IVF Zacks Family- Hope for baby #2

Alicia Conte Zacks organiseert deze actie.

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We struggled with this idea for a long time, thinking that it would appear selfish and embarrassing to ask for help, but it has become too much for us..

Jason and I married in August 2013 and shortly thereafter wanted to start a family. After about 6 months or so of trying naturally, I went to see my OBGYN. I was told that we should probably look into seeing a fertility specialist and we did just that. In March of 2014, Our IVF journey officially began. Jason went for a semen analysis to start things off and I went for a series of tests as well. It turned out that I have a blocked Fallopian tube mixed with a few other minor complications, which were making it harder to become pregnant naturally. Our IVF doctor suggested that we try Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), which is a fertility treatment that involves placing sperm inside a woman's uterus to facilitate fertilization. After a series of blood work and ultra sounds three times a week for about 2 weeks, with steep co-pays each visit, plus oral medications to prepare my body for each IUI, we ended up with 3 failed IUI's. At this point the doctor recommended trying In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF works by using a combination of medicines and surgical procedures to help sperm fertilize an egg, and physically implant the fertilized egg in a woman’s uterus. After again beginning a series of blood work and ultra sounds three times a week, for about 2-3 weeks with again, steep co-pays each visit, plus oral medications and injections to prepare my body for my egg retrieval! My eggs were retrieved and fertilized that same day. The eggs grew over a 5 day incubation period, however, out of the 5 of eggs retrieved, only 2 embryos were viable for implantation. Thankfully, Jason and I were blessed that out of those 2 embryos one of them implanted! After 2 weeks Jason and I received the best new ever! We were finally pregnant! I went on to have a full term pregnancy and gave birth via c-section on August 5, 2015, to a healthy beautiful baby boy named Travis Jason. Our wishes and dreams of becoming parents came true!

Jason and I always hoped for 2 children and after about two years, we decided it was time to try for another child. I never went back on birth control after having Travis and we were hopeful that maybe it would happen naturally this time. However, yet again, nothing was happening. Jason and I began embarking on another IVF journey but were stopped in our tracks when we found out that the IVF doctor from our previous pregnancy no longer took our health insurance. While they accepted our health insurance the first time around, the co-pays for office visits were high, we had a deductible and the co-pays and out of pockets expenses for the medications that they would not cover were steep. I immediately contacted my OBGYN for guidance on referring me to another IVF doctor for treatment. I called and made an appointment to go meet with the doctor. We came up with a game plan and Jason and I couldn't have been happier to begin the IVF journey once again. Unfortunately, I found out that my health insurance did not cover IVF and it was going to cost over $11,500 for the treatment (plus medication). The costs were too much for our family to take on and Jason and I were devastated that we would not be able to move forward with the IVF treatment.

As time went on, Jason and I continued to try naturally and hoped and prayed that we would be blessed with another child. We changed our diets and tried every natural supplement and old wives’ tale in the book that is supposed to improve your chances but nothing worked. Just when we began to lose all hope, my health insurance plan changed and they began to cover SOME IVF treatment. The plan gave you ONE LIFE TIME yes that is right, ONE life time max! That means Jason and I would get one fresh transfer after a $2,000.00 deductible! We decided to move forward and go for it! In January of 2019, Jason and I began IVF treatment in hopes of our dreams of a second child. After a series of tests and blood work, the treatment began. I started on the costly medications again to prepare my body for my egg retrieval. And then another bump in the road. I received extremely disappointing news that they would have to abandon the egg retrieval in March 2019 due to cysts in my ovaries, which is a common side effect from the medications. I was emotionally devastated. I was instructed to administer what is called a “trigger shot” anyway and try intercourse to hope that we could possibly become pregnant somewhat naturally. Again we were disappointed to find out that pregnancy did not occur and that we would have to restart treatment again to work towards my egg retrieval. Treatment began once more in April (which means more costly medication) and thankfully this time all was a go for my egg retrieval on May 13th! Six eggs were retrieved and ALL 6 fertilized which was amazing news! Jason and I went in for the transfer on May 18th where two of the embryos would be implanted into my uterus. Now was the waiting period. This office tests via blood after 10 days. So on day 10, I went for my blood work and we got the most amazing news - I was pregnant! Jason and I went for the 1st ultrasound and saw the baby’s heartbeat! We went for a 2nd ultrasound at 7.5 weeks and heartbeat/measurements were on track. I was now discharged from the IVF facility and turned over to my OBGYN. On July 10th, at about 10.5 weeks pregnant, I had my first appointment with my OBGYN for our first check-up and ultrasound. Jason and I went for the appointment and brought along our son Travis as he was so excited and wanted to his baby on the TV. Little did we know, this appointment was going to knock us to our knees and break our hearts... As we were in the ultrasound room, the nurse technician was looking at the screen and I knew as I was looking too; and did not see a baby. The tech started asking me questions such as "have you been feeling okay?” “Can you try breathing differently?" I knew something wasn’t right. The tech whispered to me that there was no heartbeat and the baby was only measuring at about 8.5 weeks. We had lost our little girl. As devastated as Jason and I were, we tried to remain strong as Travis was there too. We later explained to him that sometimes babies don't fully grow in their mommy’s belly because they get sick and God takes them to Heaven with him.....

Jason and I talked with the doctor and to make matters worse, the doctor recommended that a D&C (dilation and curettage procedure) be performed. So that following Monday, I went for the procedure. Jason and I were just absolutely heartbroken. That being said, all hope wasn’t lost yet. We had frozen the 4 remaining embryos and we could try again. Good news, however, insurance no longer will cover any more IVF treatments as Jason and I exhausted our lifetime max.

At this point, we got in contact with our doctor to tell him what happened. He too was devastated for us, and we came up with a plan to move forward despite the non insurance coverage on the transfer of 2 of the frozen embryos. This procedure would cost us another $4,700.00 out of pocket (not including medications). At this time our dreams were bigger than our bank accounts, but we did it anyway. I started my medications for another transfer on September 11th. Everything went perfectly with the procedure and now again the dreaded 10 day wait until the pregnancy test. As Jason and I waited, I had this feeling in my gut that this time it didn’t implant. I was unfortunately right and found out on September 20th that I was not pregnant. Jason and I desperate to have another child, spoke to the doctor about plans moving forward after the failed transfer of the frozen embryos. At this point, the doctor’s recommendation is that we start a fresh cycle – meaning he doesn’t think the remaining 2 frozen embryos are strong enough and that we would need to do another egg retrieval, fertilization of the eggs and transfer of the embryos – aka start the process from the beginning again. Since our insurance will not cover any costs, Jason and I are looking at an additional $11,500 out of pocket (plus cost of medication) to continue to try for our second child. Even if Jason and I decide to take our chances on the 2 embryos that are still frozen, it will still cost another $4,700 (plus medication) to do that transfer.

On top of the financial burden that IVF puts on people, there is also the emotional roller coaster. Although the process is voluntary, it is the only option for some families looking to become pregnant. It is a very painful, heartbreaking and stressful journey. While there is success, unfortunately it is not guaranteed. Because Jason and I are so passionate about completing our family, we really want to continue on this IVF journey. We fully understand that many people have problems of their own and may not be able to give anything. That is completely okay. We debated this process and are still feeling a bit uneasy at the idea, but we decided that it couldn't hurt to ask. We are hoping that any money donated could help take some of the financial burden off our family.

“I am bent, but not broken,

I am scarred, but not disfigured,

I am sad, but not hopeless,

I am tired, but not lifeless,

I am afraid, but not powerless,

I am angry, but not bitter,

I am depressed, but not giving up.”