Hope Creates Life
Donation protected
Hope Creates Life… the title of our story, it comes from our heart. For us hope is not a thing or a resource, but our hope is God.
Our story begins on June 2nd, 2007 when I married the man of my dreams. As newlyweds we were excited to start our journey together, as one in Christ, and to someday start a family.
Our dreams of having a family were interrupted when we learned early on in our marriage that my husband, Joshua, may be infertile. After many tests, and even genetic testing, we learned he had a rare extra chromosome that rendered him infertile. It seemed as if our new marriage and our faith were being tested and keeping our dreams of starting a family was going to be difficult.
But as it seems, the trials weren’t done with us just yet. In the fall of 2013 I was having pain and discomfort in my abdomen and we learned that I had an abdominal tumor. After a successful surgery we learned that it was benign, all praise to God, but the surgeon had found endometriosis across my pelvic cavity. Endometriosis is a painful disease in which the tissues that normally line the uterus grows outside the uterus and contributes to infertility in women. Endometriosis commonly involves your ovaries, bowel, or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region, which in my case, had already begun. If not treated, endometrial lesions and adhesions become more extensive and the organs and ligaments within the pelvic cavity and outside the pelvic cavity can be adhered together.
Thus began another journey together on how to treat my endometriosis. After a year of unsuccessful and painful side effects of various hormonal treatments, we decided to go for laparoscopic surgery to remove the endometriosis. At the same time I was also diagnosed with three abdominal hernias that had to be operated on. So, this seemed like the perfect time for a 2-for-1 operation! During the surgery with my surgeon and gynecologist present, neither were able to remove the endometriosis because of the massive growth and scar tissue from my previous surgery, and thus, both had rendered my abdomen as a ‘hostile environment’. After healing from the surgery and seeking the advice from several OBGYN doctors, we learned that there were no other treatments for Endometriosis, and that. The only solutions left now were either a full hysterectomy (I’m 28 years old) or try to become pregnant, which ironically can halt the growth of new endometriosis, and in some cases can even reverse the effects of the disease.
“If it’s not good, God’s not done yet. Something better is coming and God is writing our story.”
-Jonathan Stone (Newlife.tv )
So, here we are, about to embark on a new adventure together and we need your help. As both Joshua and I are both infertile we are planning on doing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t pay for any infertility treatments. We have heard of horror stories of couples separating over infertility issues within a marriage and it definitely has been a struggle for Joshua and I, but through it all we have become stronger in our marriage, as best friends and in our faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. With our hope in our savior, and with the help of our family and dear friends, we are so excited to see where our story will lead us.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5; 3-5)
Our story begins on June 2nd, 2007 when I married the man of my dreams. As newlyweds we were excited to start our journey together, as one in Christ, and to someday start a family.
Our dreams of having a family were interrupted when we learned early on in our marriage that my husband, Joshua, may be infertile. After many tests, and even genetic testing, we learned he had a rare extra chromosome that rendered him infertile. It seemed as if our new marriage and our faith were being tested and keeping our dreams of starting a family was going to be difficult.
But as it seems, the trials weren’t done with us just yet. In the fall of 2013 I was having pain and discomfort in my abdomen and we learned that I had an abdominal tumor. After a successful surgery we learned that it was benign, all praise to God, but the surgeon had found endometriosis across my pelvic cavity. Endometriosis is a painful disease in which the tissues that normally line the uterus grows outside the uterus and contributes to infertility in women. Endometriosis commonly involves your ovaries, bowel, or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region, which in my case, had already begun. If not treated, endometrial lesions and adhesions become more extensive and the organs and ligaments within the pelvic cavity and outside the pelvic cavity can be adhered together.
Thus began another journey together on how to treat my endometriosis. After a year of unsuccessful and painful side effects of various hormonal treatments, we decided to go for laparoscopic surgery to remove the endometriosis. At the same time I was also diagnosed with three abdominal hernias that had to be operated on. So, this seemed like the perfect time for a 2-for-1 operation! During the surgery with my surgeon and gynecologist present, neither were able to remove the endometriosis because of the massive growth and scar tissue from my previous surgery, and thus, both had rendered my abdomen as a ‘hostile environment’. After healing from the surgery and seeking the advice from several OBGYN doctors, we learned that there were no other treatments for Endometriosis, and that. The only solutions left now were either a full hysterectomy (I’m 28 years old) or try to become pregnant, which ironically can halt the growth of new endometriosis, and in some cases can even reverse the effects of the disease.
“If it’s not good, God’s not done yet. Something better is coming and God is writing our story.”
-Jonathan Stone (Newlife.tv )
So, here we are, about to embark on a new adventure together and we need your help. As both Joshua and I are both infertile we are planning on doing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, our insurance doesn’t pay for any infertility treatments. We have heard of horror stories of couples separating over infertility issues within a marriage and it definitely has been a struggle for Joshua and I, but through it all we have become stronger in our marriage, as best friends and in our faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. With our hope in our savior, and with the help of our family and dear friends, we are so excited to see where our story will lead us.
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5; 3-5)
Organizer
Joshua Goss
Organizer
Bremerton, WA