It all started at a daycare in Peoria, IL where we both worked. As time went on, Kynise and I became friends. Friends turned into best friends that turned into a seven years and counting relationship! Through the years, Keva and Kynise lived in Peoria and then moved to Chicago in 2018 to begin their family. Keva is an Assistant Principal at a charter school on the West side of Chicago and Kynise is a Chicago Police Officer.

While on this journey in late 2019, Keva and Kynise decided to take their relationship to another level. After an engagement, dogs and a house, we were still missing something. At the beginning of 2020, we decided to start a family! Being a lesbian couple, we knew this journey would not be easy. With research and recommendation, we discovered Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron at Fertility Centers of Illinois. After tubes of blood, polyp removal, ultrasounds and the first round of IUI; Kynise and I experienced our first negative pregnancy test.

Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron and her team did not want Kynise and I to give up. But we were financially confused and lost. With another recommendation, I applied for a grant through the Chicago Coalition for Family Building and we received the grant! With this grant, we were blessed to receive a positive pregnancy through IUI! Our son will be 3 years old in September and we cannot wait to expand our family with another grant!

Keva and Kynise are the recipients of a donated IVF cycle from our Partner Practice, Advanced IVF Institute.