Campaign Story

Hi, my name is Maria, and my husband is Jordan. In April 2024, our lives changed forever. We were overjoyed to learn we were pregnant with our first baby, but that happiness quickly turned into heartbreak when we discovered the pregnancy was ectopic and required emergency surgery. As a result, I lost my right fallopian tube.

At the time, we were fortunate to have some fertility insurance coverage, which allowed me to quickly undergo further testing. Through that work-up, we learned that my remaining fallopian tube was completely blocked. At just 30 years old, I was diagnosed with tubal infertility and told that conceiving naturally would not be possible—we would need in vitro fertilization (IVF) to have a chance at growing our family.

Receiving this diagnosis was devastating, especially during my second year of residency training. I couldn’t help but think back to conversations I’d had with classmates during veterinary school. Some worried that prioritizing their careers might lead to fertility struggles later in life, and I remember reassuring them that everything would work out. It never crossed my mind that I would one day be the one facing these challenges.

Shortly after our diagnosis, we began establishing care with a reproductive endocrinologist and learning what our next steps would be. I had heard of IVF before, but I had no idea what the process truly involved—extensive testing, countless medications and injections, frequent appointments, long periods of waiting, and significant travel since we were living in a college town at the time. Despite the challenges, we remained hopeful. No additional issues were identified, and our doctor was optimistic.

We moved forward with our first IVF cycle, but the results were much lower than expected for someone my age. We tried again with a second cycle, only to face similarly disappointing results. After two rounds of IVF, we had just one viable, genetically normal embryo—but we held on tightly to hope, believing that one was all we needed.

Our first embryo transfer brought a moment of joy when we received a positive pregnancy test. We truly thought we had made it through the storm. Sadly, follow-up appointments revealed that the pregnancy was not viable, and I was diagnosed with a pregnancy of unknown location, presumed to be ectopic. The emotions that followed were overwhelming—grief, anger, confusion, and heartbreak all at once. It was incredibly difficult to understand why this was happening again.

We knew we would have to start over. By this time, I had completed my residency and was preparing to move closer to home, which meant transitioning to a new fertility clinic. I began the process as early as possible, even while studying for board exams and navigating a major move. Although we restarted the work-up in May 2025, we were only recently able to proceed with our third IVF cycle. Unfortunately, the results were even lower than before.

What we’ve learned through this journey is that every IVF cycle is different, and success often depends on finding the right medication protocol. That process involves significant trial and error—and with each attempt, the financial burden continues to grow.

We know that our path to building a family may be long and emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. At this time, we plan to continue pursuing additional IVF cycles in the hope of one day welcoming our already deeply loved baby. We also understand that we may need to explore other options in the future, such as egg donation, surrogacy, or adoption.

Currently, we are funding all fertility treatments entirely on our own. Even with discount programs and careful planning, the costs add up quickly. That is why we’ve decided to create this fundraising page. Any support—whether through donations, sharing our story, or spreading awareness—means more to us than we can put into words. Even if we are unable to reach our goal, we hope that sharing our journey helps shine a light on infertility, especially tubal infertility, and reminds others that they are not alone.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for supporting us in any way you can. 💛