In my early 20s, I began suffering from heavy periods, which made it difficult to get through a work day and go about life. When I spoke to a doctor about my concerns, he dismissed it, attributing the excessive bleeding to a change in medication. One day, my period became so heavy that I had to call into work. I started reaching out to family and friends for recommendations for a new doctor. That day, I was able to see a PA, who examined me and scheduled a follow-up appointment with an ultrasound and a doctor. The ultrasound revealed several large fibroids, and the doctor scheduled me for an outpatient procedure. During the procedure, he discovered even more fibroids than expected, so instead of operating he took pictures and referred me to a specialist.

The specialist scheduled surgery soon after, removing more than 20 fibroids from my uterus in an 8+ hour procedure that required an overnight stay. Over the next decade, I had several surgeries to remove more fibroids, but they continued to grow and I continued to suffer from the effects of anemia, once requiring a blood transfusion. We tried to get pregnant naturally before the pandemic but were unsuccessful. Then, in 2023, we attempted a mock IVF cycle so my newest specialist could assess whether I would be a good candidate for IVF. Unfortunately, my uterine lining was abnormal due to the remaining fibroids and scar tissue, and my doctor didn't believe an embryo transfer would be successful. With my anemia and period problems at their worst, my doctor recommended a hysterectomy, which I underwent in December 2023. Alex and I were devastated, but we also knew we had done everything we could to preserve my uterus and try to get pregnant.

Fortunately, I still have two healthy ovaries and a family member who is willing to carry a baby for us. We're in the process of harvesting my eggs and creating embryos, but the financial costs are overwhelming and causing us a lot of anxiety. Overall, we expect to spend around $30,000. While we don't expect to raise the full amount through this GoFundMe, even covering half of the cost would provide us with much-needed relief as we navigate this journey toward becoming parents.

I hesitated to create a GoFundMe, but ultimately, I decided to share my story and our dream of parenthood. We appreciate any help big or small. ❤️