“Charly, you’re going to be such a good mom!” I hear so often, especially lately. I’ve yearned for motherhood for as long as I can remember, and now, with a ticking biological clock and the obstacle of Stephen’s vasectomy, the dream feels urgent and fragile. Thanks to the Fertility Friends Foundation grant, we have an opportunity to try again.
Stephen and I met in 2017 while working as gardeners and have grown together ever since. Early in our relationship he expressed desire to have a child with me, wishing he hadn’t got a vasectomy after his first child. Wanting to be a parent, I took my role seriously and found joy and meaning in nurturing his daughter.
About a year and a half ago, we began our IVF journey and in August, we started our first IVF cycle. Of the 13 eggs retrieved, 7 were mature, and 1 fertilized. We nicknamed it “the golden egg,” then “golden embryo,” and finally, on transfer day, Stephen named it “Goldie.” He’s not typically sentimental, but he was doing a good job, and we were hopeful. During the two-week wait, we stayed positive, busy, and optimistic, but the negative result crushed us. Even with a beautiful embryo and ideal endometrium, our chances were only 50%.
Receiving this grant is a beam of hope, giving us the financial means to try again. It’s incredible and heartwarming to acknowledge how many people are involved in working to make our dreams come true. We’re grateful for the life we’re building together and are ready to welcome a baby into it. This grant will ease financial strain and allow us to focus on our relationship, health, and the journey ahead. We are eager to raise our child together with openness, passion, excitement and respect for life from the very beginning. Infinite gratitude to the Fertility Friends Foundation for the gift of another opportunity to have a biological child of our own, and grow our family in love.
These grant recipients benefited from Fertility Friends Foundation’s IVF Cycle Program, which combines a $5,000 FFF fertility grant with additional in-kind IVF services generously provided by one of our partner clinics. More info on IVF Cycle Program.