Campaign Story

Hi, we’re Rachel and Jake — just two people who love each other, love our kids, and have been holding onto hope for one more baby.

We’re parents to two beautiful daughters, ages 7 and 5, who fill our home with laughter, energy, and love. I (Rachel) work as a toddler teacher’s assistant, and Jake is a machine operator in construction. We live a simple, honest life — built around hard work and family.

For the past three years, we’ve been trying to grow our family. Our daughters have been asking us for a sibling, and we’ve dreamed of the day we could give them one. But it’s been a long, painful road filled with complications that have made conceiving naturally impossible.

After the birth of our second daughter, I had a tubal ligation. I was young, and my pregnancy had been incredibly hard — I suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that left me in and out of the hospital. I trusted what I was told by doctors at the time, but I didn’t fully understand how permanent that procedure was or how deeply I’d come to regret it.

Years later, when we felt ready for another baby, we learned that IVF would be our only option. I also discovered that I have low ovarian reserve, which made things even harder. Still, we remained hopeful. We did one full round of IVF — the only one we could afford — and out of everything, we ended up with just one embryo.

We prayed over that embryo. We dreamed about who they might become. We transferred it with every ounce of love we had.

But it didn’t stick.

And just like that, everything was gone. No embryos left. No backup plan. No savings to try again.

We’re sharing our story now because, truthfully, this is our only chance to try again. IVF is not just financially overwhelming — it’s emotionally exhausting. But we’re not ready to give up. We still believe there’s one more heartbeat meant for our family.

This fundraiser isn’t just about medical costs. It’s about hope. It’s about giving our daughters the sibling they’ve been wishing for. It’s about completing the family we’ve longed for all these years.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. It means the world that you’ve taken time to hear our story. And if you choose to support us — in any way — please know you are giving us more than a donation. You are giving us a reason to keep hoping.

With love,
Rachel, Jake, and our girls 💛