Today didn't start off too badly, better nights sleep, the cold seems to be disappearing, popped out for a bit of shopping and fresh air too.

In the paper again...the Darlington & Stockton Times... 

and then....

The LWC at Darlington called me with the results of my blood tests...unfortunately my ovarian reserve is low and I therefore cannot be accepted to egg share.
Totally gutted but I guess that is a lesson in not getting my hopes up so much. This means our only option is IVF using donor sperm and this will cost over £4000, probably more like £6000 once we add on the cost of medication etc and that is for just one round of treatment so would ideally need double that so we had a second chance should the first not be successful.

We have been in touch with a lady at Care Fertility who has suggested us selling our story to a magazine which we will consider as this means more money in the pot! 

We also have the help of a lovely lady from Newton Aycliffe, Rachel Draco, who handmakes jewellery and fancy scarves, she will be doing a craft fayre on September 8th at Bowburn and has produced 2 Kumihimo bracelet designs for us in baby pink and baby blue, she will be donating the proceeds from the sales of these to our IVF fund....this is a lovely gesture from someone we don't know and we are so grateful for her help :)

Funny old day today.....20 copies of our Northern Echo article, 20 blank envelopes and 20 stamps have just been posted through our letterbox!!!
With a note from a friend telling us to post these out to whoever we think appropriate...some people are just so kind :)

So there has been a few tears, a few cuddles and after a few wise words from a few people, I know I have to stay positive and keep going, we will get there, this is simply another hurdle for us.

Needless to say I am consoling myself with chocolate this evening xx

We are in the Northern Echo today....exciting!! 
This can also be viewed online by following this link  http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/local/northallerton/9897295.Northallerton_couple_hit_out_over_IVF_block/

As a result of our story, Health Editor Barry Nelson, who wrote our story, has already been contacted by a lady at Care Fertility who stated she may be able to help with egg sharing for us in Sheffield...obviously the fact that our story has already been noticed is great but we do hope to now be treated at Darlington.

The Northern Echo also want us to keep in touch so when we have reached our target they will do a follow up story for us, hopefully with some good news!

Also in the post today, a letter from LWC, Darlington, just confirming everything from yesterday...it also states 

'Both ovaries are normal in volume, there were between 7-8 antral follicles in each ovary and the ultrasound scan picture is not typical of polycystic ovarian disease' - so, things look pretty normal! Good News!!

Must say I have come across alot of medical terms just lately that I have not got a clue what they mean.....

so comes the wonderful tool that is Wikipedia! Lots of reading ahead I think... 

Today was our appointment at the London Women's Clinic in Darlington ~ after a terrible night's sleep due to stressing about it!
Firstly, I must say what a lovely place it was....a warm welcome from Sarah who checked all our forms were filled in correctly, the lovely waiting area, the friendly and reassuring nurse and consultant....a massive difference to what we experienced at Leeds so this definitely put me at ease. Also, a wall full of baby pictures, babies that had successfully been conceived through the LWC, so lovely, bit of a lump in the throat at that point.

Have to make a point here that the highlight of the trip for Pete was most definitely the drinks machine!! Free Galaxy hot chocolate, now you don't get that treatment in the NHS hospitals! Needless to say he had 3! 
Also, free parking and no sitting in crammed waiting rooms :)

So I had a scan and some blood tests, again the whole procedure was totally different to what I have experienced before...and then we sat down together with the consultant.

He told us, after seeing my scan, that he sees no reason why I could not egg share, the blood tests will check my ovarian reserve and confirm for definite if I can be accepted to be an egg sharer.....wonderful news!
If I get accepted it means we have a massively lower amount of money to raise for our IVF treatment and of course we will be doing something amazing too, helping another couple have a baby. 
And one more plus....the success rate is 50% which is huge and a lot higher than many places we have looked at :)

My plan now is to try and get my head back into a better place, to look at trying to come off my tablets and to look forward to 2013

'With over 20 years' experience, The LWC is among the leading centres for infertility treatment; our success rates compare with the best both nationally and internationally. The LWC has one of the highest egg-sharing success rates in the UK, in 2009 there was a 69% live birth rate for sharers and 51% for recipients'

So tomorrow is our appointment at the fertility clinic in Darlington, our story is being written up by the press and I am feeling nervous....always get this way before anything big happening, especially hospital appointments and knowing we have to go through all the tests and questions again...

Reminding myself constantly that there is a point to all the questions and the prodding and poking....making a miracle and making our dreams come true, that is the point and that is what keeps me going...

Came across this quote, seems to fit quite perfectly at the moment...

Full of cold and not feeling great but keeping myself busy by slowly putting together our calendar ( thank goodness my husband is so talented with his photoshop skills) and also going to start a scrap book too....and one day when the book is full we can perhaps look back and say...

"It was all worth it"

A few positives...

Total now raised is £468.97 which is fantastic and our fundraiser calendars, notebooks and magnets are coming together really well :)

Magnet sample

Looking forward to our appointment at LWC, Darlington next week ~ Hoping this brings something positive for us :)

Calendar sample

Also...have spoken to a local paper, they have read our blog and I have spoken with them today to discuss our situation  and they are writing our story as we speak.


They are sending someone to take our photo this weekend and hopefully our story will be published next week......so happy we are getting our story into the press, if we don't help ourselves then for us to let people know about the IVF postcode lottery in our area will be a great achievement.

A6 Notebook Sample

Calendar sample

Will keep you posted ~ Thank you so much to those that have donated so far and also to friends and family for their continued support xx

This weeks update...

Just thought I would keep you up to date with what's happening with us at the moment.

We have now raised £402.57 which is fantastic, we are so thankful for all your donations so far xx

We are also in the process of putting together a 2013 calendar featuring 'animal families' which will be made up of photographs that have been taken and donated to us, all proceeds from the sale of these will go into our IVF Fund.

Received our final letter from the PCT today stating that our circumstances are not special enough for them to change their funding decision and they will not be helping us! Giving up on that fight now :(

Also, after having all our tests at Leeds we are now looking a bit closer to home and have a consultation at the London Womens Clinic in Darlington at the end of this month to discuss the possibility of egg sharing. 
This would mean the cost of one attempt at IVF would reduce to just £1075 which would be a more realistic target for us.
I pass all the criteria for egg sharing apart from my untreated Polycystic Ovaries so if we can get past this hurdle then this may be an option for us and we would also be helping another couple make their little miracle too :)

Don't forget you can donate here -----> Pete & Paula's IVF Donation Page