Becoming a mother has been one of my greatest hopes for as long as I can remember. I always imagined that by this point in my life, I would have a home filled with children, laughter, and all of the beautiful chaos that comes with raising a family. Life, however, didn't happen on the timeline I expected nor anticipated. After witnessing my sister have a hysterectomy, I decided at the age of 38 to freeze my eggs to preserve my chance of becoming a mother in the future. Now at 42, I have learned of the causes of my infertility, have undergone related surgeries, and I am now biologically at the mercy of those frozen eggs. According to my health providers, "time is of the essence" for me. I've worked hard to prepare for this next chapter of my life, physically, emotionally, and financially. I've also continued building my career and educational endeavors. As proud as I am of these accomplishments, becoming a mother remains a dream that is incredibly important to me. The next phase of treatment includes fertilizing my frozen eggs, necessary embryo-related services, and if viable embryos develop, an embryo transfer. Unfortunately, much of this process is not covered by my insurance, leaving significant out-of-pocket expenses. Asking for financial help is not something that comes naturally to me, but I've learned that sometimes pursuing something deeply important means allowing others to support you. Any contribution will go toward these fertility expenses. If you're unable to contribute, simply keeping me in your prayers will mean just as much. There are no guarantees with IVF. As I enter this next chapter with both hope and an understanding of that uncertainty, I am simply grateful for the opportunity to try. Thank you for being part of my journey toward motherhood.