Lisa and Ben have been together for nearly 10 years and got married in 2019. Lisa is an Office Manager for a local consulting company and Ben is the Maintenance Lead for a local high school. They love to travel, hike, bike and most importantly, they love their dog, Sammy.
Three weeks before the pandemic started, they bought their first home together and began the journey of starting a family. After 11 months of trying, they decided to go to Lisa’s OB/GYN for a consultation. After completing the appropriate tests for both Lisa and Ben, it was discovered that Ben was diagnosed with azoospermia and Lisa showed nothing of concern. Following this discovery, an appointment with the Institute for Reproductive Health was scheduled. From here, they were provided the help and hope for an assisted conception.
It was recommended that Ben see a specialist—one who could provide a more in depth evaluation of his particular circumstances. After several appointments and findings, Ben underwent a surgical procedure in December 2021 to determine what had caused the azoospermia. The surgery was successful! At that point, Lisa and Ben were told the only way to conceive was through the process of in-vitro fertilization via ICSI.
While preparing to start the IVF process, Ben and Lisa both had genetic testing completed to determine if they were carriers for Cystic Fibrosis. Thankfully, they were not! However, it was discovered that Lisa was a carrier for Muscular Dystrophy. With no previous medical or family history, this was a complete shock.
Receiving this news was gut wrenching. Confusion and reality soon settled in. They were now looking at around $7,000 of additional fees for genetic testing on their future embryos. The conversation, considering the possibility to move forward, had begun. Friends recommended that Ben and Lisa apply for the Parental Hope Grant.
Receiving this grant was extraordinary for a multitude of reasons….
“Parental Hope has created a space where individuals don’t just receive funding, they receive peace of mind. The amount of pressure relieved from receiving this grant is beyond measure. We now feel like we can truly focus on the fertility side…of our infertility journey. This grant is a blessing in itself, to be able to freely communicate your journey to your peers and have them come along this with you, is at times, necessary. We are so grateful for Parental Hope and all of the opportunities they provide!”