Campaign Story

My name is Kelechi and I have always known I wanted to be a mother. Even at a very young age I treated my baby-dolls like real babies; never holding them by their feet or letting them lie face down in their makeshift cribs. I became a mother’s helper at age 10, supporting a young mom in my community every day after school when her second child was born and she needed an extra pair of eyes and hands.
When I met Edgar in 2013 and saw him interacting with his young nephew, I knew I’d found someone who could make that dream come true and who would be just as loving, as invested, and as dedicated to our children as I planned to be. Almost 10 years slipped by as we moved into an apartment together, developed close bonds with each other’s siblings, took on new hobbies, developed our careers, and committed to a life together. I stopped taking birth control in 2019. We weren’t yet actively trying for a baby but had decided that pregnancy would be a welcome blessing that we were ready to handle. I lost most of the weight I had gained over the years and he was in seemingly the best physical shape of his life (excepting his Army years).
On July 23, 2021, our lives were turned upside down. The pandemic had been gentle on us for the most part- I had transitioned from an R&D job into a strategy role that did not require me to go into the office, and he had just gotten a case management position at a promising law firm in Beverly Hills. Gradually though, we began to see changes in his health, to the point that his daily drive into work became unbearable. Edgar got a colonoscopy and almost immediately we were told by the physician that the most likely diagnosis was colorectal cancer. What followed was a blur of misery. One of the worst memories was the sperm collection process. Watching the shell of my partner drag himself into that office, pain etched on his face and despair in his voice as he told me he just couldn’t do it was one of the hardest experiences of my life.
Luckily, we were able to collect four precious vials and store them for free for one year thanks to California law. Edgar battled his cancer through chemotherapy and radiation for a whole year. He was out of work, and we were trying to make do with his disability payments but covering the cost of his treatment, as well as our rent, food, gas, and everything else he needed to be moderately comfortable was a significant hardship that took a toll on my savings.
Edgar was declared cancer free in August of 2022, without needing surgery. Though unbelievably grateful for this, I suddenly had to reckon with the cold facts: I was 32, my partner was still loaded with radiation and chemicals, and my dream of having children had never looked so unlikely. I’m not the type to give up on the things I want, though. I decided we would try IVF. According to my endocrinologist I am a great candidate. He calls my uterus an “easy” shape, says I’m still on the right side of 34, and marks my charts with smiley faces. But he can’t do anything to ease the financial strain of a situation I’d never planned for or imagined having to resort to.
When I think that money could be the reason I’m prevented from having the family of my dreams, I feel like I’ve let myself down in some irreparable way. Years of studying and working, nursing and supporting, being responsible with my health and my finances have still led me here. I have learned a valuable lesson though- it’s ok to ask for help. Thank you for reading and for any contribution you are able to make!