Family Stories Sheeba and RiteshWe felt so shattered when we were diagnosed with PCOS soon after getting married in 2011. Within a few months my wife was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism, which compounded the problem of infertility. Struggling to fulfill our dream of having a baby, we started visiting doctors for help. We got the same advice of going for IVF …

Family Stories Raquel and JustinWe have been married since January 12, 2018 and began trying to conceive way before that. We consulted several doctors regarding our issue and were disappointed to find out that are best chances for conceiving would be through IVF. We adopted two puppies, Asia and Sushi, to try and fill the gap in our hearts. Although they …

Family Stories Jacqueline and Oscar We have known each other for 11 years and have been married for four years. After our engagement, Oscar was involved in an devastating motor vehicle accident that left him permanently in a wheelchair. We attempted several IUI treatments, but they have been unsuccessful. We decided to apply for a Coalition Grant after our fertility doctor …

Family Stories Nicole and LanceWe have been married for 6 years, and have been trying to conceive for half of those. We have a wonderful home and two amazing dogs but still our hearts ache for a child. We have tried just about everything to grow our family, including two IVF cycles, both which were unsuccessful. We maxed out our limited …

Family Stories Lora and RobertLora and I met on match.com in November 2010. She’d just moved to the Chicagoland area. I took a chance and messaged her first. Almost four years later we were married in her hometown of Ames, Iowa. We live in the Kenosha area now. Lora works as a youth librarian, while I’m a barista, writer, and aspiring …

Family Stories Lindsay and MatthewAfter a year of being married, we decided it was time to start our family! However, what came next was two long years of trying, multiple doctors, endless procedures, and lots of disappointment; all of which we were unexpected. There’s been many bumps in the road: our first reproductive endocrinologist retired, our second reproductive endocrinologist was unsuccessful; …

Family Stories Kristen and MatthewMy fiancé, Matt, was admitted to the hospital for chronic lung allograft rejection when I met him for the first time four-and-a-half years ago. I was his nurse and, unbeknownst to me at the time, I ended up transferring the love of my life to the ICU where he waited for his second, life-saving bilateral lung transplant …

Family Stories Danielle and Dan We starting dating at 19 years old, so when we married at age 30, we felt beyond ready to start trying to grow our family right away! Danielle was diagnosed with Stage IV endometriosis at age 28 so we began our process with the Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) right away to be proactive. As we …

Family Stories Brittany and JohnJohn and I have been married for six years and we have spent most of those six years trying to get pregnant. We got pregnant in 2012 and in 2015, but unfortunately both ended in miscarriages. We have had many tests done and unfortunately we don’t have any answers. There is nothing we want more than to …

Family Stories Nao and NicholasOur journey together started when I spotted this unbelievably stunning woman across a café. After mustering up some courage to talk with her, and despite a hilarious language barrier, we clicked immediately. Since our first encounter, it has been the best six years of my life. We have been able to support each other through hardships, all …

Family Stories Josie and EstenOur journey began a little over four years ago when, just before my 25th birthday, I had emergency open heart surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm and dissection. I was so young, and what happened was so severe that my cardiothoracic surgeon suspected a connective tissue disorder. After consultations with geneticists and cardiologists, what my surgeon suspected …

Family Stories Emilie and MarkOur beautiful five-year-old son, Finn, our beloved only child, passed away suddenly in March 2018. We were in the middle of our first IVF attempt when it happened. Finn was a bright, happy, loving little boy, and was so excited to be a big brother. Mark and I have struggled with infertility for years, and we are …

Family Stories Jeanette and BrianWe are Brian and Jeanette. We have been together for 13 years and married for 10. Over four years ago we started trying to have a baby and very quickly realized that we were going to need “extra” help conceiving. We started on a now four year infertility process that has included Clomid, IUI with injections, and …

Family Stories Casie and ClayGreetings from Indiana! We are Team Claysie (otherwise known as Clay & Casie.) We first met in high school and yes, we even went to prom together. After some “on again, off again” dating we decided to stay “on” permanently when we got married in 2004. Clay was a pastor for over 10 years and now owns …

Family Stories Amanda and MichaelAfter a few years of not getting pregnant on our own, we sought the help of a reproductive endocrinologist. We were still unsuccessful after going through several IUI procedures over a four year span, trying different medications and never missing an appointment. When we found out that the next step was IVF, we thought our dreams were …

Family Stories Lindsay and ShawnWe are Lindsay and Shawn, a young (ages 30 & 34), happily married couple of over eight years, who cannot wait to complete our family with a child. After trying to conceive on our own and with fertility treatments for four years, we realized adoption was our destiny. Our experience with infertility not only opened our eyes …

Family StoriesJuliana and AndrewEver since they married in 2012, the couple dreamed about their future family. Andrew is a high school principal and Juliana is an elementary school counselor. They couldn’t imagine a future without little ones of their own. “I always knew I wanted to be a dad,” says Andrew. “As soon as I met Juliana, I knew even …

Family StoriesKerri and JasonWhen Kerri and Jason Stallard married nine years ago, they knew they wanted to have a family. The pair hoped to have a biological child of their own, and then adopt a child. Jason’s father had grown up in an orphanage, and the couple had seen firsthand the effects of someone not having a family. “The idea …

Family Stories Colleen and NeilColleen and Neil began trying to conceive in 2010 without any concerns about infertility. It was a slow realization that something was not quite right. After numerous failed treatment cycles and complications, they decided to pursue adoption as the best route to have a family. “We were devastated and at a loss for how to move forward. …

Family Stories Ashley and Kate“We met in 2009. It really was love at first sight, and we were married shortly thereafter in 2012. We have created a beautiful life together, and are the parents of three furry children. Our home is one filled with love, warmth, silliness and unconditional acceptance. There is only one thing that was missing from our home …

Family Stories Peggy and Jake“I have worked as a Labor & Delivery Nurse for 15 years and I had helped countless babies come into this world. We want our chance to bring a child into our family with all the most love we have. We both have large, loving and extremely close extended families and friends, who have been praying for …

Family Stories Amber and Scott“We never imagined we would have trouble getting pregnant, but it has given us a glimpse into the struggle of many. It’s not a road that we walk alone, but it is filled with ups and downs that can feel lonely, and although we are thrilled for those around us that are having children, we can’t wait …

Family StoriesChristine and Brett“I have always wanted five children. Five – not four, not six, but five. We learned that without medical intervention, that number would likely be zero.” Christine and Brett tried for years to have a child before learning they would need IVF to help them make that dream a reality. But like many patients, they were stopped …

Family Stories Kristen and JoeThey started trying to have a baby in November, 2014. “You set out on this process to have a child and you naively assume that this is supposed to be the easy part.” It has been anything but and after years of fertility’s physical and emotional pain, Kristen and Joe knew IVF was their only option and …