Baby 4 Babcock
Donation protected
For those of you who know Heather, you can easily say that she has a true passion for children and definitely the utmost patience that a person could have when it comes to children. Not your average “auntie” is able or willing to handle 4+ children at a time and take them on an adventure for that day or even the entire weekend. But , Auntie Heather sure can and she does so very frequently!
Heather’s love for children, all started when she was a child herself. At every opportunity , she would babysit her younger cousins. In High school, she volunteered at a preschool to watch children. After graduating high school, Heather’s first job was working at a day care for a major corporation and then inside of a hospital while she attending nursing school. As we all expected, after graduating nursing school, Heather became a pediatric nurse. She has worked several jobs since then with children and is currently a pediatric home health nurse and cares for medically fragile children.
Heather and Mike’s journey all began in 2009, when they became husband and wife. Almost instantly, they recognized that they wanted to expand “The Babcock “ family but recognized that they may have needed to seek an opinion of a fertility specialist. Back in 2005, Heather was not only diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but she also had to have her right ovary removed. In January of 2010, Heather and Mike made their first appointment with a fertility specialist. Never did they think, that 10 years later , they would still be attempting to fill the one void missing from their hearts, to have a child of their own.
From 2010 to 2018 , Heather and Mike have shared a very emotional, physical, and stressful infertility journey that has also taken a financial toll on them. To summarize their medical fertility journey, doesn’t even begin to justify what they have gone through in the past 10 years. The processes included within each medical and fertility option entails a lot more than listed. It all started in 2010, when Heather and Mike made their first appointment with the fertility specialist. Shortly after, Heather had a salpingostomy procedure which was to open up her left fallopian tube. Following the salpingostomy, Heather and Mike had 3 cycles of medicated fertility treatments and artificial insemination 3 times. After many unsuccessful attempts of fertility, in March of 2011, they had their first IVF treatment. This IVF treatment was an emotional rollercoaster as it resulted in pregnancy but unfortunately, ended in miscarriage. After recovering emotionally, Heather and Mike gave IVF 2 other attempts but the treatments failed and led them to acquire many medical bills that were not covered by medical insurance.
In the year of 2015, Heather and Mike opened their home and hearts hoping to become foster parents. They spent months attending classes for certification, interviews, and preparing their house. Unfortunately , they have not had the luck to have a child placed under their care.
In 2018, Heather and Mike revisited the fertility doctors and discovered that through laboratory tests, Heather’s hormone levels have been the best they have ever been since the start of their fertility journey. At this time, they decided to re initiate their journey of fertility options. For a second time, Heather underwent surgery to open her left fallopian tube. Then in January of 2019 , they started 6 months of medicated fertility treatments which included injections ,but unfortunately was not successful for fertilization. Finally in August of 2019, Heather asked her fertility doctor if she thought her sister , Stephanie would be able to be a gestational carrier for her and Mike. Her physician agreed to move forward with the process. A gestational carrier is someone who provides “surrogacy” in the sense that they carry the embryo (from Heather and Mike) throughout pregnancy. Stephanie has had a great success , with no medical problems, to carry her own four children.
Sounds like we almost have a happy ending doesn’t it? Well , the reality is that this option of Heather’s sister carrying the embryo of Heather and Mike , is not medically covered under health insurance. The estimated cost of the process is $25,000 dollars. This estimated cost does not include the copays or costs for some things that are covered such as ultrasounds, the pregnancy visit costs, hospital for birth etc. Let's help Heather and Mike take one last opportunity to create their happy ending , with the hopes that this gestational carrier process results in the birth of their own child.
Just to sum up the process of what the gestational carrying process includes , here is the next steps they will be enduring. Heather is currently taking supplements to assist her with fertility. The plan is for in April or May 2020 for Heather to have an egg retrieval ( eggs are tested to check their health to assure they have a high probability of success ) and fertilization of the egg. This process of egg retrieval is approximately $14K. Once fertilized , the embryos are frozen. Steph will then complete a fertility health work up to confirm that she is medically able to support the embryo transfer. The plan is to transfer the embryo in August and if successful then Steph will be closely monitored by the fertility specialist for the entire first trimester.
Due to the high cost of this process, we are hoping to collect donations for our family fundraiser “Baby4Babcock” with the hopes to make Heather and Mikes dreams come true. Please consider donating or if you are not able to donate to please share this fundraising page and send lots of prayers. Thank you in advance ! Please visit the facebook page to follow the story, fundraiser and all efforts for Baby4Babcock! If you have any fundraiser ideas or would like to help with one please reach out to us.
Below are 2 highlights written by Heather and her sister, Stephanie. Thanks for taking the time to read their story too,
“Ever since I was a little girl , my dream was to be a mommy. In 2005 when I lost my right ovary and was diagnosed with PCOS I knew having my dreams come true may be a little harder when the time came. After marrying the love of my life in 2009, we quickly began our journey to parenthood. Never did we ever imagine that 10yrs later we would be in this situation. These 10yrs of battling infertility have been filled with so much hope, fear, stress, anxiety, tears and financial hardships. We have faced so much sadness but we kept going and never gave up hope. Everyone that knows me, knows my love for children. Each and every child that has come into my life has left imprints on my heart and gave me the inspiration to keep fighting for our dream. For 10yrs my sister Steph has told me her womb was always open for a Babcock Baby if needed. We have reached the point where her womb is needed and we couldn’t me more thankful for the gift she is willing to give us. We will not give up hope until our dreams of having a Babcock Baby come true. ‘’ - Heather Babcock
“Anyone who knows my sister Heather, knows that she is a born natural with children. Growing up she was the one out of the 3 sisters who was the “mommy” one. She always had a nurturing side and kids flock to her. She was always helping my aunt with our 4 younger cousins, she’s always worked with kids, and now she is a pediatric nurse who I proudly call a peer and coworker.
What I am most thankful for is that I have her by my side every step of the way as Keith and I raise our four children. They absolutely adore their Auntie Heather and her love and devotion to them is unwavering. She babysits them so we can work, she attends school and sporting events, she has sleepovers and adventures with them very frequently just because she loves spending time with them. Words can not even express how blessed we feel to have her and Mike in our corner and our kids corner.
Seeing Heather and Mike struggle with fertility truly breaks my heart right along side theirs. If ANYONE was put on this planet to be a mother it was Heather. Her heartbreak is our heartbreak and it’s just not fair how someone so loving and caring can be denied time after time; failed treatment after failed treatment the one thing she wants most in this world.
My offer to carry her baby was a no brainer for me. This is the ultimate way I could repay her for all the support she’s given me and for all the love she showers my kids with and honestly every child she comes in contact with. She’s kind, patient, loving, and nurturing in every way possible. So please help us in our journey to make heather and mikes dream come true. Whether it be a kind message, a prayer, or participation in a fundraiser we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. “ - Stephanie Wall
Heather’s love for children, all started when she was a child herself. At every opportunity , she would babysit her younger cousins. In High school, she volunteered at a preschool to watch children. After graduating high school, Heather’s first job was working at a day care for a major corporation and then inside of a hospital while she attending nursing school. As we all expected, after graduating nursing school, Heather became a pediatric nurse. She has worked several jobs since then with children and is currently a pediatric home health nurse and cares for medically fragile children.
Heather and Mike’s journey all began in 2009, when they became husband and wife. Almost instantly, they recognized that they wanted to expand “The Babcock “ family but recognized that they may have needed to seek an opinion of a fertility specialist. Back in 2005, Heather was not only diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, but she also had to have her right ovary removed. In January of 2010, Heather and Mike made their first appointment with a fertility specialist. Never did they think, that 10 years later , they would still be attempting to fill the one void missing from their hearts, to have a child of their own.
From 2010 to 2018 , Heather and Mike have shared a very emotional, physical, and stressful infertility journey that has also taken a financial toll on them. To summarize their medical fertility journey, doesn’t even begin to justify what they have gone through in the past 10 years. The processes included within each medical and fertility option entails a lot more than listed. It all started in 2010, when Heather and Mike made their first appointment with the fertility specialist. Shortly after, Heather had a salpingostomy procedure which was to open up her left fallopian tube. Following the salpingostomy, Heather and Mike had 3 cycles of medicated fertility treatments and artificial insemination 3 times. After many unsuccessful attempts of fertility, in March of 2011, they had their first IVF treatment. This IVF treatment was an emotional rollercoaster as it resulted in pregnancy but unfortunately, ended in miscarriage. After recovering emotionally, Heather and Mike gave IVF 2 other attempts but the treatments failed and led them to acquire many medical bills that were not covered by medical insurance.
In the year of 2015, Heather and Mike opened their home and hearts hoping to become foster parents. They spent months attending classes for certification, interviews, and preparing their house. Unfortunately , they have not had the luck to have a child placed under their care.
In 2018, Heather and Mike revisited the fertility doctors and discovered that through laboratory tests, Heather’s hormone levels have been the best they have ever been since the start of their fertility journey. At this time, they decided to re initiate their journey of fertility options. For a second time, Heather underwent surgery to open her left fallopian tube. Then in January of 2019 , they started 6 months of medicated fertility treatments which included injections ,but unfortunately was not successful for fertilization. Finally in August of 2019, Heather asked her fertility doctor if she thought her sister , Stephanie would be able to be a gestational carrier for her and Mike. Her physician agreed to move forward with the process. A gestational carrier is someone who provides “surrogacy” in the sense that they carry the embryo (from Heather and Mike) throughout pregnancy. Stephanie has had a great success , with no medical problems, to carry her own four children.
Sounds like we almost have a happy ending doesn’t it? Well , the reality is that this option of Heather’s sister carrying the embryo of Heather and Mike , is not medically covered under health insurance. The estimated cost of the process is $25,000 dollars. This estimated cost does not include the copays or costs for some things that are covered such as ultrasounds, the pregnancy visit costs, hospital for birth etc. Let's help Heather and Mike take one last opportunity to create their happy ending , with the hopes that this gestational carrier process results in the birth of their own child.
Just to sum up the process of what the gestational carrying process includes , here is the next steps they will be enduring. Heather is currently taking supplements to assist her with fertility. The plan is for in April or May 2020 for Heather to have an egg retrieval ( eggs are tested to check their health to assure they have a high probability of success ) and fertilization of the egg. This process of egg retrieval is approximately $14K. Once fertilized , the embryos are frozen. Steph will then complete a fertility health work up to confirm that she is medically able to support the embryo transfer. The plan is to transfer the embryo in August and if successful then Steph will be closely monitored by the fertility specialist for the entire first trimester.
Due to the high cost of this process, we are hoping to collect donations for our family fundraiser “Baby4Babcock” with the hopes to make Heather and Mikes dreams come true. Please consider donating or if you are not able to donate to please share this fundraising page and send lots of prayers. Thank you in advance ! Please visit the facebook page to follow the story, fundraiser and all efforts for Baby4Babcock! If you have any fundraiser ideas or would like to help with one please reach out to us.
Below are 2 highlights written by Heather and her sister, Stephanie. Thanks for taking the time to read their story too,
“Ever since I was a little girl , my dream was to be a mommy. In 2005 when I lost my right ovary and was diagnosed with PCOS I knew having my dreams come true may be a little harder when the time came. After marrying the love of my life in 2009, we quickly began our journey to parenthood. Never did we ever imagine that 10yrs later we would be in this situation. These 10yrs of battling infertility have been filled with so much hope, fear, stress, anxiety, tears and financial hardships. We have faced so much sadness but we kept going and never gave up hope. Everyone that knows me, knows my love for children. Each and every child that has come into my life has left imprints on my heart and gave me the inspiration to keep fighting for our dream. For 10yrs my sister Steph has told me her womb was always open for a Babcock Baby if needed. We have reached the point where her womb is needed and we couldn’t me more thankful for the gift she is willing to give us. We will not give up hope until our dreams of having a Babcock Baby come true. ‘’ - Heather Babcock
“Anyone who knows my sister Heather, knows that she is a born natural with children. Growing up she was the one out of the 3 sisters who was the “mommy” one. She always had a nurturing side and kids flock to her. She was always helping my aunt with our 4 younger cousins, she’s always worked with kids, and now she is a pediatric nurse who I proudly call a peer and coworker.
What I am most thankful for is that I have her by my side every step of the way as Keith and I raise our four children. They absolutely adore their Auntie Heather and her love and devotion to them is unwavering. She babysits them so we can work, she attends school and sporting events, she has sleepovers and adventures with them very frequently just because she loves spending time with them. Words can not even express how blessed we feel to have her and Mike in our corner and our kids corner.
Seeing Heather and Mike struggle with fertility truly breaks my heart right along side theirs. If ANYONE was put on this planet to be a mother it was Heather. Her heartbreak is our heartbreak and it’s just not fair how someone so loving and caring can be denied time after time; failed treatment after failed treatment the one thing she wants most in this world.
My offer to carry her baby was a no brainer for me. This is the ultimate way I could repay her for all the support she’s given me and for all the love she showers my kids with and honestly every child she comes in contact with. She’s kind, patient, loving, and nurturing in every way possible. So please help us in our journey to make heather and mikes dream come true. Whether it be a kind message, a prayer, or participation in a fundraiser we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. “ - Stephanie Wall
Organizer and beneficiary
Annmarie Kreideweis
Organizer
Bayville, NJ
Heather Babcock
Beneficiary
