Erin & Michael

First, to introduce ourselves, my name is Erin and my husband’s name is Michael. We are both from the East Coast and happened to meet in Dallas, TX. I lived there for about 5 years before I met Mike, who was transferred there for his job. I always told him I had to live in Texas for 5 years before meeting the man of my dreams and he only lived there for 1 before he met me!!! Speaking of meeting, we met online! We both had very busy lifestyles and I for one didn’t have time to meet guys in bars or “out.”

After 3 years of dating, Mike proposed, and a year after that, we said our vows in Jamaica. 4 months before we got married, however, Mike was in a horrific motorcycle accident in which he was in the hospital for a month.

He was hit head-on by a car and broke all his ribs, fractured his pelvis in four places, and completely destroyed his left arm. From the elbow down, he is all titanium. He still has movement in his hand, though. The doctors didn’t think he would be able to walk for our wedding, but he proved them wrong. Although limited, Mike is truly my superhero… metal and all!

Mike is a project manager in the telecom industry here in Pennsylvania (where we live currently due to his job relocating us here from Dallas, TX). I work from home as an associate broker in the insurance industry for a company based out of Dallas, TX. While living in Dallas though, I worked as a hairstylist for many years.

Unfortunately, my carpel tunnel took hold and I couldn’t cut anymore. I miss it every day. Mike and I both were in the military as well. I served in the US Air Force Reserves for 8 years as a Staff Sergeant. Mike served Active Duty Army, having gone overseas three times with the 82nd Airborne Division. He is 30 percent disabled. He has a compressed spine from making too many jumps out of airplanes and has severe PTSD and hearing loss. All of which he has treatment for and it is going wonderfully.

I am currently 31 years old and my Mike is 34. We have been trying to get pregnant for about 3 years with no luck. We first tried timing it just right and then our OB/GYN put me on Clomid. I took that for 4 to 5 months with nothing. We then were living in Dallas, TX, and ended up moving to Norristown, PA, 2 years ago.

Even though at first I was sad about moving from Texas, I look back now and think about how if we didn’t move here, I would never have met Dr. Isaac Sasson and his staff at Shady Grove Fertility.

Searching for a diagnosis

We met with Dr. Sasson at his Chesterbrook office last year for our consultation. He explained everything and ran some tests to see where we were at and our diagnosis. We were told I had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). I never had regular cycles and never actually peaked at ovulation, which made it extremely difficult to get pregnant. Not to mention the overproduction of eggs (which you would think would be a positive thing… but actually isn’t most of the time).

My husband’s count was amazing though! Overachiever! Ha! But at that moment I felt guilt…guilt that I couldn’t give my husband a child. I was sad for a bit, but Dr. Sasson said, “Nothing is impossible.” Right then and there, I picked myself up by my bootstraps, picked my head up, held my husband’s hand, and we decided to do whatever it took.

Beginning treatment

We did time intercourse first. During my first visit, it looked like I had an amazing-sized follicle, so Dr. Sasson gave me my “trigger” injection and said to take it that night. Long story short, we ended up getting pregnant right away! The first try!!! I was ecstatic!!!! I did what every person who had trouble getting pregnant for so long would do: I shouted it from the rooftops! I went out and bought baby clothes. I finally didn’t have to walk by that baby department and turn my head in disappointment!

My excitement was short-lived, though. When I went to my OB/GYN for my first visit at 11 weeks, it turned out our baby’s heart stopped beating at 9 weeks. We were devastated. I had to have a D&C to remove the baby and I was told I couldn’t get pregnant or try again until 8 weeks later when the pregnancy hormones were completely out of my system. Even then, I didn’t know if I ever wanted to try again.

Coming back to SGF

We finally decided to go back to Dr. Sasson and we moved on to intrauterine insemination (IUI). We did three rounds.

The first two didn’t work, but on the third—and the last one we could afford— WE GOT PREGNANT!!! We are now 32 weeks pregnant! 8 more weeks left until we meet our little boy!

Working with Dr. Sasson and the Chesterbrook, PA team

Dr. Sasson is incredible. Down to earth but to the point. He doesn’t tiptoe around anything. He will give you your best options and tell you what he thinks but never says, “This is what you need to do…” He leaves every decision up to you. His nurses, Jamie and Debbie, are amazing as well. They are supportive and friendly. When we had our miscarriage, they hugged me and told me it wasn’t my fault. They were so supportive. Every time I would go in for blood work they were like my cheerleading squad!

Advice for future patients

Don’t give up. There are others out there just like you. Find support groups around you and—most importantly—know all of your options. Talk to SGF…they gave me hope.