Gift of Parenthood
Help Esther&Constant Grow Their Earth-side Family

Help Esther&Constant Grow Their Earth-side Family

Jong Hwa Bessell, for Esther and Constant.

$14,023

of $20,000

67

donors

$5,977

to go

Their story

My sister Esther and her husband Constant are the strongest couple I've ever met. Their fertility journey is a harsh one with no guarantees, littered with ongoing obstacles but also glimmers of hope. Esther and Constant started their path to expanding their family almost six years ago when a checkup found several large fibroids, some of which were significantly invading her uterine wall, and necessary surgery meant that pregnancy may no longer be an option. Physical healing was painful and the wait to see and learn if her body would be able to support pregnancy was excruciating. Both her doctor and surgeon were amazed at the recovery and gave the thumbs up yet after several months hope had not brought the news of a baby. After consultation with specialists and test results, it became clear that they would need to go through the daunting processes of IUI and IVF treatments. With IVF cycle #2 Esther and Constant conceived Donnie, short for Donovan, their first baby. The promise of parenthood lit up their world with brightness and long sought after happiness. All of which was unexpectedly yanked from them at almost 14weeks when Esther contracted an infection that put her life at risk and sadly took Donnie's. The heartbreak of losing Donnie remains an open wound; the mourning an ever present reminder of love for their Angel Babies. Through many more obstacles Esther and Constant gathered the strength to continue. The 4th IVF treatment brought them news of Kai, their second Angel Baby. Kai with his brother Donnie are celebrated and missed deeply and we all wish they could join us here in the physical world. We are all comforted by the thought that our Mom, Constant's father, and many generations are able to take care of them along with Mommy and Daddy. Esther and Constant sold their house to help with the immense expenses of continued treatments (1 cycle costs $15-$20k and only some insurances cover some expenses), Esther lost her job due to Covid and through all of it they remain so hopeful to grow their earth-side family. Please join me in helping them make this dream a reality as insurance and savings are close to depleted. Thank you! A loving sister and auntie, Jong Hwa

67 believers

Newest first
  • Sungryong Jung$50
  • JENNIFER BARRETT$20
  • Anonymous$20
  • Abe Deshotel$50
  • Elizabeth Deshotel$20
  • Namvan Vanderstok$240
  • Kirstin Abrahams$100
  • Fuyuka Nakamo$80
  • Adriana Reyes$50
  • Kym Bender$50
  • Melvin Haft$200
  • Edina Oestreicher$25
  • Anonymous$100
  • Hanabeta Deshotel$40
  • Grace Joergensen$100
  • Andre Laudadio$25
  • Guus Schenk$50
  • Guus Schenk$0
  • Tifony Goodman-Svanberg$120
  • Heewon Lim$100
  • Bruce+Setsue Clarke$50
  • Anonymous$72
  • Chiyun Nojiri$100
  • OJ Hazard$100
  • Katya Nolan$100
  • Anonymous$50
  • Anonymous$20
  • Kathryn Satterfield$50
  • Daisuke Sawaki$100
  • Anonymous$100
  • Miki Nakai$100
  • AnonymousTop donor$1,000
  • Tony and Doris Formby$40
  • Highmy Her$500
  • Nam Hi Hwang$200
  • Chung Hee Bessell$266
  • Sam Orman$20
  • Lauren Fleet$20
  • Esther Schwyter-Koetsier$25
  • Colleen Boyd$50
  • Danjo Sawamukai$100
  • Laurie Loehr$50
  • Charles Breland$100
  • Ken Sohn$30
  • Yeoun-Jee Rengnez$100
  • Christine Haugen$20
  • Daniela Squizzato$100
  • Jennifer Kristy$100
  • Tamami Jeon$200
  • Cathy Kace$50

Updates

September 30

Path to a new beginning

Message from Esther and Constant: It’s been 9 long months of healing after loss ❤️‍?, planning, working on our health, waiting, fundraising, and hoping that the stars would align, and bring us our little miracle baby. Of course we’d hoped our little miracle would manifest out of all our own natural TTC (trying to conceive). It has not yet been the case. Yet, another door has opened and with your immense support we are able to pursue another IVF cycle @illumefertility with our amazing Reproductive Endocrinologist doctor @drshaunwilliams, phenomenal naturopathic doctors @easton_integrative_medicine @drkatierose, acupuncturists and soo many more. Nothing compares to their insight, wisdom, experience, guidance and kindness. While difficult days, weeks and months have been on our path, who knows what is to come. Either way, I appreciate the moment of a new beginning. Beauty can grow out of sheer pain and anguish and I look to see it on our path. The loss of our angel babies is part of our story. And I miss our little Donnie & Kai. I also know they are with us, as we continue our family building journey. #fertilityjourney #ivf5 #ttcafterloss #ivfwarrior #angelbabymom #gratitude #traumahealing #ivfgotthis #growwhereyouareplanted #griefandlove #efttapping #naturopathicmedicine #innerstrength #misscarriage #IVFisATeamSport * Esther and Constant are currently at the beginning of growing their family through IVF. This is their fifth cycle.

June 8

Gratitude and Next Steps

“Thank you” does not seem to cover the amount of gratitude we (Esther and Constant, and me too) feel for everyone who has taken the time to support the fundraiser. I’m very much hoping we can bring them to the full amount and cover their next IVF cycle! June 30th is a special day. On that day we will be honoring Kai’s original due date. It is also the last day of this fundraiser; a way of bringing Kai’s love and support to his parent’s journey. In preparation for the next IVF cycle Esther and Constant have been going for preparatory testing to make sure all systems are functioning at optimal levels. There have been challenging news and more hurdles to tackle before the next cycle can be scheduled. While I won’t be going into details it is always amazing to understand how many things have go right. Esther and Constant are working hard and diligently to be able to start the next cycle of IVF in August/September. Thank you for taking the time to read their story. Thank you for sending love, sticky thoughts, hope, and well wishes. And thank you for your incredible generosity! Please help me in continuing to share this fundraiser with your extended network and social media. With a grateful heart, Jong Hwa