Kyle and I first fell in love when we were 13 years old. We were just kids who talked about growing up, getting married, and someday having a family together. Life took us down a lot of different roads, but nearly two decades later, we found our way back to each other. Today, we're husband and wife — and we're finally trying to have the child we once imagined together. Getting here hasn't been simple. My journey through pregnancy, loss, serious illness, and reproductive health complications ultimately resulted in the removal of both of my fallopian tubes. Because of that, I can no longer become pregnant naturally. If Kyle and I are going to have a biological child together, IVF is the path we're pursuing. And we're doing everything we can to make that possible. I've completed preliminary fertility testing and an ultrasound, and the results we've received so far have been encouraging. My doctor has personally connected us with a reproductive endocrinologist at UC Health, and we have our fertility consultation scheduled for November. Kyle also needs fertility testing as part of completing our evaluation. Then we received some incredibly hopeful news. My doctor spoke with UC and learned about a program that may cover approximately two-thirds of our treatment costs. That could bring the portion we're responsible for down to roughly $4,000–$6,000. That's still a lot of money for our family, but suddenly something that once felt financially impossible feels like something we might actually be able to piece together. So that's exactly what we're doing. We're applying for fertility grants, exploring medication and patient-assistance programs, working with our doctors, and pursuing every responsible option available to us. We're not expecting one organization — or one person — to pay for our entire journey. We're trying to put together every little piece until hopefully, one day, those pieces add up to our baby. This fundraiser is one of those pieces. Our first milestone is $250, which will also qualify us for a waiver of the $75 Gift of Parenthood grant application fee. Every dollar beyond that will continue toward the testing, treatment, medications, monitoring, laboratory expenses, and other costs involved in trying to bring our baby into the world. And this dream has become bigger than just Kyle and me. Kyle has never had a biological child, and having the opportunity to become a father to a child of his own means so much to him. Our six-year-old, Silas, also talks about wanting a little brother or sister — someone to grow up alongside, make memories with, play with, annoy occasionally (because let's be realistic 😂), and someday look back on childhood with. Hearing him talk about having a sibling makes this journey even more meaningful. We already have a family filled with love. We're simply hoping for the opportunity to grow it by one more little person. Nearly twenty years ago, Kyle and I were two 13-year-old kids imagining what our future might look like. We obviously had no idea how complicated the road getting here would become. But we're here. We're married. We're building our life. We're working with our doctors. We're applying for the help that's available. And we're finally in a position to try for the baby we once imagined having together. If you can donate, even a small amount moves us one step closer. If donating isn't possible, sharing our story or simply rooting for our family means something too. Maybe those two 13-year-old kids weren't so crazy for dreaming after all. ❤️ Help us meet Baby Mack. 🍼