Our story to and through the IVF process is a little more uncommon than most.
My husband and I found out after getting married in November, 2013 that he and I were both carriers of the Cystic Fibrosis gene mutation DF508. This is both the most common as well as most severe CF gene mutation. This meant if we tried and conceived naturally, we had a 1 in 4 chance that our child would have Cystic Fibrosis of the most severe type. I grew up knowing that both of my maternal aunts died from CF and that it is a disease that tore my family apart.
After consulting with my OB, she recommended IVF with PGD to help us achieve a healthy pregnancy with the ultimate goal of a child that would have a greatly reduced chance of not having Cystic Fibrosis. I, at the time, had no idea such an option was even available.
My husband and I ultimately decided that the most incredible gift that we could ever gift our child with, would be the gift of a healthy life, free from CF. Through our faith, God and our incredible team at Boston IVF, we achieved just that and welcomed our healthy, Cystic Fibrosis free daughter, Addison Grace September 6, 2015.
How did your boston ivf physician and nursing team help to make your journey a success?
If it wasn't for them, I would have never made it through.
Both Dr. Brian Berger and all of the nursing staff made the process seamless. I was never in the dark, I was always informed, and they ALWAYS made time to answer my questions (and there were definitely many!).
They never made me feel like I was a bother to them and always made me feel reassured during one of the most difficult times in our life.
Did anyone/anything else help you through your infertility journey?
Yoga!
I wanted to find some way to connect with my body and my mind and find a place of peace. I knew the journey I was embarking on was going to be life changing, so I made sure I made "me time" to distress.
I also found it very helpful to connect with other IVF "sisters". There really is no journey like IVF, so to be able to talk to someone else that has either done it, or is going through it simultaneously, it makes the world of difference.
What were some highs or lows of your treatment(s)? What is unique/different about your story?
Our story is unique in the sense my husband and I did not have an infertility diagnosis, however, underwent the same exact process as those who do have infertility diagnosis do.
At times it was very hard, mostly in the beginning. Being afraid of not knowing the IVF process. Worrying about the needles, the procedures.
Coming to terms with the fact I wouldn't have the opportunity to conceive our child the way I had always dreamed of with my husband.
My faith was challenged during this process. My beliefs. I questioned weather I was doing the right thing a lot of the time.
And all of that seemingly went away after our first meeting with Dr. Brian Berger. His focus, his knowledge, his confidence. His praise for us while sitting in his office telling us that our decision was courageous to make the choice to go through IVF with PGD.
For us to be able to stop the perpetuating cycle of this heartbreaking deadly disease within our family for years to come, was incredible. It was after that initial meeting that I knew we were making the right choice and our lives would be forever changed.
What advice do you have for other struggling with infertility?
Don't ever give up and don't lose hope.
The team here and the doctors here are dedicated and want to help you achieve your dream of having a family.
Place your trust in something bigger then yourself and know you are in the best hands.
Tell us about your experience with boston ivf
My experience with Boston IVF couldn't have been better.
Although we live in Framingham, and saw Dr. Brian Berger in the Quincy office, I attended all of my procedural and lab appointments at the Waltham Center which was so convenient for me.
The nurses were always fantastic with returning phone calls or responding to e-mails so I always felt connected to them, even on the weekends! I will never forget the nurse who held my hand during my FET.
And after the transfer was complete, allowing me to lay there and just cry out every single emotion that had built up over the course of the 9 months of the process. She just kept holding my hand and never let go.
I could not say one bad thing about my experience.
It was truly a dream and such a blessing to be in the hands of the most caring, understanding and patient doctors and nurses who are the absolute BEST at what they do.
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