Mother’s Day 2010 is a day that Sarah Johnson will forever cherish. As a new mom of twins, she feels immense gratitude towards her husband, the medical team at their fertility clinic, and most importantly, her beloved mother.
“My mom has been my silent hero throughout this journey,” Sarah shares. “Her unwavering support, love, and encouragement have been my anchor. She was my cheerleader, my confidante, and my go-to for research. I couldn’t have navigated this without her. Thank you, Mom!”
Not an Infertility Patient
Sarah and her husband, Mark, were nearing the end of their five-year struggle to conceive. If it weren’t for the persistence of a guiding force—her mother—the couple might have lost the will to continue their journey all the way to their fertility clinic.
In their early 30s, they initially tried Clomid on the advice of Sarah’s OB/GYN, but after no success, Sarah’s mother, Linda, an educator and passionate researcher, began to worry they were running out of time. She encouraged them to see a fertility specialist, suspecting endometriosis might be at play. Although Sarah hesitated, she eventually agreed to visit a reproductive endocrinologist “just to please her.”
In her blog, Sarah recalled, “Sitting in that waiting room, I felt out of place, thinking ‘This is silly, I don’t belong here.’ But after the appointment and an ultrasound confirming an endometrioma, I started to wonder if my mom had some kind of sixth sense.”
After surgically addressing her endometriosis, Sarah and Mark spent another year and a half trying to conceive, undergoing Clomid, intrauterine inseminations (IUI), and fertility meds, yet nothing worked. Sarah became pregnant three times but experienced heartbreak with early miscarriages each time.
Angels in Trying Times
As Sarah faced the reality of infertility, she underwent two rounds of IVF in her hometown, both leading to disappointment—a chemical pregnancy and a painful ectopic pregnancy. Meanwhile, Linda immersed herself in research, even considering a doctor in Tennessee, but Sarah felt a disconnect with that clinic.
During a particularly tough drive home from Nashville, Linda felt helpless, trying to remain calm as her daughter grappled with despair. One night, while searching online for answers, she stumbled into a chatroom where she connected with two women from Birmingham who had successfully become mothers with the help of the same clinic Sarah was initially apprehensive about. “It just felt like fate,” Linda said, describing the encounter as “serendipitous.”
While Linda engaged with these women, Sarah and Mark attempted one last round with their frozen embryo back home, but it ended in another chemical pregnancy.
A Mother’s Determined Instinct
Determined to find a solution, Linda booked a flight to Maryland, leading them to meet with Dr. Smith, a reproductive endocrinologist. This meeting marked a pivotal moment in their journey.
As they sat down for a consultation, Linda observed a transformation in Sarah. “I watched her relax, trust returning to her face, and hope starting to shine again,” she recalled. Dr. Smith’s thorough approach and attention to their concerns ignited a spark of optimism. By the end of their visit, “Sarah was energized, ready to take charge of her path forward.”
“It was incredible to find someone like Dr. Smith who was committed to getting us answers,” Sarah shared. “He genuinely wanted to help.”
In her closing blog post on their journey, Sarah described her shift from despair to amusement during their conversations with Dr. Smith, ultimately leading to joy. “We left in tears, but tears of happiness. It felt like a weight had been lifted. Every question my mom had was addressed, and each procedure we were told was standard practice here. This was our answer!”
With the support of her husband, the nursing team, and her friends, Sarah decided to enroll in a shared risk program, which provided a 100% refund guarantee if they didn’t achieve pregnancy after several IVF attempts.
On August 30, 2009, after just one cycle at the new clinic, Sarah received the long-awaited positive pregnancy test. On April 22, 2010, twin boys, Ethan and Lucas, were born—healthy and perfect.
Looking back, Sarah is eager to share her story with her children. She has gained insight and strength through her struggles. “Keep hope alive because it’s there,” she advises. “Going through fertility treatment can feel isolating, but support is out there. I was confident that with Dr. Smith and the shared risk program, my dreams of parenthood were within reach.”
Linda expressed her gratitude, telling Dr. Smith, “What you do isn’t just about creating families; it’s about healing generations. You’ve given me my daughter back.”
For more inspiring stories and helpful tips, check out this blog post or find out more about how you can start your journey with tools from Make a Mom and learn more about IUI.
Summary
Sarah Johnson’s journey through infertility showcases the vital role of her mother’s support and intuition. After years of struggle and heartbreak, they found hope and answers with a new fertility clinic, leading to the birth of her twin boys. The story emphasizes the importance of perseverance, the power of family, and the potential of modern medicine in fulfilling dreams of parenthood.