OREM, UT June 2019—Nine couples across the country have been awarded grants to use toward fertility treatments or adoption costs by the Utah-based Hope for Fertility Foundation. The grants, which total $32,500, offer hope to those struggling with infertility.

The Hope for Fertility Foundation provides grants up to $5,000 to couples dealing with infertility. These grants, ranging from $1,000-$5,000 per couple, can assist with infertility treatments and adoption costs. Infertility can cause financial strain for families, with Invitro Fertilization costs ranging from $15,000-$18,000 and adoption costs averaging between $8,000-$40,000.

More than 50 well-deserving couples applied for the 2019 grants. A grant committee, made up of eight foundation board members, donors, and volunteers who have experienced infertility themselves, read and reviewed each application before selecting the final nine couples.

“We understand the physical, emotional and financial toll infertility can take on couples, because we’ve been there ourselves,” said Tedi Palmer, who founded The Hope for Fertility Foundation with her husband Chase. “Which is why we hope to be able to award more grants each year. Every couple applying is deserving of a little help and a little hope.”

The Hope for Fertility Foundation has been awarding grants to help couples dealing with infertility since April 2016. Since then, more than $64,650 has been gifted to 17 deserving couples throughout the United States hoping to have a child. The foundation currently has seven grant babies on the way and one baby born.

This years winners are as follows:

Sarah and Adam Freeman (Brewer, ME)
Chenoa and Tim Harrington (Missoula, MT)
Sheida and Michael (Long Island City, NY)
Sheila Jacobson and Matt Long (Salt Lake City, UT)
Jennifer Marianni and Marissa Marchese (Philadelphia, PA)
Amanda and Andrew Ott (Cedar Falls, IA)
Amy and Kolby Rollins (Lyman, WY)
Sharlee and Colten Smith (Garland, UT)
Anna and Jason Wilson (Travis Air Force Base, CA)

Donations are accepted at hopeforfertility.org/donate

Sarah and Adam Freeman (Brewer, ME)

Sarah and Adam Freeman have been trying to build their family for nine years. Sarah is a teacher and Adam is a letter carrier with United States Postal Service. They went through an extensive diagnostic process before undergoing 5 IUI (intrauterine insemination) cycles and 2 IVF (invitro fertilization) cycles. They were ecstatic to find out Sarah was pregnant after their second IVF, but devastatingly, Sarah suffered a miscarriage early on in the pregnancy. Despite all the emotions, disappointment and heartache, they have both remained positive and expectant for their chance to become parents. Sarah and Adam are hoping for a chance to be able to hold their baby for the first time, rocking him/her to sleep each night, and watching their baby grow.

Chenoa and Tim Harrington (Missoula, MT)

Chenoa and Tim Harrington have dedicated their lives to helping others. Chenoa works in the education consulting business where she focuses on helping college students navigate the loan process, and Tim is a K9 handler with the Missoula Police Department. They have been dealing with infertility for six years. They have done five unsuccessful IUI’s and plan to try IVF next. Chenoa and Tim claim that The Beatles got one thing indisputably right: life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. They certainly didn’t anticipate struggling with fertility in their attempts to build a family, but they would both adamantly argue that the process has brought them closer together and strengthened their love for one another.

Sheila Long and Matt Long (Salt Lake City, UT)

Sheila and Matt Long have been through a lot in just a few short years. Sheila was pregnant with their first baby in 2017. However, at her 20 week ultrasound their sweet baby girl was diagnosed with anencephaly—a fatal defect in which the baby’s skull and brain never form. They were devastated and pained with grief. During the removal of her baby, Sheila’s cervix was cut, and she lost a lot of blood. Doctors ultimately performed a hysterectomy and she lost the ability to carry their future children. Sheila and Matt have used this time to grow closer together, work intentionally and tirelessly to heal, and move forward in other forms of family planning. They are now pursuing IVF with a gestational surrogate.

Jennifer Marianni and Marissa Marchese (Philadelphia, PA)

In two years, Jenn and Marissa did 6 IUI’s, 2 egg retrievals, 3 frozen embryo transfers to finally get pregnant—but they still had a rough fight ahead. Jenn had some complications early on in the pregnancy, but it all came to a head when her water broke at 20 weeks pregnant. They were sent home and Jenn was on strict bedrest where they worked hard to give their daughter a fighting chance. Jenn was admitted to the hospital at 23 weeks and stayed there until giving birth at 29 weeks. Their little Isabella was born very sick. She fought hard for her Moms, but only lived six days. Isabella changed Jenn and Marissa’s lives forever, and she will always be in their hearts. They are ready for a rainbow baby to be added to their family.

Amanda and Andrew Ott (Cedar Falls, IA)

Amanda and Andrew Ott have been trying to find an answer to their fertility problems for 10 years, three surgeries, countless clomid pills, and a few IUI’s. After removing a massive fibroid that was blocking the entire cavity of her uterus, things were looking up. However, after another IUI, Amanda was still not pregnant. A few years passed where they kept trying but the negative pregnancy tests were adding up. Amanda had another fibroid removed early this year, and now they look forward to starting the IVF process and are hopeful they’ll finally beat infertility.

Amy and Kolby Rollins (Lyman, WY)

While preparing to have a second child, Amy and Kolby Rollins were given the frustrating diagnosis of unexplained secondary infertility. They tried three IUI’s and then felt like IVF was their answer. Their IVF journey began, and they were so excited when they found out Amy was expecting. However, at their first ultrasound appointment at six weeks the couple discovered that Amy was experiencing an ectopic pregnancy. Their hearts were broken as they explained to their five-year-old son that there was no longer a baby in mommy’s tummy. Amy and Kolby are looking to do an FET (frozen embryo transfer) to try and add to their family.

Sharlee and Colten Smith (Garland, UT)

Sharlee and Colten Smith spent the first three years of their marriage trying to find an answer to their infertility. Sharlee was diagnosed with PCOS and after doing explorative surgery only to find multiple polyps, cysts covering her uterus, and a non-functioning fallopian tube, things could have seemed pretty hopeless. However, with the help of a great doctor, the couple began the IVF process. After a harrowing pregnancy with multiple complications, their son was born. They are excited to try an FET and potentially add a sibling for their son.

Anna and Jason Wilson (Travis Air Force Base, CA)

Anna and Jason Wilson have been trying to have a baby for over 10 years now. Anna has been diagnosed with endometriosis and Jason has some unexplained infertility factor as well. They have always wanted children, but as a military family they have not always had access to fertility specialists. Anna and Jason have recently returned to the United States after living in Okinawa, Japan for seven years. They attempted to adopt in Japan but were unsuccessful. For a long time, they haven’t had a lot of hope. However, now that they live close to a fertility center, they are jumping at the chance to begin an IVF cycle so they can grow their family.