Sharing our fertility journey and asking for help hasn't been an easy decision. It's deeply personal and vulnerable, but this dream means so much to us that we're opening our hearts and leaning on this community and our village. Some dreams live in your heart so long you can't remember a time without them. For me, becoming a biological mom is one of those dreams. I'm one of five and grew up in a large extended family. Children have always been part of my world, and caring for them has always been close to my heart. When I was 9, my parents welcomed twins; I became a big sister again, but in a role that at times felt maternal, deepening my love for children and my dream of becoming a mom. Everyone assumed I'd have a house full of kids. Truthfully, so did I. But life unfolded differently. Jose and I met in 2021, bringing together different life experiences, families, and hopes for the future. Jose is a loving father to an amazing son whom I love and adore with my whole heart. I consider him my son, and having the opportunity to love, nurture, and help raise him is one of the greatest honors and blessings in my life. My hope to experience pregnancy and welcome a baby from the very beginning doesn't take away from the motherhood I already cherish. It's simply another part of that lifelong dream I hope to experience. Our path hasn't been without heartbreak. Over the past 6 years, my family has experienced tremendous loss, including all of my grandparents, my younger brother to suicide, my aunt to terminal brain cancer, and my 14-year-old cousin to a carbon monoxide/drowning accident. We're now preparing for another heartbreaking goodbye as my uncle is in hospice care. Jose has also experienced profound personal loss during this time, including the loss of close aunts and his grandfather. These experiences have shaped our lives, our priorities, and the timing of this journey. We've spent years navigating grief, caring for family, and finding our way through life's unexpected challenges; all the while, time kept moving. At nearly 40, we've learned my fertility outlook is far more challenging than we expected. I've been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), with an low AMH and AFC (5) and our specialist recommends IVF as our best chance of having a child together. I may also need surgery to remove a fallopian tube before treatment can begin. One of the hardest parts has been grieving the big family I once imagined. Given my age, fertility challenges, and financial realities, I've had to accept that the house full of children I dreamed about is likely no longer possible. I've made peace with that part of my story. But I haven't given up on becoming a biological mom. I don't need the big family I once imagined. I just want the opportunity to hold our baby in my arms. IVF offers us hope, but it also brings an overwhelming financial burden. Between fertility medications, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, genetic testing, possible surgery, and potentially multiple treatment cycles, the costs add up quickly. We're exploring insurance coverage and financial assistance to make this possible. But with my age and DOR, time is something we simply can't afford to lose. We've experienced so much loss, but we still have an incredible amount of love to give. And while we know IVF comes with no guarantees, we want to give this dream every chance we reasonably can. If you're able to contribute, share our story, or simply keep our family in your thoughts, we would be deeply grateful. You're helping us pursue a dream I've carried for a lifetime and a future Jose and I are now hoping to build together. With love and gratitude, Amber-Rae & Jose ❤️