Jessie Henderson and her husband Stephen embarked on a challenging journey to start a family while stationed in Del Rio, Texas. Their story involves multiple miscarriages, extensive travel for medical care, and the emotional and financial toll of infertility treatments. Despite these hardships, Jessie and Stephen’s resilience and determination led them to explore various options, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo donation, ultimately leading to the growth of their family. This narrative highlights the importance of persistence, support and flexibility in navigating the complexities of infertility.
The Journey Begins
When Jessie and Stephen first married and lived in Del Rio, Texas, they eagerly decided to start their family. However, after experiencing three miscarriages, Jessie qualified to see an infertility specialist. The nearest specialist was in San Antonio, over 150 miles away, which posed significant logistical and financial challenges since infertility treatment wasn’t considered “medically necessary” by their insurance, Tricare. Despite these hurdles, Jessie became pregnant with twins after some testing and medication.
High-Risk Pregnancy and Loss
Jessie’s pregnancy was classified as high-risk, necessitating continued care in San Antonio. Tragically, she lost one of the twins early on, and the surviving baby’s life was threatened due to their close implantation. This required frequent monitoring and a decision to bypass the local hospital in Del Rio due to previous negative experiences. Jessie experienced a preterm labor scare at 27 weeks, resulting in a stressful and lengthy hospital stay in San Antonio. Eventually, she received permission from Tricare to remain in San Antonio for the rest of her pregnancy. This proved important when she went into labor and required an emergency C-section after her son’s heart stopped, a situation that could have had a tragic outcome if they had stayed in Del Rio.
Renewed Hopes and More Challenges
A year after their PCS (Permanent Change of Station), Jessie and Stephen decided to try again. With documented infertility, they quickly resumed specialist care, this time one and a half hours away. Unfortunately, their next pregnancy ended in an ectopic miscarriage, requiring a four-day hospital stay. Soon after, Stephen was told he must go on a TDY by his commander, leaving Jessie to cope alone just days after her ectopic miscarriage. Further testing revealed that both of Jessie’s fallopian tubes were damaged, making natural conception and even IUI (intrauterine insemination) unlikely to succeed. This left IVF as their main option, an expensive and daunting prospect.
Exploring IVF and IUI
Tricare did not cover IVF or IUI, adding significant financial strain as they had to pay for all related costs. They opted to try IUI twice before considering IVF. Miraculously, Jessie became pregnant on the first IUI attempt, and the care she received in Warrensburg was excellent, allowing her to have a safe repeat C-section. A year and a half later, they decided to expand their family again. Stephen’s new commander who had gone through a similar situation, was more understanding of the need for timely appointments, which was crucial as they navigated another round of IUI. Despite early success, Jessie experienced more miscarriages, prompting her doctor to recommend IVF for better control over her body’s hormones and to ensure embryo genetic health.
Discovering Embryo Donation
The high cost and ethical considerations of IVF led Jessie to explore embryo donation, where families who completed their own IVF treatments donate the remaining embryos. This option significantly reduced costs, and Jessie found a supportive community on Facebook. Remarkably, they were matched with a donating family within 12 hours of reaching out. The subsequent months involved legal, psychological, and logistical preparations, culminating in Jessie and Stephen becoming the proud owners of seven frozen embryos.
Final Attempts and Success
Their first embryo transfer resulted in a twin pregnancy but sadly ended in miscarriage due to a newly discovered blood clotting disorder. This disorder was treatable with daily blood thinner injections. Faced with three remaining embryos, Jessie and Stephen decided to transfer all three, hoping to conclude their journey. This final transfer resulted in a healthy pregnancy with twins. The twins were born at 35 weeks and required a three-week NICU stay. Stephen’s supportive commander allowed him to be present during this critical time, ensuring family support.
Despite many setbacks and emotional struggles, Jessie and Stephen’s determination to grow their family stayed strong. They faced medical, financial, and logistical challenges common to many military families, but their efforts led to the successful birth of their children. Their story shows the importance of speaking up for your needs, seeking support from communities and professionals, and staying open to different paths to parenthood.
Resources:
Couples facing infertility have access to a variety of resources to support their journey. Medical professionals, such as reproductive endocrinologists, specialize in diagnosing and treating infertility. They can provide tailored treatment plans, including medications, intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF). Fertility clinics often offer comprehensive services, including diagnostic testing, genetic counseling, and advanced reproductive technologies.
Support groups, both in-person and online, offer emotional support and practical advice. Websites like The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (https://www.asrm.org/) provide educational resources, forums, and directories for finding local support groups.
Legal resources are also important, especially when considering options like surrogacy or embryo donation. Legal professionals specializing in reproductive law can help navigate the complex legal landscape.
Lastly, mental health professionals experienced in infertility can offer counseling and therapy to help couples manage the emotional and psychological impacts of infertility. These resources collectively provide comprehensive support for couples navigating infertility.