In 2012 there were 80 campaigns on GoFundMe that mentioned IVF.
To date this year, that number is already close to six-and-a-half times that with more than 500 campaigns. More than 35 thousand donations have been made for a total of two-point-seven million dollars.
Alan and Lauren Gore are at the heart of one of those campaigns.
The couple was married in 2010 and diagnosed with infertility in 2012. Lauren had a surgery for endometriosis and to date has had three artificial inseminations and two in vitro fertilization treatments with no pregnancy.
In the midst of all that, Alan was diagnosed with testicular cancer which derailed their plans for a family. Thankfully, he was deemed cancer free at the end of last year and once again the couple could focus on trying to have a baby.
To date, the Gore’s have spent about 85,000 dollars out of pocket. Lauren considered moving to Illinois to live with her parents where infertility treatment is covered by insurance.
The couple even contemplated selling their house. That’s when Lauren was approached by her friends Mona Edwards and Alaina Talley.
"I was sitting at my desk and my friend Mona came to me and she's like, I know you would never ask for this on your own but Alaina and me have decided to set up a GoFundMe for you and in the last 10 minutes there's already been I think like a thousand dollars. That was just the most overwhelming gratitude that I've felt,” Lauren said.
Want to read Lauren’s blog? The Struggle is Part of the Story
In a matter of months, almost 10,000 dollars has been raised. At the end of October, they will visit the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine for a third IVF.
Alan said, "Everybody that goes through IVF eventually does get a baby. If you continue to try, you'll get there."
Medical Director of the Reproductive Resource Center Celeste Brabec agreed.
"There are more than five millions babies that have been born through IVF. More than half of those have been born since 2007," said Brabec.
The Gore's story is not all that unique. This year alone, there have been more than 500 campaigns on GoFundMe that mention IVF and over 1 million dollars has been contributed.
Since 2012, that number jumps to nearly 3 million.
Karree Tidwell is a board member with Kansas City Infertility Awareness. She said all kinds of support are important for people battling infertility.
"Knowing that someone else out there is having the same experience as you are or a similar experience as you are is just comforting in itself," Tidwell said.
Want to help? GoFundMe Page
The couple has no plans of giving up.
Lauren told us, “The story is not over until we have a family. Whatever that looks like, we're just excited to find out." Alan said, "Looking back after 20 years of having a child, we'll never remember the four years of suffering. We hope to experience a lifetime with a child."
Are you struggling with infertility?
The Kansas City Infertility Awareness Foundation hosts a support group on the second Monday of every month. It’s open to men and women and it is free to attend.
Get more information here: KC Infertility Awareness
Want to help support families struggling with infertility?
The Kansas City Infertility Awareness Foundation is hosting the first Inaugural Path to Parenthood 5K Walk/Run.
All of the money raised will go toward a Family Building Grant that will be awarded to one or more families each year.
The goal is to provide financial support to families enduring the costly struggle of infertility and assist with the costs associated with infertility treatments or adoption.
Information on Path to Parenthood 5K Walk/Run:
Sunday, October 4, 2015
8:00 a.m.
Waterfall Park
4501 S Bass Pro Drive, Independence, MO 64055
Register here: http://www.enter2run.com/search/event.aspx?id=33651
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Dia Wall can be reached at dia.wall@kshb.com.
