Campaign Story

My name is Gabriel Bland, and I’m writing this on behalf of my wife, Allison, and myself. Our journey might look a bit different than most when it comes to discovering the need for reproductive assistance. I’ve known since birth that there was a 97% likelihood I wouldn’t be able to have children naturally. I was born with Cystic Fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects the entire body. Specifically for males with CF, it often results in something called Congenital Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens (CBAVD), which essentially means the biological path for sperm is missing.
This reality is something I’ve carried for a long time. I knew that if someone was willing to walk through life with me, they’d need to know this early on because it would significantly impact any plans to start a family.
Enter Allison.
Well, not exactly. Allison has actually been in my life for a very long time. She was my middle school crush. When our decade-long friendship turned into something more, that conversation, the hard one, came quickly. For many of my fellow CF peers, that conversation ends in heartbreak. But when I laid everything out to Allison, her response was:
“I choose you. No matter what we face, I choose you.”
I wept like a baby.
After we got married, it was time for us both to get tested. For Allison, we needed to know if she was a carrier of the CF gene, which would make having biological children incredibly unwise. Her results came back negative. She is not a carrier. We were in the clear.
As for my test, I think the fact that I’m writing this tells you everything you need to know. My wife might say I’m one in a million, but in this case, I landed squarely in the 97%. CBAVD positive.
So, we’ve known for the past six years. And six years of hoping and trying for a miracle have confirmed what science already told us: natural conception isn’t in the cards. That’s led us here, stepping into the waters of IVF.
We’ve met with Dr. Kanter at Shady Grove Fertility and are ready to begin our journey. Thanks to recent growth in my career, we’re in a position to support a growing family, even with the rising costs of everyday life. It’s just the overwhelming cost of IVF, on top of the normal costs of raising a child, that push things beyond our current reach.
I could write pages about all the reasons I know that any children in our life would be overwhelmingly loved and cared for. I could talk about how excited I am to be a father. I could talk about the community around us, a village of support that would uplift our family.
I could share about the hours of work Allison and I have poured into our marriage, seeking counsel, learning from wise mentors, and building the kind of foundation that can handle both the highs and the lows. I could talk about our faith and the confidence we have in Jesus to guide us as we become parents who raise children to thrive.
But more than anything, I could talk forever about the love I’ve seen in my wife. It is deep, sacrificial, and unwavering. Watching her become a mother is a dream I’ve held close to my heart. I know, without a doubt, that her love will shape a child into someone who feels safe, supported, and free to be fully themselves. I know this because she has already done that for me. Time and time again.
I know you must hear stories like this often. But I say this with every ounce of sincerity I can: Allison’s heart is extraordinary. She has poured herself out for her students as a special needs teacher. She cares for every animal and every living thing that crosses our path. She loves her family and community with fierce devotion. She is the clearest example of love I have ever seen, and I cannot think of anyone more worthy of being entrusted with a child. She and I both want that with our whole hearts.
So, this is my ask.
Please help us.
Help us have a family of our own.
With deepest gratitude,
Gabriel Bland