Ellen & Brendon

By Ellen & Brendon

Before our infertility journey began, my husband and I had been married for almost a year. We love to travel, spend time with family, friends, and our French Bulldog Zoey (our first baby). I always knew I wanted children from a very young age, and I always had a fear that for some reason I wouldn’t be able to. We started trying in December 2019 and experienced our first pregnancy and early loss in August 2020. We got pregnant again in October 2020 and found out at our first ultrasound that we were having mono mono twins but there were no heartbeats. I had a missed miscarriage of baby girls with Trisomy 13. This loss hit hard, especially knowing the details of what could have been - this miracle of identical twins and beautiful little girls. You never truly get over loss or grief, you just learn how to deal with it better and find strength in yourself you never knew you had. I experienced another chemical pregnancy in January 2021 and knew it was time to seek help and more answers. We started working with Dr. Resetkova in February 2021 and had our first medicated IUI in May 2021. I took Letrozole and a trigger shot that month. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful, but we weren’t going to give up. Our second IUI I had the same medications, but my Letrozole dosage was increased. On June 19, 2021 we had our second IUI which resulted in our incredible baby boy, Luca. Listening to others stories and also sharing my own helped me so much during my journey. It’s not easy to open up about loss or infertility, but it helped me realize that I’m not alone. Of course we all know infertility is way too common, but in those darkest moments it can feel so isolating and you forget that you’re not alone. Going to the Boston IVF facilities gave me so much hope. All of the nurses, doctors and other patients were amazing. Sitting in the waiting rooms and realizing even more so that you’re not alone and that infertility doesn’t discriminate helped push me through. I secretly wanted to cheer everyone on in there, hoping that they were about to find out some good news or give them a hug if they needed it. I don’t wish the infertility club on anyone, but just know if you ever find yourself in it, you are certainly not alone and you have some amazing support waiting right behind you to pick you up when you need it.

HOW DID YOUR BOSTON IVF PHYSICIAN AND NURSING TEAM HELP TO MAKE YOUR JOURNEY A SUCCESS?

I can’t thank the staff at the Waltham and Lexington locations enough. I don’t remember specific names (and I wish I did), but everyone made us feel SO welcome and safe. Going to a doctors office multiple times a week isn’t fun, but somehow Boston IVF made me and my partner feel accepted, comfortable and sometimes excited to be there. I never had a doubt I was in the best care.

WHAT WERE SOME HIGHS OR LOWS OF YOUR TREATMENT(S)? WHAT IS UNIQUE/DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUR STORY?

I suffered 4 losses during my infertility journey. August 2020 I had a chemical pregnancy after 8 months of trying. That was a hard experience, but it gave me so much hope. I got pregnant again in October 2020. The following month, I went for my first ultrasound at my OBGYN. Unfortunately I was told there were no heartbeats and I was likely miscarrying. I had a missed miscarriage. And yes, heartbeats (plural) meant I was pregnant with twins. It was a whirlwind of news and all happening right at Thanksgiving. We had genetic testing done and found out they were girls, mono mono twins and had had Trisomy 13. As hard as all of this was to hear, it gave me some closure and answers. We were eager to try again. We got covid over Christmas that year and felt like we could catch a break. I was so ready for a new year and a fresh start. I got pregnant again in January 2021 and suffered another chemical pregnancy. That is when I asked my OBGYN what I could do. I couldn't keep going through this. In the next couple of months our journey with Boston IVF began. We unfortunately didn’t find out much from all of our testing, but our team was hopeful we would have success with IUI. Our first round was in May 2021 which was unsuccessful. On June 19, 2021 we had our second IUI and little did we know, our rainbow baby Luca was conceived. Going to our first ultrasound at Boston IVF was the most terrifying but best day - seeing that flickering heartbeat I broke down crying. We were sad to graduate from Boston IVF but overjoyed that we were able to. On 2/20/2022, our rainbow baby Luca was born and came out in 6 mins after 4 pushes. It’s such a hard story to tell, but it’s my favorite and it brought me the biggest joy in my life, my son. I have no doubt my angel babies were watching over us through it all.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY?

You will feel like giving up, and you will feel helpless, but you’ll find the most strength within yourself and your partner during this journey. Strength you never knew you had. Lean on each other. It is so easy to let this journey get the best of you, but communication and supporting one another will bring you closer than you could ever imagine. On the days you don’t feel like being strong anymore, let yourself be sad. It’s okay to grieve the way you wish things were, but you will get through it!