This week has thrown me for an emotional loop. My head it spinning with possibilities and questions, I don't even know where to begin to explain it all.
On my way to the doctor Tuesday morning, God and I had it out. I was exhausted, frustrated, and scared of what I was about to learn at my appointment. I cried my eyes out as I pleaded for answers, for peace, for a baby. I prayed that He would be more clear in His plan, my heart needed a break. I prayed that either this cycle be successful, or we be approved for a medical loan for $16,000 to try two cycles of IVM with the doctor we visited two weeks ago. I am willing to give up if that's what's necessary, but I don't want to do that unless I KNOW we have to. I begged Him for answers and then I cried, and cried, and cried some more...probably not the safest thing to do while driving...but hey.
So I finally got to the office (reapplied my make-up in the parking lot) to check my estrogen and follicle growth and they found that we missed my LH surge and I was already ovulating. They planned to do an IUI on Wednesday, but after another assessment, they determined that it was too late. So yet another failed cycle for August. We were told to continue with a natural cycle and they will still do a pregnancy test on the 30th, though it's not likely to be positive.
I was devastated. I couldn't believe we had lost our last chance. Ok God, so that was a quick answer...now on to the loan. Right?
Not today....God has other plans for us.
A few hours after my appointment I received a phone call from a nurse wanting to schedule an appointment with our doctor for a consultation. As we started looking at dates, I asked what we were going to talk about and she mentioned that when we first started looking at options, we had said we were potentially willing to do IVF cycles. The doctor wanted to know if that was still the case. Now, theoretically, it is. However an IVF cycle is about $20,000-25,000 in their office when all is said and done...and we were struggling to come up with $8,000 for the IVM. I told her that it just wasn't in the cards right now, but in the future...yes, we probably would go down that road.
I can almost audibly hear her smile when I finally stopped talking. She simply said, "Well that is why I am calling."
Apparently our doctor is working on a new study to decrease the occurrence of multiples in IVF pregnancies. Right now, IVF is done by taking several viable eggs, fertilizing them, and selecting the two best "looking" embryos to place back into the uterus. In his study, for the last few years, our doctor has been working on genetically testing the embryos to find the healthiest one...meaning that it is the most likely to turn into a baby healthy enough to be carried to term.
In his study there will be two groups, one that receives the current standard of care (2 "good-looking" embryos, unstudied) and the other that receives 1 genetically tested embryo. Right now, the standard of care yields an approximate 54% success rate, while the new treatment plans has a success rate of 72% thus far. (Both of these rates kick the pants off of the 20-30% we've been working with!!) The potential mother will not know what group she is in until the day of the transfer.
She said the doctor is very interested in me and my history, so even though I didn't meet all the minimum requirements (my natural cycle is too long), he pushed me through. Why? Well, I believe God led him to...though I am sure he wouldn't admit to that. :) If I participate in this study, we will receive one fresh cycle and one frozen embryo cycle...for $1,600. Yes, that's right...potentially a $48,000 gift from God...and our doctor. Can you say answered prayer?!
The doctor said that he will cover all the costs of my IVF including medication...all we would need to pay for is the anesthesia ($1,000), the cost of freezing the embryos ($600), a pregnancy monitoring cycle (approx. $3,000 - 4,000), and co-pays each visit.
So that means we're looking at a minimum of about $5,000 for a $25,000 procedure.
Sounds amazing right?
IT. GETS. BETTER.
As per the doctor's suggestion, I contacted our insurance company to see what percentage of a pregnancy cycle they will cover if we proceed with an IVF cycle...100%!! That's right...we're down to 2,000 for two entire cycles of IVF.
But wait...there's more!
My goodness, I can hardly contain myself as I write this. God is so good!!
We then learned that Peter's company has a pool of money to help cover medical costs since their insurance is not that great...we received $5,000.
We can proceed with a treatment that it would take years for us to afford...and it will be absolutely FREE.
Now obviously this is not a guarantee by any means...but it's a chance we wouldn't have if it wasn't for the Grace and Mercy of God and the curiosity and compassion of our physician. I'll take it.
"I am speechless. I'm astonished and amazed!
I am silenced by your wondrous grace!
You have shown us a love that leaves us, speechless."
- Steven Curtis Chapman
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