good and we can trust him, even in this great sorrow and unexpected path to parenthood.
Words could never express how thankful we are to those of you who have followed our journey, prayed for us, donated and offered much needed encouragement and support. We are in awe of our beautiful community, never letting us feel alone in the fight against cancer and infertility. And we know we will not be alone in this uphill battle toward becoming parents.
While there are many things that can go wrong in the coming months, we are hoping with everything we have that 2021 brings us Baby Jaquez.
With so much love and gratitude,
Sam and Jesse Jaquez