Shannon & Patty

Being a mother was something that I had dreamed about since I was a little girl. I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2014 when I was 29. I knew becoming a mom could be difficult for me.

When I finally met my wife, I told her that I was on a journey to become a mom. I was already 34 and knew I was entering into the advanced maternal age category. She was already the mom to a 9 year old and older than me so for her, this meant starting over. She agreed and we married in 2021 after 2 years together.

Dreams of motherhood

We began interviewing fertility clinics at the end of 2019 and found our way to Shady Grove Fertility. After meeting with Dr. Martin, we knew he was our doctor and just loved and respected him immediately. I knew he could help my dream of motherhood come true.

I had a scary setback at the beginning of 2020 with some pre-cancerous cervical cells that required surgery and put our fertility treatments on hold. Then Covid happened.

A formidable team

Finally, in June of 2020, we were able to begin treatments, but I had to go in alone due to restrictions. That year I went through 3 IUIs that resulted in chemical pregnancies and subsequent losses. Dr. Martin and his nurse Karina are a formidable team. We had an appointment to go over the Shared Risk 100% Refund program for in vitro fertilization (IVF). I immediately agreed and we had our egg retrieval in November.

In 2021, we moved to New England and had 2 frozen embryo transfers (FETs) that resulted in losses before my third FET when I conceived my miracle girl in October 2021.

Luckily by then, my wife was able to go in with me for the transfers. I delivered our daughter on June 28, 2022, at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. Without the perseverance of Dr. Martin, Karina, and their team at SGF, there is no way my daughter Abigail would be here.

A rainbow after the storm

She is my miracle, a rainbow after the storm, and the complete love of my life. Thank you Dr. Martin, Karina, and team! You never gave up on us. You kept encouraging us every step of the way even when I felt like I couldn’t do it anymore. You have made my dreams come true. 

Your miracle is waiting for you

To current and future patients, do not give up. Your miracle is waiting for you. Your journey will take many twists and turns and may not look like what you thought it should but trust me, it is so worth it in the end. Abigail was so very worth the wait and wait and wait.