Jasmine & Thomas

 Over the last decade, we have spent our lives traveling, loving each other, and living a carefree, beautiful life. We always believed our greatest adventure would be becoming parents, but we had no idea that journey would be filled with so many unexpected twists and turns. In 2021, I underwent a myomectomy to remove five large fibroids. Following a successful surgery, my doctor recommended waiting six months before attempting to conceive. My husband and I eagerly anticipated starting our journey to parenthood after the waiting period. However, as months passed without success, we decided to seek help from a specialist in 2022.  

Finding fertility care at SGF Atlanta

After undergoing tests, we discovered that my fallopian tubes were damaged, and the recommended course of action to conceive was through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The news was heartbreaking, and the financial cost added to the emotional weight of the situation. In the fall of 2023, we embarked on the IVF process. Our start with stimulation medication was delayed due to a large estrogen-producing cyst. Eventually, I began the medication after several weeks.  

During this cycle, 12 eggs were retrieved, 5 were fertilized, and 4 developed into blastocysts. Following preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), we discovered that we had one normal embryo, one mosaic embryo, one abnormal embryo, and one inconclusive embryo. Just like my varied journey, my embryos reflected a mix of outcomes and possibilities. As we prepared for a frozen embryo transfer a month later, a polyp was detected in my uterus, necessitating surgical removal. This unexpected discovery caused another shift in our timeline. After the polyp was successfully removed, we faced yet another delay. My estrogen and progesterone levels were found to be too high, preventing us from commencing the frozen embryo transfer process.  

Hope and reassurance

After a couple of months, we transferred our first embryo in the spring of 2024. We were filled with so much hope and expectation. We knew this would finally be our time to become parents. Unfortunately, we received the devastating news that our transfer was not successful. I spent the spring and summer feeling disappointed, defeated, and almost hopeless. That fall, Dr. McCarthy-Keith suggested we come in to discuss a new game plan. Hesitantly, and filled with fear, we went to talk to her.  Dr. McCarthy-Keith, as she always does, filled us with so much hope and reassurance. She suggested retesting the embryo that was originally inconclusive, waiting for the results, and possibly starting another transfer cycle. I must admit, my husband and I were terrified.

Guided by compassion and expertise

A couple of weeks later, we received the news that our embryo was normal and a great candidate for transfer. This time, my journey to transfer was seamless. On Thanksgiving 2024, we transferred our baby girl and experienced a healthy, beautiful, and joyous pregnancy and delivery in July 2025. Every lab visit was met with warm smiles and reassuring hugs. Every ultrasound was informative and exciting, making each step feel hopeful and supported. Dr. McCarthy-Keith is a champion for her patients, compassionate, knowledgeable, and unwavering in her dedication. She guided us through every challenge with compassion and expertise. This journey was not easy, but it was uniquely mine to walk with grace, faith, and an unwavering determination to see it through to the end. In the tapestry of experiences that unfolded, I trusted that there was a divine plan at work, weaving together the threads of my journey into a story of resilience, hope, and unwavering faith.

Photo credits

Solo maternity photos: Jordyn Ari (@jordyn.ari)

Newborn photos: Zakeyalinique Photography (@zakeyaliniquephotography)

All other photos: Drayton McJunkins (@dr8nn)