Help the Steens Complete Their Family Post Cancer

Hello everyone,

As many of you know, Devon was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 27. We knew early on that the treatment would likely affect her fertility, so we scheduled an appointment with the University of Iowa to have her eggs harvested prior to beginning chemotherapy. Unfortunately, after learning more about the stage and hormone receptor status of the cancer, as well as the risk of using hormonal medication to stimulate egg maturation, we made the difficult decision to follow the oncologist's guidance and cancel the appointment to avoid the cancer progressing. We were heartbroken at the thought that we may never be able to have another child.

Treatment was difficult. Devon completed six months of chemotherapy, one year of immunotherapy infusions, 31 radiation treatments, a bilateral mastectomy, and nine reconstructive surgeries. Thanks to a tremendous amount of support from family, friends, and the Nassif Community Cancer Center, Devon completed treatment and was declared cancer free!

With the closing of this difficult chapter in our lives, we are ready to pursue our dream of completing our family. We knew from early in our relationship that we both wanted a large family and were incredibly lucky to welcome our daughter, Faye, prior to the cancer diagnosis. Faye is the light of our lives, yet we feel that something is missing in our family. We would love to have another child and give Faye a sibling.

Sometimes it not only takes a village to raise a child, but to create one too. Devon's generous sister, Carly, and cousin, Ashley, have volunteered to give us the most precious gifts imaginable. Carly plans to donate her eggs, and Ashley has agreed to be our gestational carrier. The cost of the specialized fertility services required for egg harvesting and in-vitro fertilization pose a barrier to this. We are humbly asking our community for help raising some of the funds needed to begin this process. Any funds raised will go toward the specialized fertility services, including:

Egg donor medical fees- $13,900

Gestational carrier medical fees- $8,000

Intended parent medical fees- $10,800

Medication fees- $2,500-$5,500

Agency fees- $16,000-$18,000

Administrative fees- $6,000

We are incredibly grateful for any financial donations, positive thoughts, and sharing of our story. Thank you for helping make our dream a reality.

Sincerely,

The Steens