Campaign Story

My name is Lacey and this is my husband Billy. We have always talked about becoming parents someday. It was never a question of if, but when. At the age of 19 and 21, our life suddenly changed unexpectedly. My nieces lost their mother. In a matter of moments, their lives were turned upside down. Without hesitation, we stepped in and gained custody of them, becoming not only aunt and uncle, but parents in every way that mattered. We did not question whether we were ready. We simply knew they needed us, and love does not wait for perfect timing. Raising our nieces has been one of the greatest honors of our lives. They have brought joy, laughter, and purpose into our home. At the same time, caring for them has required emotional, physical, and financial sacrifices that we accepted wholeheartedly, because family is not something we turn away from when it becomes hard. Through it all, our dream of having a child of our own never disappeared. Instead, it grew quieter, tucked into the corners of our hearts as we focused on surviving and supporting those who needed us most. When we finally allowed ourselves to revisit that dream, we believed that after everything we had endured, this chapter might be gentler. It wasn’t. After months and months of trying and countless appointments, we received the news that changed everything once again: both of my fallopian tubes are blocked. The diagnosis was crushing. We were told that conceiving naturally would not be possible, and that IVF is our only path to having a biological child. There was no alternative treatment, no “wait and see,” no easier option. Just one road forward—and it came with an overwhelming emotional and financial cost. As parents already providing for two children who came into our care through tragedy, the financial burden feels especially heavy. We have learned firsthand that love alone does not pay medical bills, and that wanting a child deeply does not make the cost disappear. And yet, we continue to hope. Our journey has not been simple, but it has been deeply meaningful. We believe that this chapter—though difficult—can still end in joy. Our greatest wish is to welcome a child of our own into the family we have already built through love, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment. With the support of this fundraiser, that wish could finally become reality.