Campaign Story

My name is Sarah, and I am 32 years old. For as long as I can remember, endometriosis has shaped my daily life. I was finally diagnosed in my early twenties, and my first surgeon told my family, “I wouldn’t even touch her to do a hysterectomy.” That moment made it clear how severe my condition was.
A few years later, I found a fertility specialist who also specialized in complex endometriosis. He performed extensive surgery, reducing my stage 4 disease to stage 3, and told my husband and me that we had 12–18 months to try for a pregnancy with IVF. At that time, we simply did not have the financial ability to begin treatment.
My husband, Matt, is 31 and is a veteran who was later diagnosed with Sertoli-cell–only syndrome, meaning his body does not produce viable sperm. Because of this, our only path to parenthood is through IVF using a sperm donor.
We later sought another opinion and were encouraged to try IUI, being told there was “no reason” we shouldn’t get pregnant that way. After three failed IUIs and many negative tests, we were told, “I guess you’re just one of the people IUI doesn’t work on.”
Our IVF Journey:
Determined to move forward, we took out loans and emptied our savings to pay for IVF. We selected a donor and began the egg retrieval process. After retrieval, I developed OHSS, a painful and frightening complication. Still, we remained hopeful.
Our first transfer resulted in a low positive pregnancy test—but we were told to stop medications. At our follow-up appointment, the clinic wanted to repeat the exact same protocol without investigating why things failed. We knew we needed a second opinion.
Finding Answers:
At our next clinic, the doctor immediately began thorough testing—something we had been missing all along. Through his evaluation, I was diagnosed with:
Endometritis (requiring 6 rounds of antibiotics and 6 biopsies)
MTHFR gene abnormalities affecting blood clotting
A history of severe endometriosis
Once I was finally treated appropriately, we attempted to use the embryos from our previous clinic. Our first transfer led to a blighted ovum, ending in a medical miscarriage at 7 weeks. After healing, we tried again and reached 8 weeks before discovering there was no heartbeat, ending in another devastating miscarriage.
Where We Are Today:
Despite the losses, the physical pain, and the emotional toll, we are still fighting to become parents. We have fought through surgeries, complications, failed cycles, financial strain, and unimaginable heartbreak — but we have not given up.
We are hoping for support so we can continue treatment with the specialists who have finally given us answers, hope, and a real chance at success. Our dream is simple: to bring home a healthy baby.
Thank you for considering our journey.