Brian & Jessica Janisch
If you weren't able to tune in to FOX26 News in recent
weeks, you may have missed the story of Marine Corps
Sergeant Brian Janisch and his wife, Jessica. The
newlyweds, married in July 2005, have been separated
by Brian's deployment to Iraq since this past summer.
Though she has two children from a previous marriage,
Jessica and Brian knew right away that they wanted
children from their union. Like many young mothers,
though, Jessica experienced secondary infertility due to
blocked fallopian tubes.
"We didn't think we had any alternatives to our
infertility," recalls Jessica, "until we talked to a friend
who went to high school with Brian in Tomball. She
used to work for Dr. Kristiansen." The couple
immediately came to Houston Infertility Clinic, and
happier circumstances began to unfold.
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Joining Technlogies
Not long after deciding to pursue IVF, the newlyweds
learned that Brian would be leaving soon for Iraq.
Knowing how crucial passing time can be to the
outcome of fertility treatments, the Janisch's quickly
put a plan in motion that would allow them to continue
building their family without delay. Before deploying,
Brian had his sperm cryopreserved with the intention of
Jessica undergoing IVF during his tour of duty. He was
concerned, though, about the difficulties his wife would
endure while he was away.
"Being a military wife is the hardest job in the world,"
Jessica says, "but I'm extremely proud of my husband
for what he does and what he believes."
Enter the Freedom Calls
Foundation, an organization
that links Marines abroad with their loved ones back
home during times of special need. The technology and
know-how of Freedom Calls has been used to help
husbands be present during their children's births, but
never before for their conception! Add the participation
of FOX26 News, with whom Jessica and Brian graciously
shared their journey for television viewers, and the
result was a combination of technological efforts to
help the Sergeant and his wife share one of their lives'
most special moments.
Via video hookup, Brian was able to be "present" for the
IVF process, from egg retrieval, to fertilization in the
lab, to embryo transfer. Then, a few days later, still
with the assistance of Freedom Calls, the Marine
received incredible news from Jessica -- they're
pregnant!
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Growing a Family
Thanks to the collaboration between Houston Infertility
Clinic, Freedom Calls, and FOX26, Brian and Jessica
were able to support each other through their IVF
procedures in ways that no one else can. It hasn't all
been happy tears, though. Jessica describes
the "emotional rollercoaster with Brian gone."
"The ups and downs are hard, and I have to find
alternatives to having him to lean on. Dr. Kristiansen
and her staff have been tremendous. But Brian and I
are both ecstatic that it worked... the first time!"
While Jessica gladly accepts her early pregnancy
symptoms -- mild nausea, food cravings -- she
anticipates an August baby, in time for her Marine to
come home to his new family.
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See the Videos
If you didn't get a chance to view the Janisch story as
it happened on FOX26, you can link to videos at both
our
website and at
FreedomCalls.org.
We're grateful for the technology to help couples build
their families, especially during these trying times. We
know that when love ignites that desire to have a
child, it's a force that nothing can stand in the way of.
I and my staff at Houston Infertility Clinic feel lucky to
have been part of this couple's heartfelt journey.
Sincerely,
Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD
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