Meet Talaena
Talaena Vessels, 33, began her fertility journey in 2017. After trying to conceive for seven months and successfully conceiving, she experienced the heartbreak of a miscarriage. Despite this setback, Talaena and her husband, Kevin, continued their efforts with timed and medicated cycles under the guidance of their OB/GYN. However, they were unable to achieve pregnancy.
Discovering IFI and Dr. Jarrett
In the spring of 2019, Talaena met with Dr. Jarrett at Indiana Fertility Institute. After learning her medical history, Dr. Jarrett administered a laparoscopy, suspecting and confirming Talaena had endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Talaena continued to face challenges, undergoing additional timed and medicated cycles without success.
The IVF Journey Begins
Talaena and Kevin embarked on their in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey in October 2019. “I was nervous to start IVF and completely overwhelmed after we got our first shipment of medication,” Talaena shared. “But I was also excited because I was so hopeful it would work after trying for so long after our miscarriage. I was ready to try something new.”
The process was long and arduous, involving three egg retrievals, seven embryo transfers, and another laparoscopy. Dr. Jarrett’s willingness to try new protocols and his genuine care and attention helped Talaena through these tough times. “Dr. Jarrett didn’t give up on us throughout this long and exhausting process,” she said. “He kept trying new medications and protocols until we found the right one.” Finally, on December 27, 2021, following their last frozen transfer, Talaena and Kevin received the news they had been hoping for: they were pregnant!
“I had my first beta on December 27, and it came back with a low hCG of 16,” Talaena recalled. “I was devastated thinking that it was going to end in a miscarriage again. I was shocked when my second beta two days later came back as 51. I was still hesitant to get excited since it seemed like such a low number. On December 31, it was 154, so I became cautiously optimistic.
On January 13, we went in for our first ultrasound and found out that everything was looking great. That’s when I finally let myself get excited and think that I was finally pregnant and would have a baby. Hearing her heartbeat the very first time was such an amazing moment.”
The following week, Talaena experienced a subchorionic hemorrhage, leaving both her and Kevin devastated thinking yet again their pregnancy had ended in a miscarriage. They returned to Talaena’s OB/GYN for an ultrasound and discovered everything was okay, though Talaena continued to experience light bleeding for several weeks after. “I was nervous throughout my whole pregnancy that something would go wrong since it had taken so much work to get to this point,” she remembered. “I don’t think I felt much relief until I held [my baby] in my arms the day she was born.”
A Beautiful Reward
On September 9, 2022, Talaena and Kevin welcomed their beautiful daughter, Amara, into the world. Now 21 months old, Amara is a testament to their perseverance and the dedication of the IFI team.
“We had a great experience with IFI [and] are so grateful to Dr. Jarrett and all the nurses who helped us during our very long journey with infertility,” Talaena said. “She was so worth the wait [and] we can’t imagine our lives without her.”
Reflecting on the Journey
For Talaena, the most challenging part of her fertility journey was the uncertainty of whether IVF would be successful. The emotional toll of not knowing if she and Kevin would ever become parents was significant. However, Talaena found empowerment in overcoming the various challenges she experienced with her fertility treatments. “I never would have thought I would be able to go through the amount of surgeries, procedures, and hundreds of shots that I went through to become pregnant,” she shared. The birth of her daughter, Amara, was the greatest reward for all the struggles she endured.
Talaena advises others beginning their journey with IFI to not be afraid to ask questions. “The whole [IVF] process is so long, time consuming, and extremely frustrating. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and research.” She emphasized the importance of being informed and proactive, sharing that she and Kevin always approached Dr. Jarrett with numerous questions after each failed cycle. His willingness to listen and provide guidance was invaluable.
Conclusion
Talaena’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience required on the path to parenthood. At Indiana Fertility Institute, we are committed to supporting our patients through every challenge and celebrating every success. We look forward to welcoming Talaena and her family back to IFI when they are ready to expand their family once more!
If you are on your own fertility journey or considering assisted reproductive technologies, know that the team at Indiana Fertility Institute is here to support you every step of the way. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with your questions and concerns or schedule an appointment—we are here to help you achieve your dreams of parenthood!