Financial Grant Brings Couple's Dream To Life

When Jennifer and David Sharp married 10 years ago, they knew that, due to David's paralysis as a result of a motorcycle accident at age 19, there were going to be some obstacles to overcome in order to build their family. But with the help of Shady Grove Fertility and the Cade Foundation, the Sharps are now on their way to expanding their family from three to four.

In 2007, the Sharp's adopted their son, Bo, from China. Immediately following Bo's arrival in the United States at the age of four, Chinese laws were reversed and many parents, including the Sharps, were no longer eligible to adopt in that country. At that point, they decided to explore their medical options.

“I have always wanted several children, and we wanted a sibling for Bo,” Jennifer explained. “With my husband’s paralysis and based on discussions with doctors we knew exactly the direction we needed to go.”

While the Sharps knew that their path to building a family included fertility treatments, the couple was hesitant to take the first steps toward fertility treatment because of the costs involved.

“(Cost) was a huge barrier for us,” said Jennifer. “We are both state employees and, while we have really good insurance, it was going to be very hard to afford medical treatments that insurance wouldn’t cover.”

The Sharps were informed by Bo’s teacher about the Cade Foundation’s Family Building Grant which provides up to $10,000 to be used for fertility treatment or adoption services. Since the foundation’s inception in 2005, 15 couples, who have demonstrated financial need, have benefited from the monetary grant.

“The goal of our foundation is to provide grants to support needy families looking to build their family,” said Cade Foundation Founder and Chairperson Camille Hammond, MD. “We feel that cost should never be an issue that prevents a couple who is able to love and care for a child from having that chance.”

View our video to learn more about the Cade Foundation's Family Building Grant.

"All of the grant recipients probably would not have been given the opportunity to have children without receiving help from an organization like the Cade Foundation," said Shady Grove Fertility physician and Cade Foundation Board Member Frank Chang, MD.

After completing and submitting their grant application, the Sharps hoped and prayed that their dreams of bringing another child into their family would be answered.

“I had no idea that there were any organizations like the Cade Foundation that would help people pursue fertility treatment,” said Jennifer.

After reviewing Jennifer and David’s grant application, Camille Hammond knew that this couple completely represented the goals and mission of the foundation.

“The Sharps are a wonderful and loving family who I fell in love with when I read their application,” explained Hammond.

Of the 121 applicants received by the foundation in 2009, Jennifer and David were chosen, along with five others, to receive the grant.

“We were overwhelmed and amazed that we were one of six families chosen out of 121 families,” Jenn explained. “We prayed and thanked God for opening the door for the possibility adding to our family.

In February, Jennifer and David started their first IVF cycle with Dr. Rachana Garde in Shady Grove Fertility’s Woodbridge, Va. office. Because of David’s paralysis sperm had to be retrieved surgically and then ICSI was performed to fertilize Jenn’s eggs.

“It’s amazing that we have the technology available to be able to do this,” said David. “It’s awesome.”

Jenn said the personalized attention she and David received at Shady Grove Fertility helped comfort the couple through the treatment process.

"We were very impressed with how detail focussed the nurses and doctors were at Shady Grove," said Jenn. "Dr. Garde and my nurse, Mary Hartman, welcomed all of our questions and never seemed rushed while answering each one. Over time Mary and I built a very special relationship, partly because it was so easy to contact her and she made sure to address each issue throughout the process."

The combination of the couple’s strong faith, financial assistance from the Cade Foundation and advanced reproductive technology through Shady Grove Fertility resulted in a new member of the Sharp family due in December. Jennifer and David are ecstatic and are looking forward to welcoming their new child into the world.

“I'm just amazed,” Jenn said. “Without my faith, Cade Foundation and Shady Grove Fertility we would not be where we are. I am so grateful.”

Cade Foundation Family Building Grant Applications are available now. To learn more, please visit www.CadeFoundation.org. Application deadline is June 15.