Dear friends,

We are Sonny and Raquel Lee, and we have been on an emotional journey to become parents for over six years. Our path took an unexpected turn when we put our dreams on hold to care for Raquel's teenage nephews and niece from 2015 to 2021. However, in 2020, we courageously decided to resume our pursuit of parenthood and sought the expertise of fertility specialists. We were incredibly fortunate to be connected with the Northern California Fertility Medical Clinic in Sacramento, which, despite being 1.5 hours away from our home, became our closest and most trusted source of support.

Through numerous tests and a hysteroscopy, we discovered the heartbreaking news that Raquel has a blockage in her right fallopian tube. Despite our unwavering determination, four cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI) yielded no success. As we face this reality, we now must forge ahead and explore the next step: in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Compounding the emotional toll is the financial burden we bear. Our insurance provides no coverage for fertility-related costs, and we have already depleted a significant portion of our savings to cover the expenses incurred during the IUI cycles, including medications, laboratory tests, and travel. It is with a passionate heart that we reach out to you, our cherished friends, for support.

Your generous donation will make a tangible difference in our journey to create a family. The estimated cost of IVF, encompassing medication, physician fees, and recommended laboratory tests, amounts to approximately $25,000. We have explored various avenues, such as applying for grants and giveaways, but time stops for no one. Now, we place our hope in the love and support of those who hold us dear, trusting that you will rally behind us as we pursue our dream of becoming parents this year.

To provide transparency, we would like to break down the costs associated with our IVF journey:

- Medications: The estimated cost of medications is $4,100, covering essential elements such as oral contraceptive pills (to provide both estrogen and progesterone), Follistim (to stimulate follicle development and maturation in the ovary), Menopur (to further stimulate follicles), Ganirelix (to control ovulation), Lupron trigger, and HCG co-trigger.

- Physician fees: We anticipate an estimated cost of $15,900 to cover physician services, including vital procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and cryopreservation.

- Laboratory costs: The estimated range for laboratory expenses is $500 to $3,000, with the higher end reflecting procedures such as preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) biopsy.

From the depths of our hearts, we extend our sincerest gratitude to each and every one of you. Your support, whether through a donation or by sharing our story, means the world to us. Together, let us embark on this journey, hand in hand, as we strive to fulfill our longing to embrace the joys of parenthood.

With love and gratitude,

Sonny & Raquel Lee