Inching Toward a Baby Worm

Hi! We are the Worms. My husband John and I met in 2019, got married in 2024, and have wanted to start our family immediately.

When John was asked what he wanted to be growing up, he always said, "I want to be a daddy." I told my parents the same thing—I only wanted to be a mommy.

Unfortunately, when John was a teen he had AML Leukemia. Doctors were able to treat the cancer, but ultimately, he became infertile due to the cancer and treatment.

John and I desperately want to be parents. We have started working with a local fertility specialist, IVF of Michigan and Ohio. After looking at different options and reviewing our insurance plans, we will be beginning IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) with a sperm donor. Like most insurance plans, ours does not cover anything related to fertility. This means every medication, ultrasound, or insemination attempt will come out of pocket. Each round of IUI costs roughly $3,000- $5,000 for medications, procedures, and donor sperm. It is common to need multiple rounds of IUI for success - our doctor has suggested we try 3-6 rounds of IUI, and IVF is the next step if it doesn’t work. Right now, just starting one cycle is a stretch. We’re fundraising to cover our first few rounds of treatment—and to give this dream a real chance.

Unfortunately, the financial burden is enormous, and we are running into a bit of a snafu financially, affording donor sperm and completing a round of IUI. Donor sperm is priced pretty expensively each session we do IUI, including shipping and unfreezing sperm.

For those who don't know, donor sperm is NOT covered by insurance, even those that cover fertility treatment. Each vial of donor sperm provides only one chance at impregnation, and each vial of sperm can cost from $650 to $1500. This cost is just the beginning as it does not include the time we have to take off work, the co-pays for multiple doctor visits per week, the cost of medications and trigger shots, and the genuine stress of having to do so much more work for one single chance that so many people take for granted.

We would love any help starting a family. I firmly believe we deserve this chance, but unfortunately, the odds are stacked against us. We’re not just hoping to be parents—we know we’re meant to be. We’ve dreamed of this for so long, and we’re doing everything we can to make it happen. We are so grateful for the incredible support we have received from our friends and family through this difficult process. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for us it takes a village just to be blessed with one.

If you feel called to support us, we would be endlessly grateful. Every dollar helps us get closer to holding our baby. If you can’t give, please consider sharing our story. Your kindness means the world to us.

Thank you for being a part of our journey.

With love and hope,

Jessi & John