Hi friends and family, Thank you so much for reading this (long-winded) narrative. We're raising funds to help us realize the dream of building our family through IVF! IVF is expensive (100% out-of-pocket), stressful, and emotionally and physically grueling. We've already (shockingly!!) been chosen as recipients for a $10,000 grant from the Hope for Fertility foundation! We appreciate your specific prayers and support as we walk through our IVF journey with the hopes of seeing our dream to be parents come true. We are starting IVF in February 2025. "May your fear be afraid of the size of your dreams." Patrick and I got married in 2012, and in 2017, after finishing our schooling, decided we would give being parents a shot. You may have experienced the feelings - great anticipation, excitement, and dreams taking form. But instead of a positive pregnancy test, the months dragged on and the nagging feeling that something was wrong got stronger. On the heels from a move back to Pat's hometown, I went to fertility acupuncture and different ob-gyns for months to try to figure out what was wrong with no answers. In fact, all of my tests came back fine. In 2021, I found a NaPro (Natural Procreation) doctor whose aim was to heal fertility by addressing root causes. This doctor said it was very likely I had the silent version of endometriosis, a very widespread disease affecting 1 in 8 women that frequently causes infertility. Sadly, this doctor used a surgical technique called ablation that did not help, but in fact made my internal adhesions and scarring exponentially worse. On average, endometriosis takes 10 years to diagnose. Why? Most doctors don't know very much about it, and many self-proclaimed endometriosis surgeons are not skilled enough to truly remove it. (Surgery is the #1 treatment on the road to healing from endo.) Those were dark years for us. The path of infertility is bewildering, lonely, isolating, and invisible. It's so hard on couples. The grief is weird because it's a daily dose of your dreams slipping away from you. We learned how to relinquish control and truly surrender our lives to God's plan. In 2023, I found a better endometriosis excision surgeon and had two further surgeries in 2024. I've been doing weekly fertility acupuncture again for months, eating a non-inflammatory diet, learning about IVF, and praying for miracles. We've seen many little miracles come true - like the incredibly generous $10,000 grant from Hope for Fertility Foundation!!! We will go to Dr. Anne Davis at Pearl Mini IVF, who specializes in cases like mine. We believe that God has led us here as opposed to other avenues. Thank you so much for supporting us and please keep us in your thoughts & prayers as we navigate fundraising, IVF bills, and the many appointments, phone calls & details that await us. We've made it too far to stop now, and we're going for our dreams! Miracles happen every day. Please feel free to share our story with those in your life who may have endometriosis or who are facing the challenge of researching IVF & clinics. I would love to share what I've learned & accompany other women on this path! "But those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31