Our Story
John and I have been blessed with a fruitful marriage for nearly 10 years this spring. We married in Virginia and John welcomed me into his larger Air Force Family for his last 7 years of service. He retired from the Air Force in 2017, and he now has his dream follow on career happily working here in Central Florida. My background is in Medical Imaging (Radiography and Mammography) prior to becoming a military wife, and I am now even more blessed to take on the role of a stay at home/homeschooling Mommy to our adopted daughter that we named Grace.
From the very start of our marriage, we attempted to grow our family, but as time slowly unfolded, we learned we were on the incredibly difficult and painful journey of primary infertility. We were very excited to have learned the Symptothermal Method form of NFP while attending our Pre-Cana Engagement classes that we used for the first year of our marriage, but God eventually lead us to a different form of NFP and asked us to put our trust and efforts into the Creighton Method and NaPro Technology. We are so grateful for all of the “Saints” at the St. Pope Paul VI Institute for their time and commitment dedicated to upholding our faith in the administration of tests and procedures we have entrusted them with and endured for the past 9 years. They’ve helped us discover the medical reasons why our efforts and desires to conceive have been failing us. I have been officially diagnosed with: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), Chronic Endometriosis, and Thyroid System Dysfunction (TSD). I have had 6 laparascopic abdominal surgeries, countless lab draws and cycle reviews, hormone therapy through a complex mix of medications, and a plethora of medical imaging studies. I have had an Ovarian Wedge Resection, laser removal of endometriosis, fibroids, and pelvic adhesions, and I even had one ovary and fallopian tube removed all without ever once achieving pregnancy. We did prayerfully “give up” and stopped treatment in 2019 (no more charts, labs, or medications!), but 2020 brought on new and unexplained pain that has lead us back into treatment.
Lately, the Holy Spirit has been nudging at my heart to unleash the silent restraint that infertility grief often isolates families like ours in. I don’t know about you, but I have found it very difficult to find others that can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions this cross entails! I have begun to realize that we have been given so much grace through this cross that I never even comprehended it as being a gift. Our hope is that in talking about our journey and sharing all the things that have helped us find some comfort along the way, that you too might find some much needed encouragement and begin to recognize the abundance of gifts in your life stemming from this very same cross. I am not a theological expert, a professional counselor, or a medical expert by any means, but I am a fellow sister of yours as a member of the body of Christ attempting to make my way home and being endlessly drawn into the heart of Christ through infertility. Bear with me…I have NEVER attempted to blog before, so God willing we can make this work! Just know that we are here, and we are praying for you and alongside you!
God Bless and we wish you much love in your heart in this very moment – Karen, John, & Grace
