Campaign Story

My name is James, and together with my incredible partner Audrey, we’ve built a life full of adventure in Reno, Nevada—from tending our backyard beehives to road-tripping in our new Tesla, dreaming of the day we’ll share those joys with a little one of our own. We’ve been partners in every sense, supporting each other through life’s highs and lows, but nothing has tested our bond like our journey to parenthood.

For years, Audrey has bravely battled endometriosis, a condition that’s shaped her entire life with pain and challenges. After heartbreaking tests, we learned it had led to the removal of both her fallopian tubes, making natural conception impossible. We tried everything—tracking cycles, tweaking diets with prenatal gummies and choline-rich meals, even exploring fertility tips from apps to acupuncture—but the odds were stacked against us. That’s when IVF became our beacon of hope, offering a chance to create the family we’ve always envisioned, with a healthy baby who’ll grow up buzzing with curiosity like their parents’ bees.

We’re thrilled (and a bit terrified) to share that today marks Day 1 of Audrey’s stimulation phase: starting with Follistim shots to grow those precious follicles and Garnirelix to keep everything on track. It’s a whirlwind of meds, nightly injections, and upcoming ultrasounds to monitor progress—but the costs are staggering. With Medicaid covering none of it, we’re facing $15,000+ out-of-pocket for this cycle alone: $5,000 in medications like today’s AQ cartridge, $2,000 for monitoring scans at places like Reno Diagnostic Centers, and the rest for the retrieval and transfer. We’ve saved what we can from my painting gigs and side hustles, but every dollar counts toward avoiding debt that could shadow our first family moments.

This fundraiser isn’t just about funds—it’s an invitation to join our story of resilience and radical hope. Imagine helping us turn syringe pricks into baby giggles, or funding that one ultrasound that confirms our miracle is on the way. Whether it’s $25 for a shot of Follistim or $100 to cover a scan, your gift brings us closer to cradling our child, teaching them about kindness, adventure, and the power of community.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, sharing, and believing in us. Let’s build this family together—one donation at a time. What’s one way you’ve seen hope win out? We’d love to hear.

With endless gratitude,

James & Audrey Sharkey