We are a loving couple in Nova Scotia who have been dreaming of becoming parents and building a family together. As a same-sex couple, creating our family requires donor sperm and IVF, and we have been working toward this dream for a long time. We originally hoped to begin treatment last December, but the biggest obstacle has been the upfront cost. Nova Scotia's fertility program operates through a rebate system rather than providing the funding upfront, which means we have to pay the treatment costs ourselves before receiving eligible reimbursement. For us, coming up with that initial amount has been the hardest part. Despite that, we have continued moving forward. We have paid for our consultations and clinic fees, saved toward the $10,000 needed for egg retrieval, and applied for grants to help wherever we can. We were fortunate to receive a grant that covers half of our medication costs, and we have put together the majority of what we need for the first stage. We are now just $700 short of being able to move forward with egg retrieval. We also need to purchase donor sperm, which is an essential part of treatment for us and is unfortunately not covered by the grants we have found. After retrieval, we will need approximately another $8,000 for embryo transfer and implantation. We are continuing to save and apply for assistance, one step at a time. Our timeline makes this especially important. We have a limited window to secure the remaining funds and begin treatment. If we cannot move forward within that window, we risk losing our place with our fertility clinic and potentially facing a wait of approximately three years to start the process again. Because we hope to use my eggs, another three-year delay could significantly affect our opportunity to have a biological child together. We know that asking for help is a big thing. We have worked hard to get ourselves this far, and we are not expecting one person, grant, or fundraiser to pay for our entire journey. We are simply trying to bring together the pieces we need to make this possible. Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to becoming parents. And if you aren't able to donate, sharing our story means just as much to us. Thank you for taking the time to read about our journey, support us, and help us grow our family. ❤️