Mandy's IVF Miracle
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Amanda, but most people simply call me Mandy. Today is the start of my mission or should i say day 6 of my 365 day story.
I'm here on Go Fund Me for help. Asking for your help to fund my dream of motherhood and starting my family. Every day is a challenge for me. I'm not sure if I'm going to be in pain or if I'm going to have a "normal" day. But I have faith that there are kindred people who are willing to lend a helping hand.
My story begins at the age of 11. I have been suffering with extreme debilitating menstrual pain every month for 2 weeks, the pains were so debilitating I was unable to attend many events and even lied about why I could not attend because people just didn't understand what I was dealing with. I was hospitalized many times and even as a child I was very sickly but I never let that stop me from accomplishing my goals in life or keeping a positive outlook on life.
When I went into high school at age 13 the pain worsened and it caused me to fall behind in school -I had to be hospitalized for dehydration and blood loss. After seeing numerous doctors who ran test after test with no solid answer, I told my mom I was tired and just wanted to go home and forget about what was happening to my body. Since this was a time when woman didn't really talk about these types of issues I felt alone and damaged. I felt like no one believed me and thought I was making up these pains so that people could feel sorry for me but that was not the case, I became a young lady suffering in silence.
Until I met Dr. Victor Reyniak, a doctor sent from God who believed me and believed the pains I had were real. I remained his faithful patient for 11 years because he told me one day when I have a baby all these pains will go away and I will be much better. Well this might have been the case if I wasn't as sick as I was. In 2008 Dr. Reyniak passed away and I was at a loss. Once again the process started doctor after doctor, explaining my pains and condition to no avail. I felt alone and spent many nights crying and praying for a sign or help.
The turning point came in the beginning of 2011. At the peak of my life when everything seemed to be falling apart. I met this man who accepted me with all my flaws and with an open heart. So in love with me, we spoke daily about starting a family and marriage. Me not knowing if any of that was possible, I finally told him about what I had been suffering with all my life and what doctors called "pre-dysmenorrhea" also known as "painful periods". Of course he told don't worry he would be by my side no matter what. That's when I decided I needed to find out if I could make our dreams happen and have a baby.
It wasn't until September of 2011, when I was referred to Dr. Kenneth Levey, http://pelvicpainnewyork.com/ that I would finally have answers and hopefully live a better pain free life. I had exploratory surgery that September which revealed I have severe Stage 4 Endometrioses with deep colorectal infiltration. Fifteen years I was suffering and undiagnosed. The first thing that came to mind was what does this all mean. It meant that i would spend the next few months reaching Endometriosis, joining support groups and finding ways to get better.
As always, God has other plans, I was put on disability until I got a surgery date to remove all of this endometriosis that was causing me so much pain. I wasn't able to walk or get out of bed. These were the most darkest months of my life, I felt pain, guilt, anger, and as if I was being punished until.. The "call" came in about 10am on a Thursday I will never forget, Dr. Levey told me he had a surgery date and to hold on, he was going to make me all better. December 24th 2011, I was admitted in NYU where I would undergo major surgery to remove the disease.
Merry Christmas to me! I was on the road to recovery and I was happy.
For all the years I felt alone and suffering I wasn't alone on this day, not only did I have my Mom, Dad, Brother, and Fiancé by my side, I had many friends and family praying for me. I tear up as I write this because I don't think people know how much they mean to me and how much i cherish them. Well, after about 10 hours in surgery I was out, alive and on my way to being Endometriosis free.
This is where i need your help. My goal to start my own family and have a child on my own will not be deterred. Despite having a successful surgery performed by Dr. Kenneth Levy and Dr. Elliot Newman, a colon cancer specialist http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/newmae01 , I'm not 100%. Since I went untreated for more than 15 years a lot of my reproductive organs were damaged (including my Fallopian tubes). This young woman right here doesn't lose faith.
At age 31, I met Dr. Glenn Schattman, who works at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Cornell. http://www.ivf.org/ I'm currently under his care and treatment. As many of you know, fertility treatment is very expensive. Although insurance covers some of the costs (which many years ago they didn't cover at all), I’m still faced with having to pay out of pocket for all of my medications. Some of the medications I have been told I’ll have to take are:
Follistim or Gonal - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Pergonal, Repronex, or Metrodin - Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
Pregnyl, Novarel, - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Factrel and Lutrepulse - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
Lupron - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist
I know we all face different challenges all I ask is that if you can, please help me with mine.
What you are most afraid of is typically where your greatest rewards are waiting for you.
If all you had to do was wish for something and you would have it, life would be pretty boring, wouldn't it? God sometimes places barriers between us and what we want so that we can enjoy interesting and satisfying lives. God sometimes hides our biggest rewards behind our deepest fears. God wants us to face our fears, and hold ground in their presence, letting them go.
That's how we get our biggest rewards!
What are you most afraid of? Say it, just start by saying it.
All donations will be used to cover medications which will be purchased from Apthorp Pharmacy https://www.apthorprx.com/fertility-rx-services.html:
Follistim or Gonal - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Pergonal, Repronex, or Metrodin - Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
Pregnyl, Novarel, - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Factrel and Lutrepulse - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
Lupron - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist
As well as any medical treatment and procedures that will be needed and are done at the center for reproductive medicine under the care of Dr. Glenn Schattman.
I'm here on Go Fund Me for help. Asking for your help to fund my dream of motherhood and starting my family. Every day is a challenge for me. I'm not sure if I'm going to be in pain or if I'm going to have a "normal" day. But I have faith that there are kindred people who are willing to lend a helping hand.
My story begins at the age of 11. I have been suffering with extreme debilitating menstrual pain every month for 2 weeks, the pains were so debilitating I was unable to attend many events and even lied about why I could not attend because people just didn't understand what I was dealing with. I was hospitalized many times and even as a child I was very sickly but I never let that stop me from accomplishing my goals in life or keeping a positive outlook on life.
When I went into high school at age 13 the pain worsened and it caused me to fall behind in school -I had to be hospitalized for dehydration and blood loss. After seeing numerous doctors who ran test after test with no solid answer, I told my mom I was tired and just wanted to go home and forget about what was happening to my body. Since this was a time when woman didn't really talk about these types of issues I felt alone and damaged. I felt like no one believed me and thought I was making up these pains so that people could feel sorry for me but that was not the case, I became a young lady suffering in silence.
Until I met Dr. Victor Reyniak, a doctor sent from God who believed me and believed the pains I had were real. I remained his faithful patient for 11 years because he told me one day when I have a baby all these pains will go away and I will be much better. Well this might have been the case if I wasn't as sick as I was. In 2008 Dr. Reyniak passed away and I was at a loss. Once again the process started doctor after doctor, explaining my pains and condition to no avail. I felt alone and spent many nights crying and praying for a sign or help.
The turning point came in the beginning of 2011. At the peak of my life when everything seemed to be falling apart. I met this man who accepted me with all my flaws and with an open heart. So in love with me, we spoke daily about starting a family and marriage. Me not knowing if any of that was possible, I finally told him about what I had been suffering with all my life and what doctors called "pre-dysmenorrhea" also known as "painful periods". Of course he told don't worry he would be by my side no matter what. That's when I decided I needed to find out if I could make our dreams happen and have a baby.
It wasn't until September of 2011, when I was referred to Dr. Kenneth Levey, http://pelvicpainnewyork.com/ that I would finally have answers and hopefully live a better pain free life. I had exploratory surgery that September which revealed I have severe Stage 4 Endometrioses with deep colorectal infiltration. Fifteen years I was suffering and undiagnosed. The first thing that came to mind was what does this all mean. It meant that i would spend the next few months reaching Endometriosis, joining support groups and finding ways to get better.
As always, God has other plans, I was put on disability until I got a surgery date to remove all of this endometriosis that was causing me so much pain. I wasn't able to walk or get out of bed. These were the most darkest months of my life, I felt pain, guilt, anger, and as if I was being punished until.. The "call" came in about 10am on a Thursday I will never forget, Dr. Levey told me he had a surgery date and to hold on, he was going to make me all better. December 24th 2011, I was admitted in NYU where I would undergo major surgery to remove the disease.
Merry Christmas to me! I was on the road to recovery and I was happy.
For all the years I felt alone and suffering I wasn't alone on this day, not only did I have my Mom, Dad, Brother, and Fiancé by my side, I had many friends and family praying for me. I tear up as I write this because I don't think people know how much they mean to me and how much i cherish them. Well, after about 10 hours in surgery I was out, alive and on my way to being Endometriosis free.
This is where i need your help. My goal to start my own family and have a child on my own will not be deterred. Despite having a successful surgery performed by Dr. Kenneth Levy and Dr. Elliot Newman, a colon cancer specialist http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/newmae01 , I'm not 100%. Since I went untreated for more than 15 years a lot of my reproductive organs were damaged (including my Fallopian tubes). This young woman right here doesn't lose faith.
At age 31, I met Dr. Glenn Schattman, who works at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Cornell. http://www.ivf.org/ I'm currently under his care and treatment. As many of you know, fertility treatment is very expensive. Although insurance covers some of the costs (which many years ago they didn't cover at all), I’m still faced with having to pay out of pocket for all of my medications. Some of the medications I have been told I’ll have to take are:
Follistim or Gonal - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Pergonal, Repronex, or Metrodin - Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
Pregnyl, Novarel, - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Factrel and Lutrepulse - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
Lupron - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist
I know we all face different challenges all I ask is that if you can, please help me with mine.
What you are most afraid of is typically where your greatest rewards are waiting for you.
If all you had to do was wish for something and you would have it, life would be pretty boring, wouldn't it? God sometimes places barriers between us and what we want so that we can enjoy interesting and satisfying lives. God sometimes hides our biggest rewards behind our deepest fears. God wants us to face our fears, and hold ground in their presence, letting them go.
That's how we get our biggest rewards!
What are you most afraid of? Say it, just start by saying it.
All donations will be used to cover medications which will be purchased from Apthorp Pharmacy https://www.apthorprx.com/fertility-rx-services.html:
Follistim or Gonal - Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Pergonal, Repronex, or Metrodin - Human Menopausal Gonadotropin
Pregnyl, Novarel, - Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Factrel and Lutrepulse - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone
Lupron - Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Agonist
As well as any medical treatment and procedures that will be needed and are done at the center for reproductive medicine under the care of Dr. Glenn Schattman.
Organizer
Aj Alers
Organizer
Yonkers, NY
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