Hello! If you're reading this, thank you so much for caring. This is so hard to write about.

Brian and I have been together for 9 years and married for 3 and a half. We've always dreamed of having a family with two children. So we've been trying for a few years now with no luck.

This year, we started going to a fertility clinic where we were told that we had no chance of conceiving naturally without the help of IVF. This is something we definitely cannot afford, but our dream is so important to us, it was a no-brainer; we have to do it at any cost.

We took out a $34k loan which, after a $10k down payment, covered the first cycle and half of the second. Unfortunately, the first cycle failed. Even though we're heartbroken about that, we're not giving up. We're going for round two, which means an additional $15k.

Our goal is to have 4 embryos available (they recommend 2 for every one child you want to have). So hopefully we will achieve that goal in this next cycle under new medications and a new protocol. Statistically, each cycle yields better results, so that's what we're obviously hoping for. If this cycle doesn't do it, we'll have to take out yet another loan and another until we finally have the embryos we need. In case you're wondering, no our insurance doesn't cover one bit of this.

If you or anyone you know has gone through IVF, then you know that this is a very emotionally taxing experience. The money on top of it just makes it that much more overwhelming. At this point, we genuinely have no idea where all this money will come from and have lost sleep thinking about it. All the money we make working multiple jobs is going straight towards the IVF instead of being saved for our potential family. So please, if you have the means to do so, a donation of any amount will be so beyond appreciated. If you can't, then please share this with someone who you think would sympathize with our struggles. I know that so many people go through this. Thank you so much for even taking the time to read this, whoever you are.

Wish us luck!

Update (6/19/25): I'm writing this post surgery, still groggy. Last time, only 5 eggs were retrieved and none made it. This time 9 were retrieved. Fingers crossed these eggs are better quality!!!

Update (6/26/25): Of the 9 eggs, 5 made it to the blastocyst stage and will be frozen and tested for genetic abnormalities. We're hoping for 4 healthy embryos (they recommend 2 for each child you want), so we may have a chance! Either way, things are looking so much better! Keep your fingers crossed for us! And thank you again to everyone who has donated or offered support in any way.

Update (7/8/25) OMG! I can't stop jumping and screaming! I'm so happy! All 5 embryos are genetically normal and excellent quality! We will not need another egg retrieval! The next step will be transferring an embryo. We already know the genders of all 5 embryos; 3 female, 2 male! We're already pretty sure we know what gender we want our first child to be but I'm not sure if I want to publicly share that info right now. But today is the happiest we've been in a long time! Thank you so so so much to everyone who has supported us! If you are still able to donate, we would definitely appreciate it as we still haven't reached our goal, but to everyone who already has, we truly cannot thank you enough!!! GUYS, IT'S WORKING!!!

Update (8/16/25) Hi again! I will be doing the first embryo transfer very soon. This does not necessarily mean I'll be pregnant, but hopefully I will be! This will probably be my last update for a while. Hopefully next time you hear from me, I'll be saying I'm pregnant, but I won't be sharing that for at least a few months, because as you probably are aware, most women don't like to discuss their pregnancy in the first trimester. I'd rather not jinx it or get anyone's hopes up. Just know that the process is still ongoing. Thank you so much to everyone who has been supportive, both financially and emotionally. We cannot tell you how much it means to us. This has been so difficult and SO stressful and yet so exciting! Keep us in your thoughts! We will still happily accept donations because we have not reached our goal, but no pressure! We love you just for reading this. Thank you!!!

Update (11/14/25) Hello! In case you haven't seen it on Facebook or Instagram, I'm pregnant! I'm almost 14 weeks along. It's a girl, and her name will be Nadia Rose Marie (after my grandmas). I can't thank you guys enough for helping me out and caring! I don't expect any more donations but I definitely wouldn't say no to them either. We still have a long way to go before our IVF loan is payed off. And on top of that, my insurance (Aetna CVS) is completely useless. I didn't know I'd be doing IVF when I signed up for it and it doesn't cover anything. I'm spending $400 every couple weeks on doctors appointments and then a few hundred to a few thousand for every blood test I have to take (today I took 5 tubes of blood, so I'm bracing myself). The savings account I made for all medical expenses is draining, and we're gonna need to spend more money soon to fix up our place for when Nadia is born. So if you still want to donate, I'd appreciate it, but I understand if you can't or don't want to. I love you guys for helping out in the first place. It REALLY helped and it means the world to us. I can't believe I'm actually pregnant. It WORKED!!!