Gift of Parenthood
The Gees Fertility Journey Following Cancer

The Gees Fertility Journey Following Cancer

Organized by Samantha Gee.

$6,480

of $15,000

70

donors

$8,520

to go

Their story

My name is Samantha and my husband Michael was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on May 15th 2024 (our son’s 1st birthday). Since June he has been through a mediastinal biopsy to confirm type and subtype of the cancer, 4 ER trips, 2 hospital admissions, 6 rounds of chemo and countless number of scans/spinal taps/bloodwork/appointments. Prior to starting chemo, Mike was able to preserve 10 vials of sperm since there is a significant possibility he will be infertile following his treatment. Our insurance plan covers 3 IUI attempts. I’ve looked into grants for couples going through fertility treatments following cancer, however, our fertility clinic does not participate with Live Strong and in almost all cases, we make “too much” (over $70,000 combined) annually to receive assistance. Our fertility journey started in September and unfortunately those attempts have both been unsuccessful. At this point, IVF is looking like our only option. The good news is that Michael will be considered in remission by November 22nd. But with our hospital bills from Cancer/chemotherapy, IVF would most likely put our family into a financial strain. We are very fortunate and blessed have our sweet boy Lincoln and would love to be able to see him as a big brother . I am asking you to help us on this new path by donating to our fundraiser. We are seeking assistance with the financial burden of IVF, and would be honored if you could help. Even $5 would mean the world to us and help us fight for our future family. If you made it this far, thank you for reading.

70 believers

Newest first
  • Jolyne M. (Jodi) Kane$100
  • Anonymous$200
  • Beth Grier-Leva$50
  • Mary Riley$100
  • Collin Bowman$50
  • Michaela Eklund$25
  • Sierra Braden$25
  • Anonymous$150
  • Hope Phillips$100
  • Rhonda Smith$100
  • Amorette Hudzina$100
  • Leia Garrett$20
  • Laura Cirone$50
  • Anonymous$200
  • Debbie and Dave Forshay$100
  • Anonymous$500
  • Tierra Koch$20
  • Anonymous$150
  • Katrina Knapp$100
  • Tyler Jansen$100
  • Sydney Jones$20
  • Dominique Burri$100
  • Bradley Johnson$50
  • Clayton VaughnTop donor$1,000
  • Debbie Rockefeller$100
  • Robert LaRue$50
  • Elizabeth Vavra$50
  • Makenzie Conover$10
  • Adrienne Brooks$50
  • Kylie DeWilde$200
  • Holly Adams$100
  • Lexy Pomerville$30
  • Rachael McCormack$30
  • Patty Lovett$100
  • Alexis DeCesaris$100
  • Michael Mcdonald$25
  • Michael Morabito$200
  • Morgan Bruno$25
  • Lindsey Giovannini$100
  • Seth Steele$100
  • Nancy Busby$25
  • Chelsea Simmons$40
  • Kelly DePew$100
  • Alyssa Consiglio$20
  • Austin Clingerman$50
  • Lauren Allen$25
  • Kendra Greig$150
  • Kimberly Dodsworth$20
  • Ashley Owens$100
  • Elizabeth Lewis$35

Updates

December 21

Holding onto Hope

Life has brought us challenges we never imagined, but our dream of growing our family remains unwavering. Mike’s journey with Hodgkins lymphoma has taken an unexpected turn. Since his last round of chemo, he has continued to feel unwell, leading us to suspect the lymphoma might have returned. In October, his PET scan was described as “beautiful,” offering us a moment of relief. However, the December scan revealed new lymph nodes that are suspicious for lymphoma. We are currently awaiting a biopsy on his bone marrow, as the lymph nodes in his abdomen are too small and risky to biopsy at this time. If the bone marrow results come back negative, we’ll be forced to wait until new, more accessible lymph nodes appear for further testing. Even amid this uncertainty, we are continuing to pursue IVF. We want to give our son the incredible gift of a sibling—a bond we hope will bring joy and strength to their lives. This journey is not just about expanding our family; it’s about love, resilience, and the belief that brighter days lie ahead. To our family and friends: your prayers, words of encouragement, and unwavering support mean the world to us. We lean on your strength in these moments and are deeply grateful for the kindness you continue to show. Please keep us in your thoughts as we navigate these next steps, holding onto hope with all our hearts.

December 20

IVF

We’re sharing this update with full hearts and renewed hope. After three failed IUI attempts, we’ve made the decision to move forward with IVF. While this journey hasn’t been easy, your love, support, and contributions have given us the strength to keep going. IVF brings new possibilities, but it also comes with significant costs. The IVF procedure is $7,500, and medications—which aren’t included in the package—are an additional $4,000 to $6,000. On top of this, we’re also managing medical expenses related to Michael’s battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This journey has been emotionally and financially overwhelming, but we are determined to keep moving forward toward our dream of growing our family.