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Seeds of Success: The Reeder Family

A radio commercial piqued their interest in an information session about fertility options and also marked the beginning of Marisa and Steve’s journey at RADfertility. “I happened to be driving home from work one day and heard a radio ad that RADfertility was going to have a seminar at a local hotel,” Marisa said. “I told my husband about it and we decided to go.” Marisa and Steve attended the event in 2012 at the Christiana Hilton and had the opportunity to meet all of the RADfertility physicians along with members of every department. “I decided to go just to hear a little more,” Marisa shared, “and I was wowed by the session. Having representatives from the different departments within RADfertility was wonderful. From that session alone, I knew immediately I wanted to switch to RADfertility and I knew what doctor I wanted as well.” Steve and Marisa decided to move on from their current reproductive practice that night and they made an appointment with Dr. George Kovalevsky.

Advocacy In Action

Marisa was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in November 2011 and knew she may have trouble conceiving due to the disorder. “Prior to my diagnosis, I had never heard of PCOS and I had no idea what it was,” she said. Marisa found herself explaining PCOS to others in an effort to raise awareness, “The way that I like to explain PCOS is that it causes a woman’s hormones to be out of balance. It can affect the way you feel, the way you look, and in some cases can lead to serious health problems.”

Marisa Reeder

Many women are fighting an invisible illness, so the biggest thing that I want people to know about PCOS is that it exists at all.

Following her diagnosis, Marisa sought support for the disorder which led to a new initiative, the Facebook Delaware PCOS Awareness Support Group. “I started the support group in the fall of 2012 after feeling alone because I didn’t understand the disease,” Marisa shared. “Even though I had support from my husband and family, I was looking for other women going through exactly what I was going through.” Her advocacy efforts didn’t stop there. Supported by wonderful family and friends, Marisa launched the 1st Annual Delaware PCOS Awareness Walk in 2013 to raise funds for organizations that had a mission close to her heart. The Glasgow Park event has grown exponentially and this year they celebrated the fourth annual walk with proceeds benefitting the PCOS Foundation and the PCOS Awareness Association.

Taking The First Step At RADfertility

Steve and Marisa visited RADfertility’s Newark office for their first appointment with Dr. Kovalevsky in June of 2013. “It was a very informative appointment and he was very thorough. I appreciated his style of speaking with us,” Marisa noted. They also appreciated Dr. Kovalevsky’s understanding when he addressed IVF as something they potentially would have to do and not necessarily a starting point.

Following their first appointment, Marisa and Steve decided to move forward with the work-up process. The work-up is part of the diagnostic treatment process at RADfertility and involves an initial 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 their testing with the couple and once again confirmed Marisa’s PCOS diagnosis. Marisa and Steve started their first round of treatment at RADfertility in November 2013 with an intrauterine insemination (IUI).

The Third Time Is The Charm

Unfortunately, after two unsuccessful IUI attempts, Marisa and Steve decided to move on to IVF in June 2014. Marisa said, “I was an ideal candidate for Step-It-Up IVF so we started with that. My body did not respond well the first time, so we tried a second time. The second round included some alterations to the medicine I was taking, but it was still unsuccessful.” Marisa also noted how important Steve’s support was through the process. “Not only did he come to almost every appointment, but he was my hand-holder and injection buddy,” Marisa stated. “Needles stress me out, but Steve is worse, and generally passes out at the sight of blood. He would prep my needles, fill the medicine, and get the alcohol wipes prepped so that I could just clean the area and inject quickly. We became a team.”

After two unsuccessful IVF attempts, Marisa and Steve remained hopeful that the third time was the charm. “It felt like a lot of failure over and over again,” Marisa said. Dr. Kovalevsky was also a source of hope during the tough times. “He always made me feel like there was some other option. Whatever it took, we were going to do something to get there.”

Marisa kept a journal of all of her thoughts and feelings throughout the treatment process. “The journal helped me in a few ways,” Marisa shared, “it helped me remember the years of treatment and also reflect on what I had been through and accomplished.” The couple started their third IVF cycle in January 2015 and were filled with joy as it went well, resulting in ten frozen embryos. Of those ten embryos, one was transferred on April 10, 2015, and two weeks later, Marisa and Steve heard the words that they had been longing to hear, ‘You are pregnant!’

Marisa and Steve’s daughter Lily was born on January 6th, 2016.

‘A Place Where a lot of my Problems Were Solved’

Marisa and Steve reflected on their time at RADfertility. “I tell everyone that for me, RADfertility is a place where a lot of my problems were solved,” Marisa shared. The couple valued the welcoming environment at RADfertility and that they felt like they were a part of the bigger RADfertility family. “I felt like they knew us, they remembered us, and were invested in us on a personal level vs. just a number in a book. RADfertility has been the best patient/physician relationship I have ever had.”

Marisa Reeder

“When you are going through treatment, it is important to remember there will always be sunshine around the corner. Don’t give up.”

Marisa’s 4-year fertility journey with PCOS led to a happy ending, the sweetest little girl named Lily, in January 2016. And recently, Marisa and Steve became a family of 4!

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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!"

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