2nd IVF Journey

Hi, we are Candice and Danielle Clark. I, (Candice Clark) am a United States Marine Corps veteran who is currently in Seminary with hopes of becoming a rostered leader in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America and Danielle is Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nurse (NICU Nurse 8 years). We have been married now for 6 years but are college sweethearts who have loved each other since our early 20’s. We began our fertility journey in 2018. We attempted a few IUI’s before our journey was interrupted by the 2020 Pandemic. During that time our fertility doctor retired and we had to begin the journey all over with more testing and meds to enter into a new treatment facility. During this process Danielle was diagnosed with Hypo and Hyper Thyroidism. She also entered into the ER after an IUI with a blocked tube that was extremely painful and took months for her to recover. At the end of 2021 into 2022 after many IUI attempts and our doctors struggling to give us answers on why we could not conceive. Our doctor settled on: “Unknown infertility” and on to the next Fertility center we went for our 1st IVF attempt. We began the process with many medications, shots and more shots, and an egg retrieval (May 2023). We transferred the one embryo we received form the retrieval, our baby girl (August 2023). Unfortunately, that attempt failed. It just wasn’t our time. We have decided to keep the faith and go for our 2nd IVF attempt. I believe in the profound words of Aaliyah, if at first you don’t succeed, dust it off and try again. Over the years we have often been asked if we wanted kids of our own, and we just smile and say yes without sharing that, that’s the gift we've wanted most in this world and having been hoping, wishing, praying, and trying for the past 4 1/2 years, it just hasn’t happened for us. We have been so blessed to have each other. We have a love that is extraordinary and has endured many of life’s challenges already. With your love, support and donations we get another chance at a dream of giving the love we share to another beautiful (to be created) human being. Fertility treatment has been financial straining and emotionally draining. So, we are extremely thankful to receive any gift your heart whispers to you, to give. We will be sharing more of our journey this time around, so make sure to stay tuned and watch the many ways our love and your love work together to create beautiful Baby Clark!