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“Hope? Hope is not the absence of tragedy, my friend. It is the conviction that tragedy can be endured. Hope is the spark in you that is not subdued in the face of the vast and callous indifference of the universe. Hope is that which is not shattered by hardship. Hope is the urge to fight what is wrong even when you know it will destroy you. Hope is the decision to love and need someone knowing that they will one day die. For me to promise that there are no obstacles would be the cruelest lie I could possibly tell. That lie is not hope. Hope is the will which needs no lies.”
- Travis Beacham |
Our miracle son Bram Hopewell was born in 2015.
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Our Story...
In July 2000 Chrissy was diagnosed with MRKH, a reproductive condition, she was 14 years old. Her doctor recommended exploratory surgery to try to pinpoint her exact abnormalities as the condition has many variations. Within minutes into the surgery the inexperienced surgeon was in over his head and "something" went wrong. After receiving over 26 blood transfusions and three life-saving resuscitation’s she spent nearly 24 hours in surgery and then spent 7 days in a coma, and nearly a month in the ICU. Unfortunately the doctors were unable to do any exploration and all of her questions were still unanswered, being a naive teenager she put off further diagnoses and treatment leaving her future hopes and dreams of becoming a mother in limbo.
Once Chrissy and Lee married in 2007, they found an MRKH specialist who
thought she could correct Chrissy's reproductive tract abnormalities which would allow them to have a family. Unfortunately, after a 6 hour surgery they were told that there was nothing the doctor
could do.
Chrissy and Lee spent several years grieving the loss of their potential children.
After many tears and through much deliberation they decided to pursue gestational surrogacy. Without much research they scheduled a consult with a local IVF clinic. The doctor explained the process and gave them the estimated $100,000 price tag that accompanies fertility treatments and surrogacy.
But instead of giving up hope they began to research the complex world of surrogacy and saved every penny they could. Chrissy dedicated countless hours trying to find ways to afford IVF and surrogacy thinking there have got to be ways to minimize the cost. It’s insult to injury that most that people are diagnosed with Financial Infertility on top of Medical Infertility, and too many people give up early on in their journey thinking its impossible after hearing the potential price tag. After years of research they were determined that they could spend under $50,000 and have a baby in their arms one day.
Chrissy and Lee spent several years grieving the loss of their potential children.
After many tears and through much deliberation they decided to pursue gestational surrogacy. Without much research they scheduled a consult with a local IVF clinic. The doctor explained the process and gave them the estimated $100,000 price tag that accompanies fertility treatments and surrogacy.
But instead of giving up hope they began to research the complex world of surrogacy and saved every penny they could. Chrissy dedicated countless hours trying to find ways to afford IVF and surrogacy thinking there have got to be ways to minimize the cost. It’s insult to injury that most that people are diagnosed with Financial Infertility on top of Medical Infertility, and too many people give up early on in their journey thinking its impossible after hearing the potential price tag. After years of research they were determined that they could spend under $50,000 and have a baby in their arms one day.
In 2014 they applied for and miraculously were awarded a Tinina Q. Cade Foundation Family Building Grant that finally let them financially be able to pursue IVF. They moved forward with the egg retrieval and knew in their hearts they would find a carrier one day. After their retrieval they posted on social media pages asking friends if they knew anyone willing to be their surrogate. They placed ads on numerous surrogacy websites and in Facebook groups looking for a carrier. Out of the blue, a local friend of a friend invited them to lunch
and quietly offered to carry their child. Cautiously optimistic they decided kept this quiet
from everyone, even their parents, so they could obtain all of the necessary legal,
psychological and medical clearances.
It was a dream come true! She was an ideal candidate in every way possible and lived close by! In January 2015 they transferred one of their Frosties…and miraculously it worked!!! They are now expecting their first child, a son, in October!
After a few ultrasounds everything was perfect, so they told their parents, family and friends and have received such warm support and love from everyone!
After a few ultrasounds everything was perfect, so they told their parents, family and friends and have received such warm support and love from everyone!
In September 2015 their son Bram Hopewell was born. Their lives changed in an instant and they fell head over heels in love with him. Their amazing journey to finally become parents came to an end, and now their journey AS parents is just beginning. Surrogacy is such an amazing gift, and although their journey was long and emotional, once they were connected with Heather it was as perfect as perfect could be. There are not enough words to thank Heather and Stephanie for their gift.
Since “going public” about their infertility journey they have received an outpouring of love and support and have become increasingly involved in this amazing community. When you change others' lives, you can't help but change your own, so by spreading hope, their own hope continues to grow. In May 2015 Chrissy plans to attend her second Advocacy Day hosted by Resolve, where she will lobby on Capitol Hill with hundreds of other “infertilies” for much needed IVF and adoption tax credits. She has created and manages 2 online support groups which she is passionate about. Most excitingly she has recently been appointed to the Advisory Board for the Beautiful You MRKH Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a community for women with MRKH and increasing awareness of this emotional infertility condition.
It would have been easy for them to give up and loose hope at countless points along the way, but they didn’t. If you want something bad enough, you find a way… even if it seems impossible. They knew we wanted to be parents and would do anything to make that happen.
