“I am Fulfilled”
The Kozuma family and their little miracle, Jade; Hilo, HI

My daughter’s head rests nestled in the crook of my neck. Her arms wrap around me in a gentle hug while her breath warms my shoulder. She is sleeping contentedly on my chest. I breathe in her special baby smell and close my eyes. Although it has been just over a year, I never thought this day would ever come.

My husband and I tried unsuccessfully for almost 2 years to become parents. We were temporarily sidetracked with I was diagnosed with melanoma. While waiting for the news on whether or not my disease had spread, the biggest regret I had was never having the chance to become a mom and watch my family grow. Fortunately, after several months we received the news that I was in the clear and could move on with our lives. That brush with death gave me the courage to finally seek help to achieve my dream of becoming a mom.

After all the diagnostics were performed, it was determined that I suffered from mild endometriosis. Because of my age we decided to undergo COH with IUI. It was expected that I would become pregnant within a few cycles. Six months and 3 cycles later, we were no closer to our goal. The holidays were approaching and there would be no more cycles until the next year, so once again we tried on our own.

“Oh my God, the stick turned pink!” My husband and I managed to get pregnant on our own. Unfortunately, it was a heterotopic pregnancy. The intrauterine pregnancy was miscarrying and the healthy one was in my left fallopian tube. I realized with cruel irony that there is such a thing as being “a little bit pregnant.”

The situation was handled medically until my left fallopian tube ruptured unexpectedly 3 weeks later. It was at this point that we turned to IVF and REPRONEX^®. On our second attempt it worked! My pregnancy was difficult and complicated, but in the end I had my beautiful baby girl.

I named my daughter Jade because she had to be as tough as a rock to survive, and is just as beautiful as the gemstone. In Asian culture, Jade represents long life.

The birth announcement read:

The elusive dream of motherhood
Had finally been realized.

As my daughter’s tiny had encircles my finger,
She wraps herself around my heart.

My love for her is deeper than any chasm,
Broader than any ocean,
And extends beyond the far reaches of
The universe.

I am fulfilled.

This August I will try once again to become a mom. The desire for a second child is just as strong as it was for the first. I cannot explain it or justify to others how I feel, it just is. This time my doctors will be using a combination of BRAVELLE^® and MENOPUR^®.

We don’t know what the future holds. I am just grateful that technology has come so far, and am lucky to benefit from it. I was only 12 when Louise Brown was born but I remember it distinctly. I was fascinated by the entire process and what her mother endured in order to have a child. She paved the way for so many. Little did I realize that I would follow on my own similar journey.

While infertility is not considered by many to be a medically necessary condition to be treated, it takes its toll just like any other disease. I want to thank Ferring Pharmaceuticals for making dreams come true by developing such miracle drugs like REPRONEX^®, BRAVELLE^®, and MENOPUR^®. I also want to thank my doctors and nurses for their knowledge, expertise, and friendship. It is a difficult path traveled by many, but worth it in the end.