Source Kidspot
After a hysterectomy to treat her severe endometriosis, Jennifer relied on the kindness of strangers to help her become a mum.
I was barely in my 20s when my fertility struggles began.
When I was 16, I was diagnosed with severe stage five endometriosis, a painful chronic condition that affected every aspect of my life.
I underwent a dozen laparoscopies to try and improve the condition, but when I was 21 it was decided that the only way to move forward in my treatment was to remove my ovary (I was only born with one).
Time was running out
I was single at the time but went through two egg retrievals before the procedure so that one day having a baby wasn’t entirely an impossible dream. I ended up with five eggs and after I had the surgery to remove my ovary I went into surgical menopause.
A year later I reconnected with an old friend Steve, I’d known him since childhood, he is the brother of one of my best friends. Steve and I quickly fell in love, and while we both wanted to start a family, my endo was just getting worse and the threat of me needing a hysterectomy was very real.
With that possibility looming, Steve and I decided to try IVF, knowing that time was running out.