Hi everyone, If you know my husband and me, you know how much love we have to give and how deeply we long to become parents. Over the last few years, watching friends, family, and even strangers announce their pregnancies has been a heavy quiet pain. I'll be scrolling on my phone, see an announcement, and just start crying. I am so genuinely happy for everyone around us, but a piece of my heart aches every single time, wondering: When will it be our turn? My health journey has never been easy. I've faced medical hurdles for as long as I can remember—living as legally blind, managing thyroid issues, and navigating constant health struggles. On top of all that, my body does not ovulate on its own, and I deal with frequent, irregular periods. Every single time my cycle is off or late, a quiet little voice in the back of my head whispers, "Maybe you could be pregnant this time..." But deep down, I know it isn't true. Knowing my body isn't doing what it needs to on its own breaks my heart every month. We recently saw our doctor at UMMC, and our immediate next step is a comprehensive medical consult to assess my ovarian reserve (egg count) and map out our exact treatment plan. Because of my medical factors, our doctor made it clear: IVF is not just one of our options—it is our only path forward to having a biological child of our own. There is nothing in the world we want more than to bring a child into this life—a baby who carries a little piece of both of us, with my husband's beautiful features and the love we've built together over the years. I dream so deeply of those simple, precious moments: getting to surprise my husband with good news, sharing that big warm hug where we both just hold each other and cry happy tears, and hosting a gender reveal surrounded by our family loving on us and cheering us on. If you know me, you know that I mother everyone around me — it is simply who I am. I am nurturing by nature, and I pour that love into my beautiful niece, who I love more deeply than words can say. I foster a sweet outdoor cat named Oreo, who helps fill a small piece of the void in my heart, and I have two dogs, Millie and Maple, who I love fiercely and treat as my very own. But through all of that love, there is one thing my heart still aches for: a baby of my own. I want the chance to do this one thing myself — to love, to care for, and to raise a child who will be loved for exactly who they are, no matter the circumstances. Sometimes, to be completely transparent, the waiting and the health battles make me feel scared, and it's easy to feel like it will never happen for us. But through it all, the excitement and faith in our hearts stay stronger than the fear. We know in our souls that we have so much love to give a baby and that we can build a wonderful life for a child. As many of you know, IVF is a massive financial undertaking that health insurance rarely covers. Between the initial consult and scans, the base treatment cycle, mandatory lab fees, and specialty injectable medications, a single cycle costs between $16,000 and $18,000 out-of-pocket. We are working as hard as we possibly can—saving every penny, applying for fertility grants, and exploring every avenue available to us—but we cannot bridge this gap alone. We are starting this page to help cover our medical consult, core treatment expenses, and medication costs for our upcoming cycle. If you are able to donate, please know that no amount is too small. Every single dollar brings us one step closer to making our dream of becoming parents a reality. And if you aren't in a position to give financially, simply sharing our link, keeping us in your prayers, or sending positive thoughts our way means more to us than words can say. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving on us, encouraging us, and standing by our side as we take this big step toward building our family. With all our love, Lexi & Tyler