Baby Cannon IVF treatment

Hello Everyone!

It is with immense nervousness, and after a lot of reflecting, that we have made the decision to ask for support to help us grow our family via IVF treatment. We are normally the ones helping but this time we need the help and support.

We are Cassie (37) & Cory (42).

Our story:

We have known each other since kids, his step-dad and my dad have been best friends since elementary. Fast forward to 2002- asked Cory if he would be my roommate. Shockingly said yes!! 2 days later moved into our townhouse. Six months living together he asked me out on a date. Didn't know if it would work and didn't want to ruin a friendship but it blossomed into now still together stronger than ever 19 years later! His grandma Mary lived with us for 10+ years exception of 2 years between 2006 til her passing April 2018. She was his everything!

A little bit about Cory, he has 2 younger brothers and a sister -he is 9 yrs older than his next sibling. His dad left when he was little and was raised by his mom, Grandma and Grandpa. He took on an early responsibility over his younger siblings and did an amazing job!!! He became a father at a young age of 17, his son now 24! He was adopted by his Aunt, at 5 years old on the mothers side. Cory and his son reconnected on his 16th birthday and thankfully has given another chance to share his story, bond and see him grow into a mature adult! His experience was not the greatest and wants another chance. We would love to start our own family and for him a second chance and myself a dream to become a mother.

His occupation is a Painter.

(2002) I, Cassie at 18 years old got diagnosed with Fibroadenoma Disease, 8 lumps removed on left Breast. Mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsys done either every six months or at least yearly. 2010 got CIN3 cervix had a LEEP procedure done been great ever since. WAHOO.

2008 we got hit by a massive flood here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I was in nursing school and unfortunately lost my job due to the flood. I worked downtown. This was the year I started housecleaning to make my rent. It blossomed and I currently staff 2 employees. I am blessed my clients let me in their lives and do a service we love and also seeing thier families grow.

July 2014 we got married, started talking about having a family so we started talking to the ob why we aren't getting pregnant. Found out I had a retroflexed uterus, so funny thing the Drs. Kept telling us try these positions, shove pillows underneath you stay like that for 30 min after. Well we tried everything that was suggested still nothing so we opted for other treatment methods

August 2016 we had our first round of IUI. It failed. Then another December.

In July 2017 we had our third round of IUI and we actually got pregnant, which was followed shortly thereafter by a miscarriage.

Took a break due to my 16 yr old cat Princess passed away August 16th, 2017, Our Dog Jasper who was 130 pds passed away due to a volleyball sized tumor in his stomach December 17th 2017, then his grandma Mary passed away right Easter weekend then our other pupper Ty pass away that summer shortly after. So end of 2017 and 2018 was a rough year.

November 2018 our 4th IUI 2018 unsuccessful again. Was getting depressed needed some time to recover mentally and physically.

We attempted to do a 5th IUI, October 2019 but after all the fertility medication I was one I yielded 9 eggs in which ther would not do procedure and warned us not to have sex in chances of multiples. Well sorry I decided to take that chance what are the odds of having 9 stick or even 3 if we couldn't even get one to stick. We got pregnant!!!! We were so excited, also finding due date was Cory's birthday!!! Summer baby we also found out that his brother was pregnant as well due Aug 22nd. Cousins right. Well -we decided to tell our families at Christmas and they along with us have been waiting for this moment. Unfortunately January 9th 2020 i called my Ob worried something was wrong, I had a bad gut feeling not feeling great so I went in got blood work done and checkup and said I'm sorry you are in the middle of a miscarriage. 13 weeks. Thought I would be out of the woods on chances. The worst part was going back to my (Cassie) parents and tell them won't be having another grandchild this year unfortunately. I still have images of my dad reaction and I never want to see that again. It broke his heart as it did to Cory and I. Great news we have a niece born his brother welcomed a baby girl!

After that miscarriage, I felt defeated I never gave up even with how much it costed especially since everything was out of pocket insurance won't cover anything except blood work and a few ultrasounds. My Ob said they would not be trying IUI anymore and that we needed to explore IVF options. THANK GOD For my sister in law Aislynn came to us without any hesitation said she will be honored to be a gestational carrier for us. She has 2 children of her own, her life is busy. How selfless, kind awesome so many more words I can name for offering and potentially doing that for us. Takes time for legal contracts, her testing & requirements to be completed. Cory & I are going to try one last time with myself. If it fails, I pray it won't but if by happenstance Aislynn would be carrying for us. Which will give a buffer for timing since it a little more difficult and longer process. We are sooo grateful she has offered to do this.

I contacted the University had my consultation scheduled for March 15th, 2020 and unfortunately the world gets hit with the Covid 19 pandemic and everything got shut down, work got slow. I was really bummed we are ready to start a family.

August 2020,our wonderful city and State got hit by a Derecho, inland hurricane 140+ mph winds with less than a 10 minute warning. I will say are community joined forces like no tomorrow and support everyone by lending a helping hand. We are Iowastrong!

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We were on another waitlist but finally got a call mid December 2020 that they were accepting appointments again. Had the packet sent to me from university and stated my insurance has NO FERTILITY COVERAGE. It would cost $19,000 plus medications. Iowa unfortunately does not require insurance to cover ivf related medical coverage. So they dont... question now is how do we afford it?

To date we have spent $12,000+, as we pay 100% out of pocket for all fertility treatments.

Each IUI = $2,000.00 (x4) with medications

Blood test, ultrasounds, ovulation kits,

LUCKILY I found a more cost friendly Fertility Clinic but we have to travel out of state to the east or west coast. Thankfully monitoring work is being covered by my insurance where I only have co-pays but we still have to cover 30%. It adds up fast just for pre workup monitoring I've spent over 1, 000. On August 17th I got the list of medications and the costs. I had a panic moment. I wish I could get pregnant like my two sisters did so easily and have an extra stress of trying to afford a dream you've dreamt for years and years to be halted by the cost to get treatment just for that chance of a potential successful pregnancy.

Medication to Stim for Egg Retrieval: $4,500

Travel to either Colorado or New York. Unknown at the moment due to unkown egg retrieval date

Lodging, food NY test that may need done that is out of network.

Once we have a viable pregnancy and "graduate" from the fertility clinic our health insurance will then cover our pregnancy cost. THANK GOD.

Asking for help is not easy. The cost feels too big, too impossible at times...but I am trying to open myself up to receiving and push past my embarrassment of asking for help. We want to be parents more than anything and to me that means fighting for our family, and asking for help. Any support given will go towards creating our family. If that means another egg retrieval, if that means surrogacy, if that means adoption...we don't know yet. For now we are so focused on trying to make the dream of having a child or children our reality.

If our dreams come true and there is any money leftover it will be donated to someone else trying to start their own family.

Thank you for taking the time to read, share and support our journey...there are no words to show our gratitude.

Cassie & Cory