Unexplained infertility has couple searching for answers
The Rayne, Louisiana, couple received the Gift of Hope IVF Grant 2018 and the chance to build their family through a free in vitro fertilization cycle.
Both in their thirties, Sara and Scott’s love story began in high school during a driver’s ed class when they realized they had an incredible connection. What began as a friendship blossomed into a beautiful marriage that is now going on fifteen years.
“The first years of our marriage were dedicated to investing in our future,” the couple explained. Sara earned a degree in elementary education while Scott attended a fire academy to pursue a career as a professional fireman. They purchased land and built a home with aspirations to grow a family. Along the way, Sara proved her gift as a talented and inspiring 4th grade teacher by winning Teacher of the Year twice at each of the schools she has taught at, along with Educator of the Year within the school district. Today she is an Instructional Leader in Lafayette Parish and Scott is a fire fighter.
After investing years into their careers, Sara and Scott naturally began to plan for children in their lives. “There is not a year that has gone by that I haven’t told Scott I would love to take my students home with me,” said Sara. “I believe in children despite their obstacles and truly love them.”
Their desire to start a family was quickly met with two pregnancies, both of which ended in early miscarriages. “I don’t think anyone can really understand the emotions you go through unless they have been through it themselves,” said Scott. “I think the worst part for me was watching the pain and emotional strain my wife felt and not being able to do anything. You never really prepare for things like this to happen; you never think it could happen to you.” Their miscarriages were followed by years of not conceiving again.
The couple realized they needed professional help to determine why they were having trouble conceiving and carrying a child to term. So in 2012, they sought the help of Dr. John Storment at Fertility Answers who diagnosed them with recurrent pregnancy loss and unexplained infertility. Within a year they had attempted three intrauterine inseminations with no luck. “How do you fix something if nothing is wrong?” wrote Scott in reference to their diagnosis of unexplained infertility.
In about 15-20% of all infertile couples seeking treatment, no obvious cause for their infertility is found.
Financially and emotionally exhausted, Sara and Scott decided to step away from fertility treatments for a few years to enjoy the life God had richly blessed them with. They continued to hope and believe it was only a matter of time before their story changed. “We dream of the moments when we will hear laughter coming from our empty bedrooms and the pitter-patter of little feet down our hall,” said the couple. “We believe that our story is ‘To Be Continued’ and we have never given up hope that one day we will be blessed to become parents.”
Sara and Scott’s hope was given a huge boost when they learned they were the Gift of Hope IVF grant 2018 winners. “We are so humbled, appreciative, and blessed. Words truly cannot express our gratitude for this gift of hope. We are so truly thankful and overjoyed!”