Hi friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,
I’m writing this on behalf of my best friend Kayley and her incredible wife, Crystal. If you know them, you know what kind of people they are — kind, loving, and deeply committed to their family. Crystal is a wonderful mom to her son, Quentin, and together, she and Kayley have worked so hard to build a home full of love, laughter, and support. Watching them parent together has been nothing short of beautiful.
Now, they’re hoping to grow their family and share that love even more.
After much thought and many conversations, they chose IVF in hopes of having a biological child together. Earlier this year, they went through their first round. Only one embryo survived, and for a while, that tiny embryo carried all their hopes and dreams. Sadly, after genetic testing, they learned it had chromosomal abnormalities and wasn’t viable. It was a heartbreaking loss in so many ways.
But they aren’t giving up hope. They still believe in this dream. I know how brave it was for them to consider asking for help, especially in such a public way. But I also know how loved they are — and how many people would be honored to support them if given the chance.
While still hopeful, this next round will come with a new set of challenges and a multitude of options to consider. Since Kayley is premenopausal, a second round will require even more medication for her to achieve the necessary results for egg production, which will include even more expenses. They are also considering using Crystal’s eggs to create the embryo, which Kayley will then carry. All of these options will come with unknown costs, and the stress of the unknown can be a heavy weight to carry. If we can come together and alleviate some of the burden for them, they can focus on what truly matters—making the safest and best decisions for their family.
This fundraiser is meant to help cover the out-of-pocket costs for a second round of IVF — primarily the medications and copays, which are not covered by insurance and come with a significant price tag. Every dollar raised will go directly toward helping Kayley and Crystal move forward in their journey to bring a baby into the world.
They were willing to do whatever it took to try again, including selling things they’ve worked so hard for and taking on additional jobs — but they shouldn’t have to sacrifice all they’ve worked for in exchange for another chance at this dream. This is an opportunity for their community to show up for them the way they always show up for others—a reminder to them that they aren’t walking this road alone.
If you can donate — no matter how small — it would mean the world. And if you can’t, simply sharing this with others who may want to help is just as meaningful.
They say it takes a village to raise a family, and that rings true in every aspect. Thank you for being their village and holding this dream with them.
With love and gratitude,
Lauren Mayse
