Baby for Cancer Survivor & Widower
Donation protected
Cancer Survivor and Widower from Cancer Seek Funding to Have a Baby
Please watch our video. It is the best way to understand our cause. Cancer…one word that has had an effect on almost everyone’s life. It has robbed many of us of so much.
Craig and Liz are hopeful to be able to grow their family for two main reasons. There are medical options available and the community has rallied to give support for both of them when cancer hit hard . In recent years, Craig lost his wife (2013), his mom (2011), and his dad (2004) to cancer and disease. He has been knocked down time and time again, but maintains a positive outlook and feels lucky to have lived with, loved, and learned from such extraordinary people.
Fortunately, Craig met Liz at a friend’s party last year and they fell in love. They quickly realized that they had a lot in common, including being born just one day apart, and having life plans that went awry. Unknowingly, they both graduated from UConn together, shared many mutual friends, lived in the same town, and did a lot of the same activities for fun including kayaking, biking, and running. Quickly, it was clear that this relationship was special. They were committed to being with each other, and they shared a vision for growing a family and life together.
Liz and her ex-husband divorced shortly after their daughter was born, share custody, and both have Aubrey's best interests in mind. Liz is an accountant for a private equity firm and Aubrey is almost 3 years old. Craig is an elementary school teacher and an artist that creates wood wall art.
Unfortunately, last year, Liz also was diagnosed with cancer, invasive stage 3 breast cancer. On Mother’s Day 2014, she found the lump and soon began treatment which included IVF to cryopreserve embryos, a double mastectomy and reconstruction, chemotherapy, and radiation. In early 2015, Liz was finished with the tough treatment. Currently, she takes daily cancer maintenance treatment for the next 10 years with minimal side effects. Cancer will always be a part of their lives, but they are fortunate that it is in their past. Now, the time is right to grow their family.
Sadly, the cancer treatment makes it unsafe for Liz to get pregnant. They are seeking funding towards a gestational carrier who will carry a baby for them. They are hopeful that 1 or 2 of their embryos will take. If none of these are successful, Craig also has some frozen embryos from IVF with his late-wife. Because of many tough conversations with Karin about what his life would look like after she passed, he knows that he has her unwavering support to raise that child with Liz if they end up going down that path. They don’t know if the embryos from Karin will be used, but Craig feels like including her in this conversation is one of the greatest ways that he can honor and celebrate her.
Craig and Liz have overcome extraordinary challenges before, and they are confident they can navigate this path too. They wish they didn’t need to seek financial support, but this is an extraordinary situation and friends have encouraged them to let people know how to help.
The costs associated with IVF and surrogacy are outrageous. Craig and Liz are saving so that they can pay a large portion of the necessary costs. They have planned to save and contribute $45,000 for the chance of a baby. Unfortunately, a lot more than that is needed. This process is ridiculously expensive and not covered by insurance. There’s In Vitro Fertilization, cryopreservation fees, the surrogacy agency, screening costs, legal counsel, fees to the carrier of the baby, medical costs, transfer fees, and more. They expect this to cost in excess of $110,000! That’s why they need your help to crowd-fund this baby. Their ambitious fundraising goal is $65,000. It’s so much money, but they know it will be money well spent. It is an investment in a child who will be loved by an incredible community who made this life possible.
Though unlikely, maybe the carrier is within their existing support network. It would be comforting if the carrier was somehow already connected to Craig and Liz, and it would make this expensive process more affordable. If you, or someone you know, wants to consider exploring the screening process to see if you qualify as a match, please let Craig or Liz know ASAP. However, they are confident that the agency they have been working with will find a great match if no connected possible carrier exists. They are interested in identifying the match and starting the pregnancy process as soon as possible.
If you believe in Craig and Liz’s dream to grow their family, please donate. Then “Like”, share, and Tweet this campaign page. They appreciate your help in spreading the word. Together, let’s make a baby and transform lives.
Any money received that is not needed for this expense will be donated to another family in a similar situation. Thank you.
[email redacted]
[email redacted]
Please watch our video. It is the best way to understand our cause. Cancer…one word that has had an effect on almost everyone’s life. It has robbed many of us of so much.
Craig and Liz are hopeful to be able to grow their family for two main reasons. There are medical options available and the community has rallied to give support for both of them when cancer hit hard . In recent years, Craig lost his wife (2013), his mom (2011), and his dad (2004) to cancer and disease. He has been knocked down time and time again, but maintains a positive outlook and feels lucky to have lived with, loved, and learned from such extraordinary people.
Fortunately, Craig met Liz at a friend’s party last year and they fell in love. They quickly realized that they had a lot in common, including being born just one day apart, and having life plans that went awry. Unknowingly, they both graduated from UConn together, shared many mutual friends, lived in the same town, and did a lot of the same activities for fun including kayaking, biking, and running. Quickly, it was clear that this relationship was special. They were committed to being with each other, and they shared a vision for growing a family and life together.
Liz and her ex-husband divorced shortly after their daughter was born, share custody, and both have Aubrey's best interests in mind. Liz is an accountant for a private equity firm and Aubrey is almost 3 years old. Craig is an elementary school teacher and an artist that creates wood wall art.
Unfortunately, last year, Liz also was diagnosed with cancer, invasive stage 3 breast cancer. On Mother’s Day 2014, she found the lump and soon began treatment which included IVF to cryopreserve embryos, a double mastectomy and reconstruction, chemotherapy, and radiation. In early 2015, Liz was finished with the tough treatment. Currently, she takes daily cancer maintenance treatment for the next 10 years with minimal side effects. Cancer will always be a part of their lives, but they are fortunate that it is in their past. Now, the time is right to grow their family.
Sadly, the cancer treatment makes it unsafe for Liz to get pregnant. They are seeking funding towards a gestational carrier who will carry a baby for them. They are hopeful that 1 or 2 of their embryos will take. If none of these are successful, Craig also has some frozen embryos from IVF with his late-wife. Because of many tough conversations with Karin about what his life would look like after she passed, he knows that he has her unwavering support to raise that child with Liz if they end up going down that path. They don’t know if the embryos from Karin will be used, but Craig feels like including her in this conversation is one of the greatest ways that he can honor and celebrate her.
Craig and Liz have overcome extraordinary challenges before, and they are confident they can navigate this path too. They wish they didn’t need to seek financial support, but this is an extraordinary situation and friends have encouraged them to let people know how to help.
The costs associated with IVF and surrogacy are outrageous. Craig and Liz are saving so that they can pay a large portion of the necessary costs. They have planned to save and contribute $45,000 for the chance of a baby. Unfortunately, a lot more than that is needed. This process is ridiculously expensive and not covered by insurance. There’s In Vitro Fertilization, cryopreservation fees, the surrogacy agency, screening costs, legal counsel, fees to the carrier of the baby, medical costs, transfer fees, and more. They expect this to cost in excess of $110,000! That’s why they need your help to crowd-fund this baby. Their ambitious fundraising goal is $65,000. It’s so much money, but they know it will be money well spent. It is an investment in a child who will be loved by an incredible community who made this life possible.
Though unlikely, maybe the carrier is within their existing support network. It would be comforting if the carrier was somehow already connected to Craig and Liz, and it would make this expensive process more affordable. If you, or someone you know, wants to consider exploring the screening process to see if you qualify as a match, please let Craig or Liz know ASAP. However, they are confident that the agency they have been working with will find a great match if no connected possible carrier exists. They are interested in identifying the match and starting the pregnancy process as soon as possible.
If you believe in Craig and Liz’s dream to grow their family, please donate. Then “Like”, share, and Tweet this campaign page. They appreciate your help in spreading the word. Together, let’s make a baby and transform lives.
Any money received that is not needed for this expense will be donated to another family in a similar situation. Thank you.
[email redacted]
[email redacted]
Organizer
Craig Diamond
Organizer
Tariffville, CT
