Christina & Vitaliy

Christina & Vitaliy's Story:

We wanted kids immediately after we were married, but it didn't happen. Six years into our marriage, we went to see a doctor. On our journey, we met a doctor who lost my husband's test results and treated me instead for a long time, which was pointless.

After that fiasco, we switched to a fertility clinic in New York (not CNY), where I had three unsuccessful IUIs and one unsuccessful fresh embryo transfer. With the frozen embryo transfer, one of two embryos implanted, and five years ago, our beautiful boy was born.

We were left with 12 embryos in storage. We moved to Pennsylvania, and after two years, we wanted a second miracle for our family. Back in New York, my doctor told me about CNY Fertility. When the time came, I was very happy to see that they had opened a Philadelphia office where I could do monitoring. I was especially surprised that people in the office spoke Ukrainian, my native language! So, my journey with CNY began.

We moved our embryos to CNY Syracuse. When my period began for the first time, I was very happy and excited. I like how personal CNY is, how they speak to you as a person, not just a patient. On our first embryo transfer, I was pleasantly surprised by the clinic and staff. I didn't feel like I was in a clinic; I felt like I was in some spa center. I liked that my husband was with me during the transfer. I liked the atmosphere in the clinic. I liked how nice everyone was to us. But this time, I had a biochemical pregnancy, so our miracle did not happen. The CNY staff was very supportive, so we started again.

The second and third transfers were also unsuccessful. After the third failed transfer Dr. Klitz called me himself. He was supportive and adjusted my protocol. We also did genetic testing of the remaining embryos. We were left with one embryo. The results showed that the embryo had a low percentage of mosaicism, and we decided to try. Honestly, I did not believe it would happen. I was depressed, and I was afraid to hope. It hurt too much. So when this time, everything worked, my happiness felt endless.

I am very thankful for the support and for making my dreams come true. When we did genetic testing in week nine of pregnancy, it showed that our daughter was absolutely healthy. It was the last embryo—a low-percent mosaic—but it worked! She is healthy. Our daughter is a true miracle.

Favorite Team Member at CNY:

Dr. Kiltz, Dr. Ivanob, the nurse in Syracuse office that give me my lipid IV, she was so nice and supportive. Also the nurse on my first transfer was incredible.

Helpful resources Christina & Vitaliy found:

Gratitude journal (even on the day I got call about the unsuccessful transfer I reminded myself of the many gifts in my life for which I am grateful)
Fertility yoga
IVF support pages in social media

The Moment:

I didn't believe it. When I checked my lab results, my HCG was 55, and I thought it was low, so it must be another biochemical pregnancy. I began to cry. Then, I received a call from CNY telling me that it's okay, and it's a normal number. I was shocked but didn't want to believe it. When I did the blood test again, and they called me with congratulations, I was the happiest person alive.

When my daughter was born, I cried from happiness and disbelief. How could my miracle happen? She is the most beautiful baby girl. I still have a hard time believing that my dreams have come true. But she is here, and my happiness is endless.

Hope, Inspiration and Advice:

Never give up. Just breathe and know that everything will happen in its own time. And sometimes, it's the last embryo. But it's worth the wait, the pain, the shots, and every step on this journey.