Hi! We are Anne and Kirk from Ontario.
We have been together for 6 years and bonded instantly over a shared love of all things geeky. Kirk was named after Captain Kirk from Star Trek TOS, and within a few weeks of meeting we were planning to name our future children after characters from Star Trek the Next Generation.
Our fertility journey started 4 years ago with a referral to a local specialist who performed IUI procedures only. After several tests we were told our difficulties were most likely due to a lower sperm count and that IUI would be our best course of action.
After four attempts at IUI and multiple communication problems at the local clinic we requested to be referred to another clinic and were added to the waitlist for the government funded IVF program. The local clinic has since closed.
The next closest clinic to us requires a two and a half hour drive each way for all cycle monitoring and treatments. We tried another two rounds of IUI with the new clinic at which time our new doctor advised IVF would be a better option.
After a year on the waitlist we had our first IVF procedure this past summer. Our hopes were high with seven fertilized embryos at first, but within a few days they stopped growing, and that number dropped to two, then one. FET resulted in a chemical pregnancy this fall, but did not proceed past that point.
Four years of treatments has drained our savings, without this grant we would be struggling to keep our dream alive.
We are so grateful to have been chosen, and to have another chance to build our family.
For more information about our registered charity and fertility grants.