Help the Lanham’s Dream Come True

When I met my husband almost two decades ago, I knew he was the one for me. We met in freshman History class at UIndy and became instant friends... Little did I know that life would take us in different directions, but I’m grateful that fate brought us back together in 2014. In 2019, we said our vows and our journey as the Lanhams began. I always envisioned having at least one child, if not two. Every little girls dream to have a boy and a girl right? We began this process during the pandemic and found ourselves pregnant not once but twice in 2020, both ultimately ending in miscarriages. In the spring of 2021, my husband I ran our first half marathon, and found out not shortly later that we had conceived yet again. We were thrilled- our baby ran their first half too! - but that happiness soon decimated when at 6 weeks, we found it was in the tube. Shortly after, I underwent surgery where the doc found the baby in my left tube, and inflammation in my right, leaving me tubeless. Grateful that it wasn’t much worse, but emotionally distraught, our options to have our own children have come down to IVF. Between the procedure and medicines, we are looking at over $25k, with no guarantee that we will have our own child. If you find it in your heart to help, we appreciate it. At almost 36 years old, I know my timer is ticking. I know God only gives us what we can handle, but damn, we could use a break on this one.

Justin’s story:
When I think about being a parent, I think of laughter, hope, and heartbreak. Kids are the best of us. Kids don't judge. Kids want to do what is right.
When I think of having a child, I think of the sitcom it would be. Some of the best laughs I have ever laughed, came from a child's innocence. Whether it be the questions, their way of explaining something how they see it, or just the raw goofiness of a child, I know their will be more laughs than could be counted.
When I think of having a child, I think of being able to help a person, a loved one, become the best they can be. Whether they want to change the world, the country, the state they live in, their community, or their neighborhoods, kids can do that.
I was lucky, my parents were able to provide an upbringing where I didn't have to wish I could do something. If I wanted to play basketball, I played basketball. If I wanted to play soccer, I played soccer. If I wanted to explore a possibility, I was able to explore it. Being a parent is giving a child the hope of accomplishing big things.
Life is rough. Whether it be the lose of a family member, friend, pet, significant other, the spot on a team or group, or their favorite socks, I look forward to helping a child through heartbreak.
This last year, my wife and I have experienced a lot of laughs, hope, and heartbreak. From Covid allowing us to entertain each other at home more than normal, to the hope of getting pregnant, through to the heartbreak of three failed pregnancies. We've experienced a lot of laughs, hope, and heartbreak. Now we start another journey is search of more laughs, hope, and heartbreak.

Jenn’s story:
It’s weird to sit here and think about a life that we’ve built up. A few decades ago, Justin and I met and life took us different on paths. At that point in my life, I never thought about kids. And I’m grateful, looking back, that kids weren’t in the cards for me at that point. Weird how life works that way. God knew the timing and the situation wasn’t right. And then Justin and I were reunited- in Gods perfect timely per usual- and it was crazy how right everything felt. Watching him with kiddos is something that’s really remarkable. It comes so natural. And I knew from the beginning that having a family with him was my purpose. Raising little hellions with this amazing man was exactly what was in the cards for me, and I couldn’t wait for that to happen. So selflessly, I want this for him. He has given so much to making sure I am taken care and that our fur babies are as well. But when I watch him talk about kids or hold a baby in his arms, knowing that we may never have that joy, it breaks my heart. I see him as an amazingly tough man, but one that isn’t afraid to show his emotions in these moments. And I honestly don’t know that I’ll ever be a great mom,but I do know without a shadow of a doubt, with Justin as their father, the kiddo will turn out amazing.