Shelby & Micah
Treatment(s)
- Embryo Freezing
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Genetic Testing
- In vitro Fertilization (IVF)
- Mini IVF
Location(s)
- Syracuse
- Buffalo
- Travel Client
Physician(s)
- Robert Kiltz, MD
- Michael Grossman, MD
Shelby & Micah's Story:
Micah and I started dating in high school. He was 16 and I was 17. When we met, I don't think either of us imagined marrying one another, but God had the best plans for us. We graduated high school and decided to stay in our hometown.
Micah ended up farming and ranching just like his dad, granddad, and great-granddad before him. After three years of dating, we got married in April 2015.
We didn't plan to start our family right away because we were so young and wanted to get both of our businesses established. After two years, we decided if it happened, it happened. Little did we know there was more to it than that for us.
After a year or so of nothing happening, we got serious about trying, and still nothing.
I knew deep down something was wrong and decided it was time to seek professional help. After countless doctor visits (not at CNY) and several tests later, the doctors told us we would never be able to conceive naturally and didn't even seem optimistic about IUI or IVF.
We did a round of IUI, with no success. The doctors in the DFW area didn't give us any hope other than IVF and still said our odds weren't very good. They quoted us a price of about $30,000+, and they didn't include all of the medications.
At that point, I knew we weren't meant to have a baby because we were only 23 & 24 years old, and I knew we could never afford that, especially with insurance not covering anything!
One day, I stumbled across an ad for CNY and thought, what could it hurt?
CNY set me up for a consultation in less than a month, looked over my files, and they instantly said they would be able to help us. And at about a third of the cost in Texas, even with traveling to NY!
In November 2019, we had our egg retrieval, which was a success, with 29 eggs retrieved, 20 fertilized, and resulted in 10 embryos.
In January of 2020, I had my first frozen transfer, which ended with a chemical pregnancy. Of course, I was disappointed, but my husband pleaded to try one more time.
In February 2020, we did one more frozen transfer, and our prayers were finally answered. We were pregnant!
On October 15, 2020, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl named Emma Hope Thomas. The name "Emma" means "my God has answered." She is the best thing that has ever happened to us and brings so much joy to us and those she is around.
Without CNY, we would have never been able to grow our family, and we cannot thank them enough!
(Photos by Kaley B. Photography)
The Moment:
The best moment throughout this experience is definitely the first time you hear your baby's cry and the nurse lays her across your chest.
I remember this moment so well because I was exhausted, starving, scared, nervous, excited, and happy all at the same time.
I wanted to make sure it wasn't a dream. I remember her looking up at me, and she had the most precious face. I started crying because I knew we finally made it and all the struggles along the way all of a sudden felt worth it.
Hope, Inspiration and Advice:
Every test, sonogram, ultrasound, and negative test leads to a positive test, a call from the nurse telling you your pregnant, hearing your baby's heartbeat, feeling him/her kick for the first time, holding your baby in your arms and hearing your baby say "I love you mommy."
