When Pete and I met in college, we knew right away that we wanted to build a life together, including starting a family. We were young, hopeful, and ready for the next chapter. So, we began trying to get pregnant almost immediately. I even shopped for wedding dresses that would accommodate a growing belly, excited for what the future would hold.
After we got married, we took things more seriously, tracking my cycle and ovulation. But after two years of trying with no success, we realized that our path wasn’t going to be as straightforward as we had hoped.
While we struggled to conceive, we started to build our family in other ways. We adopted two rescue dogs and two cats, and our home was filled with love and joy. But deep down, we knew we wanted more.
It was clear that something wasn’t working, so we turned to medical professionals for help. In 2021, we were referred to the Barrie Fertility Clinic, hopeful that an IUI would be the answer. But just as we were about to begin, Pete was diagnosed with a double varicocele, a condition that required surgery. We had to wait another six months before we could move forward.
When we finally got the green light to try our first IUI, we were filled with hope. This had to be it. But when the first IUI failed, we were disappointed but remained optimistic. After the second failure, our frustration grew. We tried four more IUIs, all of which ended in heartbreak.
At this point, our clinic suggested we consider IVF. The idea of IVF was daunting. We had heard mixed stories—some of miraculous success, others of painful failure. But we knew we had to keep trying.
In 2023, we met with Dr. Cadesky at TRIO and got placed on the waitlist for government-funded IVF. More waiting. Anyone who’s been through this knows how grueling it is—the endless hours, days, and months of feeling helpless. For a year and a half, we waited. We couldn’t prepare ourselves for how difficult that waiting period would be. And when we finally got the chance to start our IVF journey, our hopes soared.
We had a successful egg retrieval—13 mature eggs were retrieved, and 4 of them were viable for genetic testing. But our dreams were shattered when the genetic tests revealed that none of the embryos were viable. The grief we felt was all-consuming. We couldn’t help but feel as though this was our only shot, and it had slipped away. With no money left to try again, we were left in a state of limbo, waiting yet again.
Then came a glimmer of hope. Pete found a comment on an Instagram post about a fertility grant that was expiring soon. After applying, we were overjoyed to learn that we had received the grant. Suddenly, the door to our dreams opened once more. We were given a chance to try again, and we were filled with excitement and gratitude. It was an incredible opportunity, and we couldn’t wait to begin the next chapter of our fertility journey.
Throughout this process, Pete and I have leaned on each other, our families, and our friends for support. We’ve been through the emotional rollercoaster of fertility treatments—failed IUIs, surgeries, endless tests, and the deep heartbreak that comes with each disappointment. But one thing has remained constant: our commitment to each other and our dream of becoming parents.
Though our journey has been long, filled with more pain than we ever expected, we continue to move forward. Every setback has only strengthened our resolve. We know the road ahead will still have challenges, but with the support of our loved ones and the opportunity that the Fertility Friends Foundation has given us, we are filled with hope once again.
We remind ourselves, no matter how long it takes, it will be worth the wait.