#MakingAMartinMiracle Our IVF Journey

First of all it's hard to ask for help. 

Matt and I fell in love and then were married in March 2015. Since then we dreamed for the day we would be able to start a family and become parents, to raise our child in the joy and love of Jesus Christ. As the years passed by and no baby came, our hearts became discouraged, but we didn't want to give up hope. 

In November 2019, Matt was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and thankfully, through his Ocrevus infusions, he has been able to stay healthy. We were told that would not affect being able to have children. We made a goal as a couple that if we weren't pregnant by April 2020, we would seek help, then came Covid-19, which shut down the world and changed our plans. Through this, we prayed God would bless us, but that miracle never came. 

In December 2021, we started testing and in January 2022, we found out that due to a male blockage, we would be unable to have a child without going through the IVF process. Matt went through a biopsy right after turning 40 and to our joy, we found out that he could produce a child. Our hopes returned and we started to meet with other specialists. They said we were candidates for IVF and besides the MS, we were perfect, healthy candidates. All our blood work and test came back with positive news. 

Last week, (week of Sept 19, 2022) Matt's procedure went amazing and the following day I had an extremely successful egg retrieval. 14 eggs, 10 mature and 7 fertilized, really great numbers. We got positive news with each update, that our embryos were growing as they were supposed to and looking great... Then came day 5 & 6 updates. I waited all day for a phone call on day 5 and nothing, day 6 rolls around, I'm alone and the phone rings, on the other side of the line was the doctor, not a nurse and she was calling to let me know that all of our embryos unexplainably arrested. My heart broke, the tears flowed and I felt all my hopes and dreams for my miracle baby disappear. I couldn't breathe as I cried on the front porch, asking God WHY. With you love & support, Matt and I are grieving, but making it though each day, one day at a time. This feels like a dream, an actual nightmare, like it can't be real and we are going to receive that phone call any minute, but that isn't the case, as these embryos, that were holding all our hopes and dreams, are gone. We had 7 fertilized, growing embryos, we knew and believed they were going to make it to blastocysts, but sadly, that is not the case.

Matt and I had made the decision together to share our journey with family and friends by posting videos and updates online through different social media. The love and prayers we receive is the only way we are getting through this pain. As a couple, we've decided not to give up. We've decided that as soon as they can place us back on the schedule, we will try again. We've prayed and feel God has told us not to give up yet. We have faith that God will bless us with our miracle baby. We've decided to ask our family & friends, for those that wish to help us though this journey, to create a Go Fund Me, as we had to get a loan and start using our savings to go through the first cycle, as there is no insurance coverage for IVF or money back for failed cycles. We are slowly using up our work "vacation/sick" leave time to go to the doctor and then recover from our surgical and medical procedures. Please don't feel obligated to donate, we appreciate any words of encouragement and continued prayers and are grateful for each and every one of you as part of our journey. 

<3 Matt & Rebekah

#MakingAMartinMiracle