Alicia and David Petrucci only have their cat, Reynolds, to call their own.
The 34-year-old Deerfield Township residents have had “more than their fair share” of bad news over the past few years, Elizabeth Walker said.
The two began trying to conceive in 2011. With no success, the Petruccis underwent testing, which revealed David Petrucci had nonobstructive azoospermia, a lack of any sperm count, and Alicia Petrucci was found to have diminished ovarian reserve. It meant she was undergoing early menopause, having far fewer eggs and eggs of lower quality than one should have at her age.
“That really threw a wrench into things,” Alicia Petrucci said. “We thought, ‘The clock is really ticking now.’ ”
Determined to start a family of their own, the couple underwent two unsuccessful in vitro fertilization procedures before their efforts came to a standstill. In January, Alicia Petrucci was diagnosed with aggressive triple-negative breast cancer.
Alicia Petrucci is now cancer-free after she underwent five months of chemotherapy and a bilateral mastectomy, and she and her husband are again hoping to achieve their dream of parenthood. But she is no longer able to carry a child herself. On Monday, she was expected to have a hysterectomy, after genetic testing revealed she’s at high risk for developing breast and ovarian cancers.
“We’re not yet ready to give up the dream of having an infant and raising an infant,” Alicia Petrucci said.
It’s not that the two don’t want to adopt a newborn.
“Surrogacy feels more feasible to us,” Alicia Petrucci said.
International adoption agencies typically aren’t willing to work with couples who’ve experienced cancer without a five- to seven-year waiting period, Alicia Petrucci said. A domestic adoption can range from $20,000 to $50,000, and the couple is still paying off medical bills associated with Alicia Petrucci’s cancer and their infertility treatments.
Their website received a boost recently after the Petruccis’ story was featured in The Huffington Post, drawing attention to Walker’s most recent project, the ART of IF: Navigating the Journey of Infertility. The educational photo exhibit is currently on display at the Gago Center for Fertility, 2250 Genoa Business Park Drive, Suite 130, in Genoa Township.
“The world of infertility is heartbreaking in any respect,” said Walker, the couple’s Resolve peer-led support group host. “It’s full of bad news a lot of times, and David and Alicia have had more than their fair share.”
The Petruccis have received 12 inquires from potential gestational carriers to date. They’re in the process of making a decision.
They hope to “become pregnant by 2016,” and eventually would like to adopt siblings for their child.
Amanda Whitesell, Livingston Daily
So how to get started and proceed if Ukraine has been chosen. Will share some of the experienced things. The process starts with the initial consultation. It is to be scheduled at least 1 week ahead and contains the following activities. A set of tests depending on the program. Consultation with a fertility specialist who will be in charge of your program (in case of stimulation you will need to have the transvaginal ultrasound check done). Consultation with a manager who will guide you through the program step by step. Signing of contracts. First payment and also you will receive the guidelines - failure to follow these recommendations may affect the initial consultation in a negative way. Another step search and confirmation of a surrogate mother, matching process (waiting time also depends on type of contract). After you sign contracts and make the first payment, the medical team starts the selection process that includes:
ReplyDeleteInitial pre-selection by the local coordinator
Consultation of the fertility specialist
Consultation of a psychologist
Legal consultation and verification of documents
screening for possible addictions (urine and blood tests)
This check-up process, including all necessary tests and exams, takes about 1 month.
Then stimulation and synchronisation stage (usually about 2 weeks). The cycle of egg donor or the biological mother is synchronised with the cycle of a surrogate mother. In case of self-treatment or violation of the treatment protocol, the clinic may cancel the cycle and terminate the contract.
Fertilisation and embryo transfer. This is when donor’s/biological mother’s eggs are retrieved and fertilised by the sperm of a biological father. After fertilisation the embryo development is monitored by our embryology unit. You are to receive the protocol of embryo cultivation and transfer within 3 working days after the embryo transfer. Then HCG test and pregnancy confirmation. The HCG test takes place 2 weeks after the embryo transfer. The surrogate mother has her test in a clinic. The first ultrasound scan is carried out in 2 weeks after the positive HCG test by the doctor. The report will be send the same or the next day after the check. Pregnancy monitoring. What you can expect during this time:
Monthly ultrasound checks from the 12th week of pregnancy. Reports along with video and/or pictures will be send the same or the next day. For trisomy screenings, results will be send within 5 working days.
Trisomy 13, 18, 21 – on the 12th week of pregnancy
Trisomy 18, 21 – on the 16th week of pregnancy
Delivery of the baby and obtaining of the birth certificate for the baby.