Campaign Story

My name is Janissa and in 2019 I got pregnant with my husband. We had a week of bliss before I began losing my vision, fainting, feeling like my brain was on fire, and drifting in and out of consciousness. After several trips to the hospital, I got diagnosed with intracranial hypertension and Hyperemesis gravidarum as a severe reaction of the pregnancy. My body could not recognize the baby and began flooding CSF fluid to my brain resulting in intracranial hypertension. I had to have brain/abdominal surgery to get a permanent VP shunt placed and eye surgery on both of my optic nerve’s to release the built up pressure and save my life but the damage was done. After all the surgeries, medications, and weeks in the hospital and physical therapy, they were able to save my life but unfortunately, they were not able to save the baby. My doctors informed me I would never be unable to have another pregnancy. This has burned a whole in my heart for the past 6 years as I have always worked with kids and my husband is an only child so we dreamed of having our own. Our only hope now to build our family is through a gestational surrogate.

We recently began our fertility journey and quickly learned how expensive things can add up. It is clear to us our fertility journey will not be able to continue without assistance. I am asking you to help us make this possible against all odds by donating to our fundraiser. Any donation whatsoever would mean the absolute world to my husband and I.

I apologize for the lengthy message and appreciate the time you took to read this!

I also just want to say, to the people who donate on this platform, I hope you understand the impact you make on their lives and that you played a part in making the world a better place by brining a beautiful child into the world. THANK YOU!! If you are currently going through your own fertility journey and reading this, keep fighting! Your journey is far from over but it will all be worth it in the end! <3