Hi friends & family, This is not easy for us to write. We've never been the type to ask for much - just quietly do our best, handle what life throws at us, and keep going. But sometimes life throws something bigger than you can manage alone. And this is one of those times. We are reaching out with hopeful hearts to share our story and ask for your support in a journey we never imagined would be so difficult: starting a family. Over the past few years, we've dreamed of becoming parents. Due to hereditary genetic conditions and a rare uterine malformation, our best chances of making this happen is through IVF with genetic testing. In May, Nicole traveled to Denver, CO for 12 days to go through the egg retrieval portion of this process. They retrieved 18 eggs of which 10 were fertilized. Unfortunately, only 3 of those embryos ended up developing fully into the next stage and biopsied for genetic testing. Two of the embryos ended up being unusable due to kidney disease and an abnormal number of chromosomes. The third embryo did not have enough data to test, so they will be thawing the embryo and attempting to re-biopsy again. This has led us to the decision to go through another egg retrieval process. IVF is an incredible medical option, but it is also expensive, and Tricare does not offer any insurance coverage. Between medications, procedures, appointments and travel costs, it adds up fast. We've saved and planned, but we're falling short. And now, we're doing something we never thought we'd do: asking for help. If you're able to donate, even a small amount, it would mean the world to us. And if you can't, we completely understand. Just sharing our story, sending love, or keeping us in your thoughts is more than enough. We're humbled, nervous, and hopeful as we open this part of our lives to others. This isn't easy, but every step gets us closer to our dream and we are so grateful for the love and support we have received. Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for walking beside us. With love, Braden & Nicole