What a Week!

This has been a difficult week, full of a lot of emotions.

We are so thankful for those of you who have reached out and supported us on this journey. Those of you who have said kind words or offered prayers of hope, those who have shared our crowdfunding page (https://www.youcaring.com/journeytobabykneelandhttps://www.youcaring.com/journeytobabykneelandhttps://www.youcaring.com/journeytobabykneelandhttps://www.youcaring.com/journeytobabykneeland) and those who have donated, those who have asked questions and been there to support us. Without having you all as a support system, this would be a million times harder. We have ran into people who are not as supportive and have made us feel horrible, including close family. But because of your support those people have not been able to break us.

This week we paid our first deposit for our IVF cycle. We spent a total of $3350:

•        $2000 nonrefundable deposit to the clinic (will be applied towards the procedure)

•        $600 for Nanobead Sperm Selection This is a sperm selection technique that filters a semen sample through the use of Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS). The process begins with the addition of magnetic nanobeads to a semen sample. The beads will attach to a sperm whenever particular proteins are present on the surface of the sperm cell. These proteins are early indicators of decay for the particular sperm leading to an identifier for poor quality. When the sample of sperm and beads is filtered through a magnetic funnel, those sperm with attached beads are pulled away towards the magnetic surface and only the “purest, high-quality” sperm filter through. This increases the likelihood of only the BEST sperm being selected and utilized. Check out the video of how Nanobead Sperm Selection works.

•        $650 for reservation for Embryoscope This unique technology combines a state-of-the-art incubation environment with a high quality microscope camera system and allows all details of embryo development to be observed as a time-lapse movie. Observing the features of embryo development is critical in being able to decide which are most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy. Check out the video of how Embryoscope works.

•         $100 for Embryo Glue This is applied to an embryo prior to its transfer to the uterus in order to improve implantation. It closely resembles the uterine environment at the time of implantation and aids the embryo in uniting with the uterus. This is not a glue as one may typically think of; however, it acts as one by allowing the embryo to better attach to the uterine wall, allowing for the increased chance for implantation.

In my last post I said it felt real because we officially signed up for our retrieval cycle, this week if felt extra real when I saw the funds leave my bank account.

I also have been set up with an IVF coordinator and have received my list of dates for our cycle.

• April 26^th : Medication Class 8:30 am or 5:30pm
• May 2^nd, 3^rd, or 4^th : Baseline Ultrasounds and Labs
• May 8^th : STIM Medications begin
• May 12^th : STAT Labs
• May 15^th: CD9 Ultrasound & STAT Labs
• May 18^th- 21^st : Egg Retrievals

We start with a 2 hour course a month before retrieval where we learn about all of the medication that we will be taking. We go in for ‘baseline’ ultrasounds to see where we are prior to the medication. Then we start the medication (by we, I mean I, Steven does nothing but put up with me for a month!). The clinic will then monitor me and see how the medication is working and determine when the best day for retrieval is. Then we go in for the retrieval! Steven will provide sperm at that time and we keep our fingers crossed that we are able to get at least a few healthy embryos. I will provide more details about the testing and growth of embryos as we get closer to that time.

On a non-fertility related note, we took Gizmo in for his surgery on Wednesday. He had a lump in his side removed and sent off to biopsy ($700 for the surgery and biopsy). The vet is pretty sure it is the start of a vaccine site reaction. These reactions in cats almost always lead to injection site sarcoma, which is an incredibly fast and fatal cancer. Our vet is pretty hopeful that we caught it before it turned into cancer. We will get the results back next week sometime. So keep your fingers crossed for that! Now poor Gizmo has a bald butt and a gnarly scar.

My credit card/bank account is sweating after this week. But I am happy that we are on our way to Baby Kneeland and that Gizmo has a better chance of living to see Baby Kneeland be a reality!