Believe in yourself, the journey is worth it in the end
Why do you want to share your story?
There is a stigma around couples and fertility and wanting to start a family. Becoming parents wasn’t easy for my husband and me, but I want couples and women yearning to be mothers to know that miracles happen. I don’t want couples to give up and think it will never happen. Through faith, support, determination and love, FCI helped us welcome our little in vitro fertilization (IVF) miracle in August 2021! I want couples and those women yearning to be mothers to know that I see them, I was them and I am rooting for them because it will happen!
What led you to Fertility Centers of Illinois?
My husband and I had been trying for over a year and something told me there was something “wrong.” I spoke with my OBGYN and he told me to go across the hall. I did the free fertility screening and sure enough my results were okay but I would need help. I remember having an appointment with Dr. Rodgers and she told me it was time to get me a baby. When I spoke with her, I didn’t feel like someone lost in the numbers or another statistic, I felt like my husband and I could truly work with FCI in our hopes to become parents.
How would you describe your experience with your physician?
Amazing! We never felt like a number or a statistic. Dr. Rodgers truly wanted to help us conceive. I think the other thing I appreciated is that she went through her own fertility struggles. I think it is easy to put doctors on pedestals, but when I talked to Dr. Rodgers she was a part of my team and was always supportive of our questions and decisions. I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Rodgers and her team!
What helped you get through treatment?
My husband was amazing, no one wants to hear they are the problem for why you aren’t conceiving. He got checked out and everything was fine for him. I wanted nothing more than to have him leave me because I was “broken”. But through his love, support and encouragement I knew we would be successful. Along with my husband, our family’s support helped, because it was hard to not be able to give your parents grandchildren at a flip of a coin. Having their support helped us and allowed us to heal when we had failures. I ran to clear my mind.
Do you have any words of hope for others?
Don’t give up. Easier said than done. Believe in yourself and trust what you do not clearly understand or see. This journey is not an easy one but it is worth it in the end.
Tell us about your little miracle!
As I write this, I am holding my two-week-old little miracle, Clifford! He would not be here today without Dr. Rodgers and Ashley and the rest of the FCI staff and team! Clifford is our “big guy” coming into the world at 10 lbs. 15 oz. and 22 inches long. As we navigate parenthood, he is perfect in every way possible! He smiles and grimaces with inquisitive expressions, he stretches so tall and is our little miracle baby. We love our Clifford cuddles and look forward to watching our little miracle grow and prosper through life. Jason and I are indebted to Dr. Rodgers, Ashley, and the rest of the FCI staff. I have some time to heal but when we are ready for a second miracle, please know we plan to work with Dr. Rodgers and FCI again!
