IVF blessings for Baby Donovan

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, for us it seems it may take a village to have one.

Today I’m going to lay down my pride and ask for help.

1 in 8 couples experience infertility.  1 in 4 couples experience miscarriage. 5% of women will experience two or more consecutive losses & 1% of women will experience 3 or more consecutive losses.

I am 1 in 8. I am 1 in 4.
I am ONE PERCENT. 

Many of you are aware of the infertility journey  and recurrent miscarriage roller coaster that Dan and I have found ourselves on since March of 2017. I’ve shared our journey; the highs and the lows. The hope and the heartache.

After 5 intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures,  3 In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) procedures, 4 pregnancies and 4 losses- we are left with frozen embryos, but have, unfortunately, exhausted help from my insurance company.

Moving forward requires entering into the Shared Risk Program at Shady Grove. Luckily we have our embryos, so the cost is “only” $11,500 (medication and monitoring appointments not included) all of which needs to be paid upfront.

I’ve struggled for months with the decision to create a GoFundMe page and ask for donations. I’m embarrassed to need this help. I’m angry that getting pregnant will take much more than a good meal, a cheap bottle of wine and a fun night. I’m terrified of being judged. I’m terrified that someone will think or say “if you can’t afford to make a child maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.”  Nobody judges expectant parents for having baby showers to fund and furnish their nursery to help get them prepared for what’s ahead.  Well, we have the high chair and glider. We have a pack n play and a swing. We have a bouncy seat, exersaucer and boppy pillow. What we don’t have is the baby. 

To date, we have spent over $20k on testing, medication, monitoring, surgeries, procedures, embryo freezing, embryo thawing, semen testing/freezing/thawing...I could go on. And that’s WITH help from a private insurance policy that I pay $600/month for. This process has been financially, physically, emotionally and mentally taxing in ways that I could never explain.

The Shared Risk Program comes with no guarantee of a child. In the event that none of our embryos become a baby in our arms, we would be refunded the $11,500. At that point, we would use any money we were financially blessed with to move forward to help offset financial costs of either surrogacy or adoption.

I’ve started this fundraiser with the hope of easing some of the financial burden of what has already been a long and trying experience.  We are aiming to be able to jump back into treatment late July/early August.  Anything you are able to give, no matter how big or small, is so very appreciated.

If you’re unable to financially bless us at this time, there are other ways you can help support us! You can continue lifting us up in prayers and you could share this fundraiser page!

Whichever way you are able to support us in this season, we thank you!! We thank you for being part of our village.  

We are so grateful for the love and support we’ve been blessed with throughout this long season of waiting and heartache.