Hi everyone!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. I appreciate it more than you know! My name is Nicole. My husband’s name is Justin. We have been married for almost 7 years and together since 2011! We were blessed with our first daughter, who was born in 2020. After her delivery, I suffered a postpartum hemorrhage due to placenta being left inside of me (retained placenta). This required emergency surgery (D&C) for removal. During that surgery, I hemorrhaged again in the OR, requiring blood products to save my life. After months postpartum of not having a menstrual cycle, I became concerned and requested a hysteroscopy from my OBGYN. Upon trying to enter, the OBGYN perforated my uterus, which then required me to have repair surgery. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Asherman’s syndrome. Asherman’s syndrome is scarring of the endometrial tissue. Essentially, my uterus was scarred 95% closed. I was told I only had a 25% chance of ever carrying again, and being the person I am, I fought to get pregnant via IVF, which also required multiple hysteroscopies (looking inside the uterus with a camera) and scar removal (cutting the scar tissue out of my uterus) while AWAKE. Yes, crazy, I was fully awake during this extremely painful procedure because I knew I wanted a second child so badly; it was my biggest wish. Through the gift of IVF after 8 surgeries (thanks to medicine) and 2 transfers, I somehow got pregnant in 2022. I was very high risk given the fact that I had Asherman’s syndrome and unfortunately developed incompetent cervix at only 20 weeks from all the hysteroscopies I had to endure previously (my cervix dilating). I went for an emergency cerclage (at 20 weeks), which allowed me to make it to 25 weeks, where I had to undergo an emergency C-section due to preterm labor and developing a serious infection. During that time, they discovered I had severe placenta accreta (my placenta grew too deep into my uterine wall), where I began hemorrhaging yet again. After trying hard to stop the bleeding, they unfortunately had to complete a total hysterectomy (removal of my uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix). Not only did I have to go through the pain of my 25-week micro preemie in the NICU for 3.5 months fighting for her life, but I also had to grieve the fact that at only 29 years old, my fertility journey had ended. I had always wanted a big family, and unfortunately, that choice was stolen from me. It was a long road to get where I am now both physically and mentally, but here we are 2.5 years later, and I’m ready to move forward. I have chosen the path of surrogacy to have my 3rd and final child. I have 13 embryos frozen from when I completed IVF myself but no home to grow them in.
As many of you know, surrogacy is VERY expensive. Sometimes looking at $150-200k. This was not at all what I had expected my life (or fertility journey) to have turned out. I admire anyone who chooses to become a surrogate. It is the greatest and most selfless gift a woman can give someone who can’t achieve having a child on their own. I created this fundraiser to potentially one day achieve my dreams of having my 3rd child. This money would go to expenses only related to surrogacy, including compensation for the surrogate, legal fees, fertility clinic fees, medicine for the surrogate, insurance for the surrogate, and any other expenses related to surrogacy that we may face.
For those who choose to donate after reading my story and journey through fertility, I cannot thank you enough. This truly means the world to me, and I am forever grateful for your kind donation.
