Meet little Mia Thompson, a two-year-old who has a knack for making friends wherever she goes. Her mom, Jessica, chuckles as she shares, “People often greet her by name at the grocery store and then tell me how they know her story.”
The tale of how Mia came to be is one of resilience and hope. Jessica’s husband, Matt, shared their journey with friends during the holiday season, and it brought tears to many eyes. Despite the challenges and the candid footage of Jessica’s pregnancy journey, she embraces the story of their long-awaited daughter.
Unveiling a Hidden Struggle
In the bustling 90s, Jessica was a thriving interior designer, but the whispers of stress-related infertility echoed in her ears. With no medical history to signal trouble, regular cycles, and a healthy lifestyle, she was blindsided when two years of trying to conceive yielded no results. Eventually, her OB/GYN referred her to a specialist in her hometown.
A distressing hysterosalpingogram (HSG) showed that her fallopian tubes were blocked, thwarting any chances of conception. Watching the procedure unfold on screen, Jessica couldn’t hold back the tears as she realized the gravity of her situation. At 32, she underwent surgery to clear the blockages but faced another disappointment when her tubes were found to be blocked again.
Next up was IVF, but to mitigate the risk of ectopic pregnancy, Jessica had her fallopian tubes removed. That’s when she discovered the underlying issue: she had been silently dealing with endometriosis. “I had friends who struggled with it, but they experienced pain. I had no idea,” Jessica reflects.
After her first IVF attempt didn’t succeed, she turned to online research and found a wealth of options. She was particularly drawn to the impressive success stories surrounding a local clinic. In 2004, she and Matt met with the medical director, who had been recognized as one of the best doctors for many years, and began their treatment.
The Road Less Traveled
As small business owners, Jessica and Matt faced the common challenge of infertility treatments not being covered by insurance. They decided to go with a shared risk plan that offered peace of mind—if they didn’t have a baby after several attempts, they would receive a full refund. They even took advantage of tax deductions for some of their medication costs.
When the clinic expanded to a new location, Jessica started seeing a new doctor, but with the same nurse who had been with her all along. Unfortunately, neither of their first two IVF cycles resulted in a pregnancy. “We were convinced the second one would work,” Jessica recalls, “but when it didn’t, we were crushed.”
Despite not having friends who had gone through IVF, their church community rallied around them, providing much-needed support. As they approached their third cycle, they prepared themselves for the possibility of failure and even attended an adoption class. “I knew I could love any child,” Jessica shares.
On the day of her pregnancy test, Jessica and Matt tried to stay distracted. “We weren’t planning anything special because we thought it wouldn’t work,” she recalls. When she received the call with the news, she was overwhelmed with emotion. “I was jumping up and down in the street! The staff was so thrilled for us.”
That moment marked the beginning of their family, with Mia born soon after.
Feeling Grateful
With the arrival of their daughter, the trials of infertility seemed like a distant memory. Jessica often reflects on how close she was to giving up after feeling so defeated. “The physical side of treatment is tough, but the emotional toll is even harder,” she admits. Now, she encourages others in similar situations to seek out the counseling services offered for patients.
Looking back, Jessica chuckles at how unromantic some moments were in their journey. They even documented their experiences on video, capturing the chaos and humor of fertility treatments. “It’s a weird thing to go through for a baby!” she laughs.
Currently, they have one frozen embryo left for a future attempt, but life is busy and filled with laughter as they enjoy every moment with Mia.
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Summary:
Jessica and Matt Thompson’s journey through infertility is a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of community support. After years of struggle, they welcomed their daughter Mia into the world, reminding others to cherish every moment along the way.