When I (Laura) was 35, I froze my eggs in Chicago thinking I would have an insurance policy for the future. I had to do three rounds of IVF to get a good amount to freeze. Fast forward to 2019 when I met Ed, we were engaged in 2021, and we decided not to waste time and start our journey …

Shkendie and I (Jon) met in a jazz club in 2019. After many date nights at the Chicago Symphony, we quickly made a life together based on mutual respect, shared values and a love of travel, nature, food, art and music. From the beginning, it was always easy to talk about the big stuff, i.e. family planning, religion, and our …

Welcome to the biography of a (hopefully, soon to be) single gay Jewish dad, with unwavering determination and love for adventure, who is embarking on a unique path to fatherhood. For as long as I could remember, I have nurtured a deep desire to be a father. This idea has fueled my ambition and guided many of my life choices. …

We met in June 2011 through a mutual friend and were immediately drawn to each other’s warmth, sense of humor, and commitment to social justice. Since then, we have made a home with and for each other, building a loving community and strong partnership. We were married in the summer of 2018, and soon after, began more seriously discussing our …

My husband and I have been married for three years and have been trying to conceive for two. After three failed attempts with IUI, we were faced with the decision to try another IUI cycle or move on to IVF. Unfortunately, we did not have the funds to cover an IVF cycle, but luckily a family friend told us about …

We met at a mutual friend’s wedding in Iowa in October 2016 and the rest was history. We got married in August 2021 and have been trying to start a family of our own ever since. We both come from a family of four, so having a big family of our own has always been our dream. After a year …

Our love story began as a long-distance relationship. We met online eight years ago; we lived in two different states but met for our first date in a mutual city and the rest is history. We continued our relationship living states away and seeing each other when time permitted. Months into dating, I was picked up to go on Active …

Earlier this year, we discussed the possibility of expanding our family. The associated costs tied to our care were high, but our financial counselor shared alternate options and also mentioned CCFB. With this advice and the incredible help from CCFB, things started to make sense. We’re really thankful for this opportunity and it’s given us a lot of hope. The …

The beginning of our story is not unlike many love stories; we met, fell in love almost instantly, and were married surrounded by family and friends. The middle is where we have found our challenges as the path to parenthood has encountered many twists, turns, and seemingly impassable mountains. We are hoping with the support of this grant, we will …

My husband and I have always cherished the thought of children and having a large family. We met prior to me joining the military.  We were married halfway through my training in Texas, and we have been together through California, Japan and now Illinois. Sharing this experience with the love of my life has been a fun and life changing …

Sean and I met in 2018. I think what initially drew us to each other was the closeness we shared with our immediate families. We are both the middle child and have siblings with children whom we absolutely adore. Having met later in life, the conversation of marriage and children came up early. We both knew that in the very …

We met in late 2014 in stereotypical millennial fashion: online dating. After two years, it was clear we complemented each other very well and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together; however, there was one matter to settle—the desire to have children. It came as no surprise to us that building a family was a shared priority, profoundly …

We welcomed our son in June 2020 and he is truly our miracle baby. After suffering from recurrent pregnancy loss and multiple rounds of IVF, we were so excited to be pregnant with our rainbow baby. When the pandemic hit in March, we thought that would be the craziest thing to happen during our pregnancy. But, at 30 weeks pregnant, …

Bri underwent testing at 16 years old due to Unexplained Amenorrhoea. Following a blood analysis, she was referred to a reproductive endocrinologist where she was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) and Osteopenia in her spine as a result. It was then she learned she would need to use donated eggs to have children one day. Since her diagnosis, Bri …

Being a mother was always my plan. I have a storage locker full of items from my childhood and travels abroad that I am so excited to share. I have always yearned to pass down my Jewish traditions and values and to show my children the world’s cultures and countries that I have extensively explored. I am a Special Educator …

Jeremy and I (Sloane) met in 2017 and got married in December 2022. Ever since I was a little girl I have always wanted to marry the guy of my dreams and to become a mom. When I was six months old, I was diagnosed with a genetic disorder that is characterized by the development of non-cancerous tumors on nerves …