With Mother's Day approaching, we thought you might like to hear from some people who've struggled with fertility issues and come out on the other side -- in the "parenthood..."

A chance encounter turned their disappointing world upside down. Perusing a drugstore aisle for baby aspirin, having heard it can help, Angela met Sherie Kaposci and her young daughter. A discussion ensued about the dosage and merits of aspirin, which in turn resulted in Angela receiving one of Dr. Kristiansen's business cards from Sherie.

The couple conceived on their first round of IVF in Spring 2005. After a successful pregnancy, Angela and Brett are now the very proud and happy parents of two boys and one girl, all healthy.

Angela considers this Mother's Day a real dream come true. "The happiness I felt when all three were born is beyond even words."

Persevering for the Best Job

She and husband Cliff spoke with Dr. Kristiansen about their options, deciding that donor eggs would provide them with the chance they desired. Their first choice for a donor wasn't available immediately, so they proceeded with another. Unfortunately, that IVF also failed. When their initially chosen donor was ready, they tried again, only to lose a pregnancy in the second month. Finally, another attempt with a few of her remaining donor egg frozen embryos resulted in a successful pregnancy -- with all the joys, "including food aversions and cravings," Karen laughs. "We loved every minute of it."

Their daughter was born in September, and Karen says she was right. "Being a mother IS the most fulfilling job in the world."

When Time Catches Up

Sherie had referred patients to an REI before, but she'd never connected infertility to her personal situation. She recalls a common thought among many women who've chosen to focus on career first, motherhood later: "The irony of all the years when I took pregnancy tests, hoping that my IUD hadn't failed me when I was younger!"

While she was trying to get pregnant, "It became increasingly harder to hear my patients (at the OB- Gyn's office) complain about being pregnant 'again' and some of their comments -- 'I wasn't even trying' and, worse, 'I wish I wasn't pregnant'." Sherie's misery was compounded by the media's constant portrayal of older mommies in Hollywood, like Madonna and Cheryl Tiegs. Though the experience helped the nurse gain valuable insight and empathy for infertile patients, she was still hesitant to seek fertility help for herself.

"I thought as long as no one told me I couldn't get pregnant," Sherie remembers, "it was still a possibility. It was pure emotion, nothing scientific in my head at that time."

When Dr. Kristiansen visited the OB-Gyn office to talk with the staff about infertility, Sherie felt that the doctor answered her questions with both optimism and realism. An appointment was made and less than four months later, Sherie was pregnant.

Now working as a patient advocate for Dr. Kristiansen, Sherie remembers holding her newborn daughter and thinking, "I can't believe I almost missed this opportunity!" That's the message she tries to convey to everyone: "Don't wait, don't do what I did. I had less than a five percent chance of success at my age. I was lucky." She's also since learned through her work at Houston Infertility Clinic that egg donors and surrogates can help even those who think their luck has run out.

Real Optimism, Real Treatment

Just as Sherie surmised when I first met her, my staff and I try to answer every question with both facts and compassion. We try to make a tough situation as comfortable as possible. When asked to contribute her story to the newsletter, Angela Wharton added that her experience with the Houston Infertility Clinic was very positive, that we helped her feel at ease about every procedure to the point that she "actually looked forward to every single appointment!"

We truly look forward to helping each and every patient become a parent. Believing that hope springs eternal, my staff and I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day.

Sincerely,

Sonja B. Kristiansen, MD