Campaign Story

My husband and I are starting this fundraiser with deep gratitude and hope. Our journey to parenthood has been shaped by medical complexity, loss, and perseverance, and we are seeking support so that the embryos we have already created may be given the opportunity to become the children we have long dreamed of raising.
I was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a serious congenital heart condition that has required lifelong medical care. Despite these challenges, I have always lived with determination and optimism. Becoming a mother has been my greatest dream, and my husband and I pursued that dream thoughtfully and under close medical supervision.
After struggling to conceive naturally, we underwent multiple rounds of IUI. One resulted in a pregnancy, and for ten precious weeks we believed our prayers had been answered. Tragically, we lost our baby boy at ten weeks. The grief from that loss was devastating, but it strengthened our resolve to continue forward and honor his life by continuing our pursuit of parenthood.
We then proceeded with IVF and were blessed with three healthy embryos. Under the care of the University of Pennsylvania, I was initially approved to carry one of our embryos. However, due to a recent change in UPenn’s medical guidelines regarding pregnancy in patients with HLHS, I was informed that I would no longer be permitted to carry a pregnancy. While this decision was made to protect my health, it was emotionally overwhelming, as our path to parenthood changed suddenly and completely.
At this point, gestational surrogacy is our only option. While we are profoundly grateful that this option exists, the financial burden associated with surrogacy is far beyond our means. As a result, our embryos—already created, healthy, and deeply cherished—remain in storage without a clear path forward. Without assistance, we may be forced to make decisions that conflict with our values and our hope for a family.
We are not seeking assistance to begin fertility treatment; rather, we are seeking help to give life to embryos that already exist and to complete the journey we began with care and intention. With your support, we could move forward toward embryo transfer via a gestational carrier, giving these embryos the chance they deserve.
I am a school teacher, and caring for and nurturing children is central to who I am. My husband and I are deeply committed to family, service, and giving back. If we are fortunate enough to become parents, we would raise our child with empathy, gratitude, and an enduring commitment to paying forward the kindness we have received.
Thank you for taking your time to read our story. Your generosity would allow us to transform loss into hope and help us finally complete our journey to parenthood.