Support the Cherneys' Dream to Grow Their Family

Hello friends and family, my name is Linda Akutagawa and I am starting this GoFundMe fundraiser to help my beloved friends, Nathan and Valeria Cherney as they embark on their IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) journey. When I think of Nathan and Valeria, I think of shining lights and love, because that is what they bring into this world. I’m sure that if you know them, you also share this sentiment of what loving and amazing people they are. The world needs more Nathans and Valerias.

The Lord blessed them with the fostering and recent adoption of Amira and they have been fantastic parents. Nathan and Valeria would love to make Amira a big sister. Unfortunately, they have been on a long journey to reach this point and exhausted all other measures for having biological children, as well as experienced a strain on their finances. The IVF treatment will be costing roughly $25,000. I am hoping to raise $20,000 of that for them through this GoFundMe. Would you consider contributing towards this fundraiser to help Pastor Nathan and Valeria grow their family? Thank you for considering joining the Cherney's on this journey through your financial support and prayers.

This is their story:

After returning from a mission trip to Thailand in late 2016, we began trying for our own biological children.

We found out quickly that after 1½ years of trying, a couple is considered ‘infertile.’ We saw a specialist in 2018 where we pursued further intervention with an IUI but it did not work. We tried again in 2019, and the results were the same.

We were left bewildered as there was (and still) no certain reason why we were not able to get pregnant. We did not know what was next, but the Lord knew what would be in store for the future. Shortly after, Valerie and I prayed and we separately received confirmation to become foster parents while we still hold out hope for biological children. We were blessed with 2 baby girls for a short period of time and then a long absence of waiting. Little did we know that this timing would be just right. On November 2, 2022, a precious baby named Amira would come into our lives. She has been a delight and blessing to us and everyone she meets. Recently, Amira has been legally adopted in our family!

While working through the foster system, we got a sense that we should try one more time when insurance from the church covered our basic fertility appointed ments. Could this be what’s next for our growing family?

In 2023, we begin pursuing that option with the help of Dr. Wang in Monterey Park. Through this part of our journey, in 2024, a miracle took place - we got pregnant, and with twins! What a joy it was to see what we’ve longed for come to be.

Yet our delight would soon turn to sorrow as the first twin was lost (vanishing twin syndrome). Shortly after, the other twin’s heartbeat stopped. We were devastated as what we thought was the promise realized, but the reality was, our children didn’t get to spend time here on earth with us. However, we know that we will see the twins one day in heaven.

It was tough to get back to focusing on expanding our family, but we were encouraged not to give up by the Lord, our friends, and our doctor. That year we experienced many delays, but we persevering through the process. Now we are here in 2025. Dr. Wang is leading us through the last and final stage of us pursuing biological children through the means of IVF. We are hopeful and trusting in God through this next step, just as we have been trying to do throughout our entire fertility journey.