IVF: Beth and Mark's Journey Towards a Family

Hi, my name is Aubrey Ray, I am a family friend and I am fundraising on behalf of Beth and Mark Aschenbrenner. After 8 years together, Beth and Mark are ready to expand their family and welcome a child. Unfortunately, life had other plans and lead them on a bumpy road to get them this goal. It is my intention with this platform to reveal the support, love and compassion those around Beth and Mark have while they undergo IVF treatment in Minneapolis. To get a better grasp on their journey, Beth and Mark have provided some personal details in the hope to express to others how challenging fertility can be and what their upcoming year holds.

Every person who experiences infertility has a different beginning, middle, and end. In the beginning, it had taken Beth and Mark a few long, and arduous months to get their first positive pregnancy test. It had been everything they had been working towards together and they finally felt the middle of their story was here. Even though it was early, many plans were made, and hopes of a healthy pregnancy let Beth and Mark feel the joy of expecting their first child. However, this was not the end of their story. By week seven Beth started to experience some discomfort and bleeding. She had hoped would disappear, but after going to the doctor they informed the couple they were losing their first pregnancy. With this confirmation, Beth and Mark went home to grieve and start a plan of trying for their happy ending again. But this was still the beginning and soon things would become much harder. There had been no physical signs of an ectopic pregnancy during Beth's miscarriage and the family was told things were going as typical as they could for an early loss. It wasn’t until a week later (and with help from Mark) that Beth went back to the doctor for pain and continued bleeding. The baby they had hoped for had not been in the right place inside Beth's body. An ectopic pregnancy had not been caught early on, causing a fallopian tube to burst starting internal bleeding. Without Mark’s instance and emergency surgery to remove her tube, Beth could have lost her own life as well. This was not how they saw their journey going... a positive pregnancy test full of hope, to a life-saving surgery that left them wondering if they would ever have a child of their own.

For Beth and Mark, their story of infertility started with the loss of a tube. Limited options and "naturally conceiving" being tampered down with only one working tube depositing eggs, They started with grueling testing, painful procedures, and many ultrasounds to hopefully start the family they had always dreamed of. But, with all those tests came no answers and no way of knowing if they would ever fall pregnant again. Beth and Mark began a new journey with monthly various medications for enhanced ovulation and three unsuccessful IUI attempts, each one their own debt to burden. As their options started to dwindle, they were advised medically to pursue IVF. In Wisconsin, health insurance is not required to cover these costs. All of their current work to conceive has been done out of pocket, and IVF will be too. All medications, appointments, scans, labs and procedures can amass to $34,000 or more.

Mark and Beth have had their lives together surrounded by children. Whether it is as respite providers, hockey coach, water-ski coach or being around the children of friends and family. Years of service, opening their home to provide love and care to those who need an extra hand. This is Beth and Mark’s only option for a child of their very own. A child to love, cherish and teach how to be the best person they can be. It is now that we can give them the chance to see the joy in a child’s eyes as they experience all the news of life. Please take a moment to love the children around you, see the blessings you have and help us give this gift of parenthood to Beth and Mark through our financial support.

All donations will be directed to the known and unknown IVF costs in Minneapolis. Medications, procedures and exams at RMIA. If you are curious about the clinic they have chosen, attached is the link: RIMA Clinic