I grew up in south Texas and moved to central Illinois after meeting my now-husband, Alex, who is from Illinois.

We have spent the last nine years together, with the past three of them trying to grow our family. Despite the hurdles and speed bumps that having children is seeming to entail, we are looking forward to a long, happy life together with lots of love and lots of babies.

I am eternally grateful that science has given us the option to ensure any future babies we have will not be affected by the overlapping recessive condition we both have.

Josephine and Alexander are recipients of a Willow Grant.