Kariely & Jamie

Kariely & Jamie's Story:

My husband and I never imagined we would have trouble getting pregnant. We were young and thought it would happen quickly. But as the months passed after our wedding and nothing happened, our excitement turned into worry. We couldn’t understand why it wasn’t working, and the fear of never building the family we dreamed of started to creep in.

Just when we were beginning to lose hope, a family friend shared their IVF journey with us and recommended CNY Fertility.

We started researching and decided to reach out. Our first phone consultation with Nurse Practitioner Martha Jaramillo gave us a sense of hope we hadn’t felt in a long time.

From that moment, we felt ready to begin our journey. We started testing, blood work, and waited for cycle day one to begin our first egg retrieval. Traveling from Florida to CNY Syracuse, NY, for treatment was a big step, but the CNY Syracuse team was amazing and made us feel at ease.

The egg retrieval went well, and we flew back home the next day. But just a few days later, I was in excruciating pain and had to rush to the hospital. I was diagnosed with OHSS (Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome) due to producing so many eggs. The pain was unbearable, but even more devastating was the news that our first transfer had to be canceled in April 2023. We were heartbroken. We had wanted to do a transfer right away, but my body needed time to heal.

After months of rest and preparation, changing my diet, taking vitamins, and following a full IVF protocol, we decided to try again in June 2023. This time, we felt ready. We traveled back to Syracuse, filled with hope but also nerves.

When we arrived at CNY, we learned that Dr. Kiltz would be doing our transfer. That moment brought us a sense of peace, as if everything was unfolding exactly as it was meant to.

The transfer went smoothly, and we returned home to Florida for the two-week wait. By day six, I couldn’t wait any longer. I started testing at home, and to our shock and joy, we saw a positive result! We had prayed so much for this moment, and it was finally happening. But a few days later, on BETA Day, we received difficult news. My HCG levels were low, and while we hoped they would double, two days later, we got the call that they hadn’t. Our first pregnancy ended in an early miscarriage. Our hearts shattered. It felt like our world had come crashing down. We decided to take a break. The emotional, mental, and physical toll was too much. We needed time to heal before trying again.

By October 2023, my husband and I felt ready to give it one more try. “Third time’s the charm,” we told ourselves. This time, things felt different. The Sarasota CNY office had opened, making it easier for us to continue our journey in Florida.

We transferred our embryos from Syracuse to Sarasota and started the process again. We prayed harder than ever, and everything seemed to be aligning perfectly. It was almost too good to be true, which made it even scarier.

On October 30, 2023, we had our transfer with Dr. Kondrup. He made the experience even more special by praying with us and telling us he had a strong feeling this would be the one. Before this transfer, Dr. Kiltz had adjusted our entire protocol to new medications, a different approach, and everything had changed.

And so, we went home and waited. This two-week wait was even harder because I had HCG boosters, meaning home tests would show positive regardless. We had to rely solely on patience and faith. Finally, it was BETA Day. We got the call from CNY, we were pregnant!

But this time, each test after that continued to show rising HCG levels. A few weeks later, we had our first ultrasound, and when we saw that tiny flicker on the screen, we broke down in tears. It was real. Our baby was growing.

We graduated from CNY and started seeing our OB, where we got to watch our baby boy grow, healthy and perfect. On June 30th, at 36 weeks, due to pre-eclampsia, our beautiful baby boy was born via C-section, weighing 8 lbs 8 oz.

Looking back, we never imagined that after our first miscarriage in June 2023, exactly 1 year later in June 2024, we would have our baby boy. Every tear, every injection, every heartbreak was worth it.

Our journey was not easy, but it led us to our greatest blessing. To anyone still on this path, don’t lose hope. IVF is a rollercoaster of emotions, but miracles do happen. Keep believing, keep pushing forward, and when your time comes, you’ll see that it was all worth it.

Favorite Team Member at CNY:

NP Martha Jaramillo
Dr. Kondrup

All the Syracuse and Sarasota staff from the office to the nurses and support staff, everyone was amazing.

Helpful resources Kariely & Jamie found:

I spent a lot of time with family and friends and tried to keep busy with my day-to-day activities. Facebook IVF groups helped a lot too.

The Moment:

That moment when we first held our son and heard his first cry felt like a dream that we never wanted to wake up from.

After everything we had been through, all the IVF medications, the tears, the long wait, it was all worth it for that exact moment. The weight of him in our arms, the sound of his tiny cries, the warmth of his skin against ours... nothing else mattered! He was finally here!

All the struggles, the heartaches, the uncertainties they faded into the background as we looked at him, our perfect little miracle. It was the most beautiful, surreal feeling, as if time had paused just for us, and we could soak in the reality that our baby was finally in our arms.

Hope, Inspiration and Advice:

Even if you're perfectly healthy, getting pregnant isn't always immediate. It can take several months, even up to a year, for a healthy couple.

Don't be discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. Trying to conceive can be an emotional and unpredictable journey. For us it was a mix of hope, excitement, and disappointment. Find support whether from a partner, a friend, or an online community so you’re not going through it alone. And lastly, Do NOT compare yourself to others. Everyone's journey is different. Focus on your own path.