Campaign Story

Hello,

My name is Sarah. My husband Keith and I are starting this page to help us raise money for IVF treatments.

Keith and I met in San Antonio, Tx, in 2009 on a double date, and we have spent practically every moment together since.

After three months of dating, I moved back home to Wichita Falls, and we continued our relationship long-distance. About a year later, Keith decided to make the move and join me in Wichita Falls. We married in 2012 and knew right away that we wanted to start a family.
Unfortunately, this is something that we have not been able to do.

We have spent so many nights dreaming about our little one throughout our 11 years of marriage. What they would look like, what their name would be.

As a pre-k teacher, I have watched as parents proudly drop their children off for the first day of school, and I have dreamed and longed for the day when Keith and I can take our child to their first day.

After consulting with our doctors, we decided that IVF would be our best option.

After taking out a loan, we began our journey in November of 2022. On May 29th, 2023 early in the morning, Keith and I headed down to Frisco for my embryo transfer. We were so excited but nervous. This was our one and only embryo. Our only chance. I was trying everything to calm my nerves. We tried to keep each others minds off of the negatives. We laughed at the goofy suit Keith had to wear that made him look like the marshmallow man, I took pictures of my pineapple socks ,and we made plans of where to get lunch. Finally, while waiting to be taken back to the transfer room, a nurse came in and handed me a picture of our embryo. We had never seen a picture before. I couldn’t stop smiling. There she was. I told Keith she looked like a bumblebee! The procedure was quick, and we left full of hope.

On June 7th, we made the trip down to the Southlake clinic for my first blood test. The drive down was nerve wrecking to say the least. As much as I tried to stay positive, I couldn’t help thinking that the test was going to be negative. The test took less than a minute and then we were back on the road for the two hour drive home.

They said we would hear back from them that afternoon. The wait felt like an eternity. Around 1:00 p.m the 214 area code popped up on my phone. I looked at Keith who had all
the hope and love in his eyes and I answered the phone.

“There’s a unique pain that comes from preparing a place in your heart for a child that never comes.” -David Platt

The next few weeks were filled with tears. Not wanting to get out of bed. Intrusive thoughts of not deserving to be a mother. Guilt for feeling so upset about something I never actually had in the first place. I was never pregnant and yet I felt like I had lost our baby. Talking with Keith and confiding in my best friend led me to realize that although I may not have been pregnant, I still had every right to grieve for our child that could have been. I had just spent the last year preparing my body with hormones and medicines that made me feel like crap. I had bruises all over my stomach and lower back from daily injections. I had put my body and mind through so much preparing for our baby and in an instant our dream was all gone.

The following weeks consisted of “what now?” We knew we wanted to try again. We also knew that there was no way we could possibly afford it.

The time came for my cycle to begin and unfortunately we weren’t able to find the funds. Another month has gone by, my cycle is set to begin, and we still don’t have the funds.

The payment for our IVF cycle is due in full before we can begin. That’s $21,175 up front. That doesn’t include the medicines I will need to purchase, the anesthesiology fee, or the gas and hotel money for the trips to Frisco/Southlake.

We are looking into programs and grants, praying we win the lottery, and sharing this link.

If you are still reading this, thank you. Any support would be so appreciated!

Blessings,
Sarah and Keith