Our advocates

In the spring of 2018, we started our third round. We ended up with three good embryos, and sent those off for genetic testing. One came back normal. We were so excited, but so much pressure with just one. We transferred that embryo June 2018. Nine days later at my beta, it was negative. We couldn’t believe it. We finally had a pgs tested embryo and it didn’t even take. We had our consult and decided that an ERA was a must. We also made the decision that a 4th round of ivf was all my body could handle, and this would be it for us. 

After my third failed IUI, I didn't know how much more I could take and deep down I knew we were probably going to have to look at IVF if we wanted to have a natural pregnancy. However, since we had gone through a lot of out of pocket expenses and my insurance doesn't cover fertility treatment, my RE suggested that I have another laparoscopy so he could explore and remove endometriosis if it was there.

For many years, Frances was plagued with physical pain related to endometriosis along with a great deal of emotional pain due to her inability to conceive. Tormenting herself with toxic devaluing thoughts, she quietly lived a life of shame, embarrassment, frustration, hurt, guilt, and condemnation. She and Chris underwent several unsuccessful attempts to conceive with Intrauterine insemination (IUI). 

We found out earlier this year that I have a condition that causes my blood to produce antibodies that make it clot too thick and also some other issues. IVF is our only next option with my condition that gives us a possible chance of growing our family. I can't even begin to explain the isolation, sadness, and rollercoaster of a ride that infertility brings! It is absolutely one of the hardest things to go through especially with costs all out of pocket and the hurt of month after month of disappointment. 

Since we had our daughter so easily, we just assumed that we would have no problem expanding our family. As before, we got a positive test immediately but I began to bleed shortly after and was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy. 

She tested my ovarian reserve and it came back very low. This was the moment I realized all those years of not getting pregnant and all the ruptured cysts meant I truly did have a problem. This was the moment the pressure and emotions of this process began for me. I sat in my car and cried. It never felt real until this moment. I knew it was going to be a long road from here.

Our journey started in 2016 after I graduated from PA school! We were ready to start a family. Months went by, and nothing was happening. I knew in my heart God was preparing me for something bigger. I knew we had a problem, but I did not want to diagnose it myself as a clinician. 

I told Sante that whether we get our baby or not, I was going to fight for all the women and couples that go through this. I was going to figure out how I could make Tennessee a state that requires fertility coverage. I told him that something good has to come of this.  He has been 100% supportive of me...

My husband, Max, and I are high school sweethearts and were married in 2015.  We were ready to start growing our family in 2017. After months of negative tests, we decided to seek the help of Dr. Shannon at MOGA. I was diagnosed with PCOS. PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) is a hormonal disorder among women and has many side effects...

The two years we had of trying to conceive were the toughest years we have ever experienced.  All of the medications and disappointment took a huge toll on my mental health, as well as Ben’s.  As we were going through all of the medications and shots, it seemed as if everyone around us were getting the blessing we wanted. 

We sat down with Dr. Ke on January 10th 2018 and told him our history. Immediately after I began more (expensive) testing. He  eventually concluded that he expected I had endometriosis, but needed surgery to confirm. We paid $5,000 upfront for this because my insurance would only cover a small portion AFTER my extremely high deductible. The surgery did prove that I had Endometriosis.

In January of 2020, we did our first transfer and were told the amazing news that I was finally pregnant. I will always remember exactly where we were when we got the news. It felt like everything we had been working towards the past two years was finally happening.  Unfortunately, only two days later we were told that my HCG levels were dropping and I was experiencing what they call a “chemical pregnancy”.  I could not wrap my mind around how I could be pregnant one day and the next day I wasn’t.