Select Page

Seeds of Success: The Metcalf Family

After spending four years on their family building journey, Tricia and Cody felt like they weren’t having good luck. The couple kept hearing the words, ‘unexplained infertility’ and were left without answers from their fertility specialist. “I felt in my heart that there was a little bit more than that,” Tricia shared, “so I started to search online and came across RADfertility.”

Familiar with the world of fertility treatment acronyms, Tricia endured two intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles and 2 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles with another practice. “My insurance covered three IVF cycles so I only had one more cycle left covered under insurance,” Tricia said. “It was my last chance; I knew it was time to seek a second opinion.”

Tricia scheduled an appointment at RADfertility’s Dover office in the Eden Hill Medical Center. From the couple’s home in Pocomoke City, Maryland, it was a 2.5-hour drive to Dover and RADfertility’s Newark location was even further.

Tricia Metcalf

There were other clinics a bit closer that I found, but I felt led to go to RADfertility.”

Hope For March

On October 5, 2015, Tricia and Cody had their first appointment with Dr. George Kovalevsky. During this visit, Dr. Kovalevsky listened intently to their concerns and affirmed one of Tricia’s underlying suspicions. “He talked about the possibility of endometriosis and what could be done with surgery,” Tricia said. This was the first time the couple heard ‘surgery’ on their fertility journey so they continued to discuss next steps.

Dr. Kovalevsky’s statement at the end of the visit is something Tricia will never forget. “And I remember at the end, he said, ‘if all goes well, in March of next year, you could be pregnant.’” This positive statement along with the hope of a diagnosis was exactly what Tricia and Cody needed.

From Unexplained Infertility to an Endometriosis Diagnosis

Tricia and Cody decided to move forward with the testing and evaluation portion of their plan of care, known as the work-up process. The work-up is part of the diagnostic treatment process at RADfertility and involves a physical exam and ultrasound, followed by prenatal lab work for both male and female partners. The physician uses this information to create an individualized treatment plan based on their recommendations and the patient’s goals.

Dr. Kovalevsky reviewed the results from the couple’s initial testing and prepared Tricia for the next step on her journey. They scheduled a hysteroscopy and laparoscopy for November 12, 2015, to examine Tricia’s cervix and the inside of her uterus. RADfertility’s team approach meant that Dr. Barbara McGuirk, Director of Reproductive Surgery, worked side-by-side with Dr. Kovalevsky for Tricia’s procedure at the Delaware Outpatient Center for Surgery (DOCS). Laparoscopic surgery is the only way to confirm endometriosis. This surgical technique also allows our physicians to treat endometriosis within the same procedure.

“They did find endometriosis and it was pretty bad in there,” Tricia recalled, “It was holding together my bowels and other organs.” Dr. McGuirk and Dr. Kovalevsky found and treated Stage I/II endometriosis.

Asher Andrew Metcalf was born on December 3, 2016

The Tides Began To Turn

With a diagnosis and more answers for their fertility challenges, it was time for Tricia and Cody to prepare for an IVF cycle. While it was their first cycle with RADfertility, this cycle represented the couple’s third IVF cycle. Tricia was familiar with the steps and one of the hardest parts was battling the thoughts in the back of her head, “I was nervous and kept having that fear that it didn’t work before, it is not going to work now.”

The tide turned for the couple during their January 2016 cycle when they participated in the IVF For Me™ program at RADfertility. IVF For ME™ incorporates preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A), a tool used to identify which embryos have a complement of 46 chromosomes and significantly increases the likelihood of pregnancy. After Tricia’s egg retrieval, the couple also decided to place their fertilized embryos in the EmbryoScope®, a time-lapse camera, microscope, and incubator. RADfertility’s Genetic Counselor, Stephanie Hill, delivered the PGT-A test results to the couple which revealed two healthy, euploid embryos.

It was now March of 2016 and Tricia couldn’t help but think about Dr. Kovalevsky’s comment during that first appointment, ‘if all goes well, in March of next year, you could be pregnant.’ Tricia and Cody’s first frozen embryo transfer was successful and this comment represents a special memory in the couple’s journey. “I always refer to that first appointment,” Tricia said, “I love telling people about it.”

An Early Christmas Gift

The couple encountered one scary bump in the road during their first trimester pregnancy when Tricia started bleeding. Dr. Kovalevsky had her come into the office and confirmed the baby’s heartbeat and ensured the pregnancy was progressing well. Tricia recalled, “The love that the staff showed during that appointment was really helpful.”

Tricia Metcalf

“At RAD, the easiest part of treatment was going to all of the appointments because the staff made you feel like family. I was happy to go and see everybody, they were so uplifting.”

Asher Andrew Metcalf was due on Christmas Eve, but arrived 3 weeks early on December 3, 2016. The elated couple reflected on their path to parenthood, “For the first 4 years of our journey, we isolated ourselves,” Tricia shared. “Then, we opened up to people in our church and there were people all over the United States praying for us.”

Tricia has fond memories of the RADfertility team, “They were very personable – not like any other doctors. We felt like we were part of their family and they loved us through the whole process.” Tricia and Cody are excited to return to RADfertility someday to continue building their family with their remaining frozen embryo.

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