Campaign Story

Hello, we are Jude and Lesley Swanson! (Though if you’re seeing this you already know that ☺️)

This isn’t something we would normally do, but this process is incredibly important to us and one of the most pressing challenges we are facing is the financial barrier that comes with IVF. Making this request of course requires a great deal of vulnerability, but despite this being a personal matter( under typical circumstances) we feel the need to reach out for support.

We have been married for 9 years and have faced varying difficulties on our journey to becoming parents. The most notable being the miscarriage we experienced in 2023 (cover picture is early sonogram from that pregnancy) which ,due to the nature of the pregnancy loss’ circumstances , was rather drawn out and even more difficult to experience than we could have ever imagined. We resumed our plans for growing our family as soon a physical healing would allow. We followed medical recommendations, plans, and treatments with no success. We are currently working with Shady Grove Fertility in Roanoke, VA. We have now attempted IUI without positive results. The next and best option is IVF, the prediction model shows our chances of success with this method are high/above average. The current barrier we face moving forward is a financial one. Unfortunately neither of our health insurance policies help in any way with the costs associated with this process.

Jude and I recognize that we have been blessed in many ways and we have gratitude for the level of security with which we live. With that in mind we also do not have access to the means that would make this realistic without additional support and we do not make this request lightly. We are also researching and applying to grants and other funds at this time. We don’t live a particularly luxurious lifestyle to begin with and try to live within our means (driving the same car for a decade +, same phone for 7+ years until they’re non functioning, years without vacations, we build/thrift/ inherit nearly all home furnishings, etc.). We have by no means done this perfectly and are actively working to make the sacrifices we have to in order to make this process possible. However any additional support that anyone can provide would make a huge difference for us and would put us in a better position moving forward when we hopefully get to become parents.

Becoming parents is a dream of ours, particularly for Lesley, who has had this dream since she first held a baby doll. We still have our nursery set up from our first time expecting, we just need a baby to make our home and family complete. We are parents living without a child. We have tried to show resilience when faced with life’s challenges, this is particularly true for Lesley, but these struggles have honestly been heartbreaking. Still we are trying to be hopeful. We know parenthood will bring its own challenges, but we have put a great deal of love, work, and intention into being the best people , the couple, and future parents we can be for our child. We are ready to face those challenges and most of all love that child ,if we can only get a chance.

With love,
Lesley and Jude