A simple Tinder swipe nine years ago led me to the love of my life, Josh. We were only 19 and 20, completely in love and excited for our future together. Just two months into our relationship, our world was shaken when Josh was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Within days he underwent surgery, followed by chemotherapy, a blood transfusion, and a second surgery to remove the tumour and surrounding lymph nodes to prevent the cancer from spreading. During this terrifying time, doctors spoke to us about fertility and family-building, and unsure of what the future held, Josh made the brave decision to freeze his sperm before beginning treatment.
Weeks in the ICU battling infections and blood clots were some of the hardest moments of our lives, yet Josh’s determination never wavered. His strength carried him through, and we celebrated him being cancer-free surrounded by family and his softball teammates — back to doing what he loved most.
On our first anniversary, this incredible man got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. We truly believed we had faced our biggest challenge and that everything from there would be smooth sailing. In April 2020, we had our first fertility appointment at Mount Sinai, where we learned IVF was our only path due to Josh’s low sperm count and my PCOS. Through Ontario’s funded program, we began treatment in February 2021 and created eight beautiful embryos.
I entered this journey hopeful and admittedly naïve, believing the first transfer would be successful. But with each failed transfer, a little piece of that excitement faded. When we finally saw our first positive test, the joy and gratitude were indescribable — only for it to end in heartbreak with a miscarriage. We stepped away to heal, reconnect, and in 2023 celebrated our wedding surrounded by family and friends who reminded us how deeply supported and loved we were.
In 2024, we tried again and experienced a pregnancy, only to endure a second devastating miscarriage. Further testing revealed underlying complications that required experimental treatment, yet our remaining transfers eventually failed, leaving us with no embryos and no clear path forward.
Just when we felt lost, a miracle presented itself. A dear friend from our softball community selflessly offered to become our surrogate. It felt like fate. As we began exploring this new journey with Markham Fertility Centre, we learned about the Fertility Friends Foundation Grant — a lifeline we never imagined possible. Despite knowing our chances were slim, we applied with cautious hope.
When we received the call confirming we had been selected not only for the grant but also for access to the IVF Cycle Program, I broke down in tears. For the first time in a long time, I felt genuine hope again.
We cannot put into words how grateful we are to the Fertility Friends Foundation for restoring our belief that becoming parents is possible. Your generosity has given us renewed strength, renewed faith, and a second chance to build the family we have dreamed of for so long. We carry that hope with us every single day.
Thank you for changing our lives and helping us move one step closer to our miracle.
With endless gratitude,
Courtney & Josh Coleman
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.