It’s time.

 

It has been a long time of waiting. Waiting for the time to move forward collaboratively toward the next steps in our family’s journey. 

For those who do not know our whole story, feel free to glance back at our old blogs. 

This blog is to focus on the present and the future. 

What is next? 

We are prayerfully looking for a surrogate to finally give our long awaited embryo a chance at life. 

Since I lost my uterus to uterine cancer back in 2018, we went through creating an embryo fall of 2018. 

God has been orchestrating a plan the past 6 years and although we don’t know what the plan will look like, we know we can trust Him to restore and redeem all that was lost. 

Since we knew the sensitivity and risks of the situation with using a surrogate, we had our embryo tested for quality for viability and decreasing the health risks for a surrogate, and a miscarriage. 

Our embryo is high quality (meaning very viable). 

We are praying for a surrogate who is willing to partner with us for at least a year. We work with Nashville Fertility and have opportunities to work with some of the best drs in the area. 

The process would begin with conversation with the potential surrogate, prayer, and then a counseling session with Jason and I, a licensed counselor and the surrogate (and her husband if she’s married).  

The fertility clinic does have stipulations which they check through with the surrogate before approval. 

They usually will do a mock transfer cycle to prepare the surrogate for the official transfer. 

We would cover all medical costs for the surrogate as well as childcare (if needed) for appointments, provide surrogate friendly insurance if needed, maternity clothes, dietary needs… 

If this is something that you would like to consider helping our family with growing, please let me know. 

This is just the first step through faith that God has a specific plan in place for us to take the next steps in growing our family. 

Adalyn is not aware of this progression at this time simply because we have no idea how long this next step of finding a surrogate God has prepared will take.  She has been a part of the process in the past, but no conversations have taken place with her for over a year. 

We have been waiting this long, and again we are waiting with open hands during this step. 

The last post was an update about our journey with surrogacy. This one is a quick update about my remission! 

Had my official remission appointment last Thursday. New Dr since mine retired literally weeks after my hysterectomy. He’s nice and was positive- even taking about our surrogacy journey- he took the time to find out about me at this point which was encouraging of course. 

He did his exam and said “everything looks great! I’ll see you in 6 months!”  Phew!! The absolute easiest oncology visit I’ve had. New phase in my health journey, new Dr to take me through the transition.  I cried tears of relief. 

He even said that bc of my type of cancer and my current diagnosis (all clear), I should have no reason to not go through hormone treatment if we ever decided to go through another retrieval. Praying we won’t have to make that decision and all will go well with this precious potential future child.  

Thank you for the support and prayers as we are constantly acknowledging  God's hand in this. We are reminded (as I said in last post) that even through the advancements in this process, God is in control. Despite all the great numbers on paper at retrival, only one embryo was usable (grew and healthy). 

Financially- it’s overwhelming. But we are trusting that God has lead us this far- he will continue to provide. Money is not life (but it helps). 

So, I guess I missed the part that said that the PGA testing results don’t come in for 2 weeks. So they freeze the ones that grew into embryos and then wait for the results. So- I got a call and they said that out of the 4 embryos one of them was healthy. The other 3 would not have survived the transfer which is why we did the tests since we are using a surrogate.  My nurse asked if I wanted to go through another retrival process, but considering my health, we are not going to consider it unless this transfer fails. We are hoping to not have to  make that decision, but we are also very mindful of what my two health drs tell us. I have a check up w the oncologist this week and another chest exam in January- so our decisions will be based on what those check ups/drs say.



So one- we have one little healthy embryo waiting! We are hoping for a November/early December transfer.  Lots of prayer not only for our peace, and a sticky baby, but for our surrogate as she embarks towards this next step-peace for her.

This process is humbling to say the least. Remembering with each step competed, we are not in control. God is the author of life. This process paints the image of God as the creator more than ever.

We are forever grateful for our surrogate and her husband for stepping into this priceless journey! No matter what happens, she is already a rockstar!

We have 4 usable embryos!
We are moving towards the next few steps that hopefully will go quickly and we can move towards an October or November transfer!

(If you’d like a t-shirt, let me know. We have to have a minimum of 5 shirts in our order to reciece funds, so it’ll have to be more like 10 requests for a shirt before we would launch another t-shirt order.)

Quick update thus far for those who have been supporting us in a variety of ways!  Retrieval went really well. 12 retrieved. And then 9 fertilized!! We are now waiting for the phone call on Wednesday to tell us which ones made it to bioplast (became an embryo) and which ones are healthy enough for a transfer. ❤️❤️

Btw- didn’t expect to have after egg retrieval pain! But- ouch. Trying to regulate my system and decrease bloating/swelling coming off of high hormone meds and letting my one little ovary return to normal size!

We are going to be praying hard at this point for continued peace and direction as we can only afford one surrogate (7k-10k each), although we want so badly to use both since our numbers were high- they only transfer one embryo due to health and safety for the surrogate. (Thankful for that). Keep prayin for us!!

I was just lying here thinking about tomorrow. Thinking about how great the process thus far has been.  I’ve had more support than I thought through this and they are excited for me and our family’s next phase of life. We are in a new phase. After many disappointments and heart aches and breaks the past several years, getting good results health wise and fertility wise  is reenergizing and uplifting. Seems as if this part wasn’t the issue (we knew that). It was just the growing chamber that was broken. :/  We are still humbled that we get to take this ivf/surro route to grow our family. We are almost broke and take each bill as one step at a time, but after spending so much $ on my health the last few years to preserve fertility,and  my health , we know money comes and money goes. God knew when he made me, I was not a quitter when facing a challenge given to me. This is my journey. God doesn’t give the same circumstances to everyone.  He has equip me for this phase. So for that- I’ve endured 2 weeks of injections, multiple appointments and blood work and now- waiting. Egg retrieval is tomorrow. We find out Friday which ones made it to embryos and then next week, which ones are strong enough to be used. My ivf nurse did not anticipate such a successful suppression cycle, but we have had amazing results- 7 or 8 to be retrieved! We also know not all of them will make it- maybe 1/2 maybe 1/4. A bit restless, but I know we have dedicated our minds to one step at a time. I know multiple people who did not make it to this step on the first attempt. I know many who have to repeat these steps multiple time to prep for egg retrieval. I don’t know what will happen, but I know we are surrounded by amazing support and prayer for each step! Those who have walked closely with us the past 4 years and are rejoicing at this phase for our family.  Thank you- you are my inspiration when I doubt, fear or want to give up.

So-we proceed to the procedure tomorrow and then we wait. Thank you for the continued prayers as we step into another level. Day by day.  I’ll try to keep up with this blog as we move towards transfer day!

Thankful at this point, despite what seemed like an end to having another biological child, we were told by the dr that I could keep an ovary. Not something we expected to be able to do, so we are thankful! I was highly encouraged to get the genetic testing to determine my course of preventative tests at this point. The particular cancer gene they tested for, I did not have. Phew. Thankful. So, with knowing that, along with being able to keep an ovary, we decided after much research, seeking professional guidance to educate ourselves, we decided to move forward- one step at a time with surrogacy. We are about a month into the process and I have begun our part of the process with the dr. Each phase demands a financial responsibility and in the end we will have needed about $16k, if we progress smoothly. Our financial goal is much lower than the average thanks to blessings from insurance and from some dear friends here in town who have a big heart and are willing to carry a future child for us. We are applying for grants, funding, and literally taking one step at a time.
Thank you for your prayer, encouragement, and support as we continue this journey through this currently open door.
We may have never thought we’d be faced with this journey, but we would never had been able to make it this far without support and prayer. There has been light in the midst of a darker situation.  It takes a village! #brewervillage
We have our first fundraiser started. Feel free to share the link.
 https://www.bonfire.com/it-takes-a-village-13/