Select Page

Seeds of Success: The Kotch-Jester Family

Stacy and Steff Kotch-Jester wanted a baby, just not with IVF. After unsuccessfully using donor sperm at home, the couple decided they needed help from a reproductive specialist.

They found RADfertility after some friends who were former RADfertility patients recommended they schedule an appointment. They met with Dr. George Kovalevsky, and he suggested Stacy undergo a few initial tests to ensure there wasn’t a medical reason for her being unable to conceive.

“It was actually a good thing, because Dr. Kovalevsky found some issues with Stacy,” Steff said.

Scheduling For Surgery

Dr. Kovalevsky scheduled Stacy for hysteroscopy surgery at the Delaware Outpatient Surgical Center (DOCS) to remove polyps from Stacy’s uterus. After surgery, the couple then moved forward with a series of intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments.

“I was actually successful on the first try, but at 8 weeks, we discovered I had a blighted ovum,” Stacy said.

A blighted ovum occurs when an embryo attaches to the uterine wall, but does not develop. Dr. Kovalevsky believed the blighted ovum happened by chance and recommended Stacy undergo several more IUIs, which were ultimately unsuccessful. The couple then met with Dr. Kovalevsky to discuss their next step.

“He recommended doing laparoscopic surgery to see if there was anything else, and that was when they discovered that I had severe endometriosis,” Stacy said.

Since Dr. Kovalevsky and Dr. Barbara McGuirk weren’t expecting to find endometriosis, the surgery lasted 3 hours. Stacy’s fallopian tubes were significantly damaged from the severe endometriosis.

“My doctor was so kind,” Steff said. “He came out to the waiting room and explained everything to me.”

Steff Kotch-Jester

“My doctor was so kind. He came out to the waiting room and explained everything to me.”

Despite the endometriosis diagnosis and spending significant time in surgery, Stacy and Steff said they found a silver lining.

“This is going to sound funny, but we actually loved having surgery at DOCS,” Stacy said. “It was a very relaxing atmosphere. And having endometriosis actually turned out to be a good thing, since my insurance then covered IVF,” Stacy said.

Moving To IVF

Although Stacy and Steff decided that they would never do IVF, they said their feelings changed after meeting the staff at RADfertility.

“Nobody talked us into it. We just felt so comfortable under Dr. Kovalevsky’s care that we were willing to explore all the options,” Steff said. “Everybody took the time to really explain the IVF process to us, and to answer all of our questions. We both felt extremely comfortable.”

After recovering from surgery, Stacy underwent an egg retrieval. Dr. Kovalevsky performed a fresh transfer, and Stacy became pregnant with their son Jameson on the first try. However, Stacy and Steff had a few scares along the way. The first happened when Stacy was 8 weeks pregnant.

“It was a Sunday afternoon and we were watching Elena Delle Donne and University of Delaware basketball. I went to the bathroom and there were blood clots,” Stacy recalled. “I came home and I thought for sure we lost him. We called Dr. Kovalevsky, and he was so calm.”

“He told us to relax and explained that it didn’t necessarily mean that it was a loss of a pregnancy—it could just be bleeding, which is common,” Steff said.

Stacy went into the office the next day, and the clinicians detected Jameson’s heartbeat—their baby was fine, just as Dr. Kovalevsky had predicted.

At 12 weeks, the couple learned Jameson might have another issue. Dr. Kovalevsky referred Stacy and Steff to the Delaware Center for Maternal-Fetal Medicine so the couple could get a clearer diagnosis.

They found their baby had omphalocele, an abdominal wall defect where some of the internal organs can potentially grow outside the body.

Omphalocele can sometimes come with additional complications, such as an underlying genetic disorder or a cardiac defect. However, Jameson’s omphalocele was a fluke of nature: he was born without any additional complications and will have surgery to correct his omphalocele when he is older.

Stacy and Steff live with their son Jameson in Barrington, New Jersey.

Reflecting On RADfertility

Above all, Stacy and Steff said staying positive was the most important aspect of their journey.

“You have to stay positive. As soon as we got down and out, it just doesn’t work,” Stacy said. “You have to be positive the whole way through and you have to be patient.”

“IVF might not be right for everybody, but RADfertility gives everybody the opportunity to explore all of his or her options,” Steff added.

Stacy Kotch-Jester

“You have to stay positive. As soon as we got down and out, it just doesn’t work. You have to be positive the whole way through and you have to be patient.”

More Patient Experience Resources

Patient Care Team

Meet RADfertility’s exceptional staff that goes above and beyond on many levels of patient care.

Top Fertility Doctors

Our four leading Delaware fertility doctors are board certified experts in their field who follow the golden rule of fertility care.

Leading Clinicians

Meet RADfertility's clinical team made up of compassionate and caring women who will be by your side every step of your journey to parenthood.

Read Our Blog

Inspiring community members that are making a difference to the latest news put in perspective for our patients.

Patient Stories

RADfertility's Seeds of Success program is founded on inspiring stories from men and women who found success at RADfertility.

Celebrating 25 Years

In August 1995, Dr. Barbara McGuirk founded Reproductive Associates, now RADfertility, and was soon joined by her partner, Dr. Ron Feinberg. See how we celebrated this special milestone!

Reviews

Read our latest reviews written by RADfertility patients.

Careers

If you are looking to join an enthusiastic team that has helped thousands of families grow, check out our current job listings.

Peggy Sue O.

★★★★★

"I feel so lucky to have found RADfertility. I tried two other clinics before I expanded my search and found RADfertility. I drive an hour each way to go to them but I don’t regret a thing. They are so caring and so professional. Every time I message them they respond quickly. Every time I see them they have a friendly smile and warm welcome. They explain everything so well and I never feel lost in the process as I did elsewhere. They also took the time to figure out what was wrong. Other clinics threw up their hands, said 'I don’t know' and pushed me to try IVF."

TJ P.

★★★★★

"Dr. Feinberg and the entire staff at RADfertility are absolutely amazing. The receptionists, coordinators, nurses, and lab staff are compassionate, caring, and straight forward. I’ve had a 12-year infertility journey and I’ve tried other clinics but RADfertility was the only one I felt at ease with. They answered any questions that I had and were there any time I needed them. My coordinator, Amy, was the absolute best and always had my back. Dr. Feinberg’s dedication to his patients is incredible. You are not just a number there, you are a person with individualized needs and care."

Anupama P.

★★★★★

"The RADfertility team gives you so much emotional support and positivity that it adds to your strength and keeps you focused on the end goal - a healthy and happy baby."

Samantha G.

★★★★★

"My journey with RADfertility and Dr. McGuirk started when my husband and I were trying to conceive and were having difficulty. We went to RADfertility, where we met Dr. McGuirk. I always say she changed my life and 'fixed' me. Dr. McGuirk is always learning more about endometriosis and how to help her patients. She’s brilliant and truly cares for you! I’m eternally grateful to her and everyone at RADfertility for their unwavering support, love, and care."

Annette D.

★★★★★

"Every step of our journey was tailored to us. We were treated so respectfully. Every detail was clearly explained and we felt so comfortable. Rhonda Wright was a Godsend and inspiring. I highly recommend this place! I cried when my weekly appointments were done and I 'graduated.'"

Amy W.

★★★★★

"The day I met Dr. Neithardt I knew she was the perfect doctor for me. Dr. Neithardt was so compassionate every step of the way. She held my hand, she hugged away tears, and continued to give me hope. There are not enough 'thank you's' in the world for Dr. Neithardt and the whole RADfertility team who will forever have a special place in my heart."

Shannon M.

★★★★★

"RADfertility's staff has heart and provided me with exceptional health care. I knew I was in good hands and felt like we were in this together. The doctors and nursing staff always answered all of my questions and provided thorough information about all of my options. I am so fortunate and appreciative of the care that I received at RADfertility. They go above and beyond."

Megan L.

★★★★★

"I cannot begin to explain how wonderful RADfertility is. We were frustrated with trying to start a family and it not working for us. The entire team of doctors and nurses made us feel comfortable and hopeful that we would be parents. We experienced so many ups and downs but we never felt like we were on our IVF journey alone, we had our RADfertility team every step of the way. If you're looking for a supportive team on the IVF journey, look no further. RADfertility is the absolute best."

Anonymous on FertilityIQ

★★★★★

"Dr. Schillings always kept us informed and never gave up on us. She always explained our options and risks with each procedure. She called us personally when there were any issues or sensitive subjects to cover. Dr. Schillings was the first doctor that had answers for us and wanted to help us have our miracle baby!"

Newark Office

4735 Ogletown-Stanton Road
Medical Arts Pavilion 2
Suite 3217
Newark, DE 19713

Wilmington Office

Silverside Medical Center
2700 Silverside Road, Suite 2A
Wilmington, DE 19810

Dover Office

Eden Hill Medical Center
200 Banning Street, Suite 240
Dover, DE 19904

 

Phone: (302) 602-8822

Fax: (302) 602-8832

©RADfertility 2021