My Support Group

My husband

Michael, thank you for choosing me every day. You are my better half. You are my rock. After 4 1/2 years of distance, I thought our relationship was done being tested. It was only the beginning. If I had to live this life all over again, I’d still choose you to be by my side. Your love gives me strength. I fight the fight because I know how much we deserve. I know there’s a little miracle(s) out there so excited to choose us to be their parents, and I cannot wait to live and appreciate every second of what’s to come, with you. You and me together, we really can do anything! We’ve proven that before, and I am so ready to prove it again. Thank you for allowing me to be so open about our story, for standing over my shoulder through every shot, for confidently taking the role of my ‘pain in the ass’ shots, for taking care of me after every procedure, and for always be my voice of reason. You have wiped away so many tears and replaced them with so much love and comfort. I treasure every little victory celebration with you. And above all else, my love, thank you, for reminding me to not only accept this journey with open arms, but to be proud of it. I love you beyond words, and I am already so proud of the Father you will become.

MY MOTHER

People are so excited for Michael and I to have a baby, but I think they might be just a TAD more excited for you Mama. Rightfully so. You already are an amazing GiGi. We can only imagine how you’re going to be with our future babies. It cracks me up every time. People always ask how I am holding up, and usually it’s followed up with “how’s your Mom doing with all of this?” Mama, you always want what’s best for me. I dream about the day I tell you we have good news. I know how bad you want this for me, and I cannot and do not even want to imagine what it is like to watch your daughter struggle to conceive. You never let me see you cry. You never let me hear you blame yourself, and I know you’ve had those moments. You were so strong for us through all of this. I can’t help but think of my marathon races. It was always you and Michael chasing me through cities, with drinks in hand of course, and I think about how that compares to right now. Life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Thank you for taking Michael’s hand and chasing me to finish line. Thank you for feeling every joy, every ache, and everything in between. Thank you for being at all of the appointments I allowed you to be at. Thank you for voluntarily taking the back seat, for the ones I wanted to keep between me and Michael. Thank you for the embarrassing comments and questions, I was too afraid to say, and/or ask. Thank you for making me smile, laugh, and feel as normal as I possibly could through all of this. Thank you for never letting me quit. You’ve been my punching bag through it all, and you have taken it like an absolute champ. You are and always will be my best friend and greatest inspiration. I can only hope to be half of the mother you are. I love you.

my family & Friends

To my family, friends, and co-workers, THANK YOU! Thank you a thousand times over! You know who you are. This has been the craziest roller coaster of my life. My faith, my strength, and just about everything in between has been tested to unimaginable depths. Daddy you once said, “it’s not about winning the battle, it’s about winning the war!” I call for backup, and it’s always all of you that come running. You’re the ones that give me hope. You’ve encouraged me every day to keep going. Thank you for all of the thoughtful gestures: cards, letters, signs, flowers, surprise visits to my house, motivational weekly quotes in my agenda book, texts, phone calls, weekly check-ins, YOU are my Army. You listen, and don’t always understand, and still find ways to help me believe this will all be worth it someday. Thank you for always being there for us on the daily. Mom and Dad, left prayers in and around Greece on Mary’s tomb. My mother in law, prayed like she’s never prayed before in Israel, at the wall, and at Jesus’ tomb. My one girlfriend, Alicia, was rubbing the belly of some fertility goddess statue in Cozumel. I could go on forever. You’re all the real deal. You didn’t just say we were in your prayers, you all actually prayed for and with us. Thank you for sharing your places of worship with me, and for filling my soul with biblical inspiration and beautiful examples of God’s work. To all of you who allowed us to be selfish during this difficult time. Thank you for understanding and never questioning us when we were absent during your special moments. My employers and co-workers, thank you for your undeniable flexibility with me at work. To my fertility sisters who have been down this road, and allowed me to have you on speed dial, all of your advice, support, and pictures of your miracle babies, charged me every single time I was on 10%. You are the most remarkable and strongest people I know, and I promise to pay it forward. Michael and I are so lucky to have all of you in our lives. Finally, to everyone who has taken the time to read my blog, thank you for allowing me to pour my heart out and share my greatest life’s journey with you. I am forever grateful.

Coastal chiropractic & acupuncture

I remember reading about acupuncture and it’s benefits with Fertility treatments, but I don’t think I truly believed in it. I googled some places around me, read some reviews, and came across Coastal Chiropractic and Acupuncture in Galloway. I thought to myself, “I guess it can’t hurt to give it a shot.” Coastal is about 25 minutes from my house. There were offices a lot closer that offered the same services, but there was just something about the Coastal reviews that had me sold on going out to Galloway. They were sincere reviews. They were reviews from people that honestly felt healed thanks to Dr. Chang. I gave it a shot for a few weeks, and then I stopped. I wasn’t getting the immediate results I was seeking. The nurses at South Jersey Fertility Center encouraged me to get back into it, and give it another chance. This time they made their personal recommendation, and guess what? It was Coastal Chiropractic & Acupuncture. I went back with a different attitude. I opened up more about what was happening in my life, and my body, I asked questions, and I followed the directions and suggestions of Dr. Chang. This time there were results. They weren’t immediate, because nothing in life worth it, is immediate, but there were results. Dr. Chang knows what he’s talking about. Everything he said and did, worked for me. I had energy I never had before, my skin was clearing up, I felt more relaxed about everything, and when I needed AF to show up, she did. Dr. Chang sincerely cares about what he does. He will put every ounce of his energy into you, his patient. He will go above and beyond to help you. Then there’s his side kick, Ms. Peggy. Gosh, I love Ms. Peggy. Peggy is the receptionist. Peggy and I love chit chatting every week. I love giving her my weekly updates and answering all of her questions about fertility treatments. I appreciate how much she cares about me and my story, and her ability to always fit me into the schedule. Dr. Chang and Peggy, you two are the A team. You will always be my number one recommendation. I am so grateful for everything you’ve done and continue to do throughout my journey. Thank you!

south jersey fertility center

How do you even write a thank you to the people who help create the miracle you wish for, pray, for and dream of? On so many occasions, I have compared this journey to a roller coaster ride, and a wave. Up and down, up and down. SJFC has been there for every high and every low. They have the toughest jobs delivering the most difficult news, and the most rewarding jobs, creating life and being apart of a beautiful miraculous story. It could be so easy to just go through the motions, and treat one couple just like the next, but it’s not like that at SJFC. They’ve become so invested in our case. They are constantly cheering us on, and filling us with the hope and positivity we deserve. One day, I was in the instruction room with Mary, when a patient knocked on the door to say goodbye. Her time with SJFC had come to an end. Mary started crying. She was so happy for her patient. I realized on that day how real this is for them. Our happy ending means the world to this team.

Elyssa, Maureen, and my dear Mary, you ladies are angels. The pep talks, the hugs, the tears, the love, the putting up with Mom, the everything. You never failed to put a smile on my face. You never lost faith in me. You know what’s coming, and you never let me forget it. You listen to our every need, and respect our every wish. I am so grateful for you all. You are amazing at what you do, and have truly made this as easy as it possibly could be for me.

To my IVF Nurse, Rachael, Goddess of an Embryologist, Katia, and Doctors: Dr. Sawin, Dr. Kuzbari, Dr. Van Deerlin, Dr. Skaf, Dr. Weissmann, Tracy, and Dana, you have all gone above and beyond for us. Your support and guidance through every big decision has meant the world to us. We will never stop putting our faith and trust in you. Thank you for being there for us always. Your team is strong, knowledgeable and personable, and we are so appreciative to have you all as our medical advisors and handlers.

All else aside, I thank you all so much in advance for our miracle babe(s). You have given us our biggest triumph, forever story, and life’s greatest gift.