Our Journey: Bridging Oceans for a Baby

Our Journey to Parenthood – Our Story We’re Rob and Liz, coming up on our 5th wedding anniversary and nearly 16 years together. Since 2019, we’ve dreamed of growing our family.  A dream that has endured through life’s unexpected twists and turns. We’ve always known we wanted to become parents, but our path has been anything but straightforward. In early 2022, Liz was diagnosed with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency, a condition that makes natural conception extremely difficult. During the genetic testing that followed, she also learned she is a carrier for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare and devastating genetic disorder that added yet another layer of complexity and heartache to our journey. Just months later, Rob was in a severe motorcycle accident that put our plans on hold while he focused on a long and difficult recovery. While the accident shifted our timeline, it never shifted our dream. The Path We’ve Walked We began trying to grow our family in 2019, full of excitement and hope. As we approach our 5th wedding anniversary, we’ve faced more obstacles than we could have imagined. Through it all, we’ve tracked cycles with gadgets, charts, and apps, endured countless rounds of bloodwork, peed on more sticks than we can count, and even experienced the heartbreak of a chemical pregnancy. We’ve tried holistic and natural protocols, each step bringing both hope and heartache. These experiences are part of our story:  a testament to our resilience, our love, and our commitment to becoming parents. About Liz Liz has dedicated her career to supporting children and families, earning degrees in Early Childhood Administration and a Master’s in Family and Society Services. For over 22 years, she’s worked to ensure children have the best start in life and that families feel empowered to ask for help when they need it. Never did she imagine she’d be the one needing that help to start her own family. Now, she’s determined to break the stigma of asking for support and to share openly about the realities of infertility. About Rob Rob is a constant source of strength, optimism, and humor. After his accident in 2022, he approached his recovery with resilience and determination,  the same qualities he brings to our shared dream of parenthood. His patience, creativity, and kindness will make him an incredible father. Whether he’s making someone laugh, fixing something with his hands, or sharing his love of the outdoors, Rob brings joy and stability to every moment. Why Portugal After years of research, consultations, and soul-searching, we’ve chosen to pursue fertility treatment in Portugal. This decision was about more than cost it was about values, ethics, and the future of our family. Portugal is one of the few countries in the world offering open-ID egg donation, which means our future child will have the option, when they are older, to access information about their donor. We believe that knowing where you come from is a gift, and we want our child to have the freedom to explore that part of their identity if they choose. For us, this is especially important after learning about Liz’s DMD carrier status ensuring our child has as much health and genetic information as possible is essential. The country also has strong oversight and ethical standards for donor programs, including comprehensive medical screenings and transparent processes. Many clinics keep donor health information updated, which means we can make the most informed choices possible for our child’s long-term well-being. Clinics in Portugal have success rates that rival, and in some cases exceed, many U.S. programs all while offering a more human-centered experience. Choosing Portugal also means our journey will include a place filled with beauty, culture, and warmth a place we hope to one day share with our child as part of their story. How You Can Help The total cost, including medical procedures, donor expenses, travel, and lodging, is still more than we can cover alone. We’re committed to making this happen, but we need our village to stand with us. Your gift, no matter the size, will bring us one step closer to holding our child in our arms. Thank you for taking the time to read our story, for cheering us on, and for helping us keep hope alive. We believe our family’s story is just beginning, and with your support, the next chapter will be one of joy. Want to follow along with us? Check out our journey on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579345745821 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passport.to.parenthood/