The Sykes Family Story

I would like to share my story to help encourage other ladies out there not to lose hope!

My journey started with a normal visit to my OBGYN after a year of trying to conceive naturally without success. At my visit, my OBGYN recommended that I visit RADfertility, mentioning that she had a good experience there.

I set up a new patient appointment and the first step was a series of tests that were part of my medical workup. I’ll never forget how shocked I was when Dr. Neithardt told me that my workup suggested stage 4 endometriosis with adhesions and polyps in and outside my uterus and tubes.

“How? I don’t even have symptoms.” I said. “I feel fine!”

Dr. Neithardt suggested 2 surgeries, a hysteroscopy and laparascopy for diagnosis and treatment. The thought of having one surgery, let alone two, scared me. “Will I survive? Is it worth risking my life? Why me?” With so many questions, my husband and I decided to try again naturally. We hoped and we prayed, but nothing happened. So, we set a date for the surgery.

After surgery, I was informed that my tubes were damaged from the endometriosis, and while I could try to conceive naturally again, there was no guarantee of pregnancy. We tried again without success, so we came back to RADfertility ready to start the IVF process.

I got excited when the first frozen embryo transfer resulted in a positive pregnancy test, but my joy ended shortly after because my baby girl never grew past that stage of conception. I cried my heart out and felt like I couldn’t face the world anymore. I would cry every time I saw a pregnant woman or a baby. I had heard stories of people trying up to 7 times before they finally got pregnant via IVF. “Was this going to be my case?” I wondered. I was blessed to have great health coverage through my employer, but the benefits had their limits before being exhausted. I often wondered how many transfers it would take to result in a successful pregnancy. I worried I would end up without a child for the rest of my life.

But, everyone encouraged me. My husband, my family, and Dr. Neithardt. She told me I shouldn’t give up and I still stood a chance despite my fear that I wasn’t getting any younger. So I braced myself and tried a second time, undergoing another frozen embryo transfer.

I’ll never forget the day Nurse Lauren called and told me I was VERY PREGNANT! It was unbelievable! Needless to say, the two-week wait for the results was tumultuous. You expect them but once you get that call, your heart skips a beat. I screamed. I jumped. I had to remind myself to take it easy not to hurt the baby. I was in shock. Every other day, the lab numbers kept rising beyond the average. This was a special baby, I believed. He’s here to stay. I was overjoyed. I did all tests and scans as time went by and everything was just perfect with him.

Finally, my little sunshine baby Alexander Sykes came into the world in August of 2020, a big boy, weighing 8lbs. I was handed my baby in the labor room and I cried holding him in my arms. I just didn’t believe this day would come. He is so active and his doctor comments on how fast he’s growing and overboard with all his milestones. I am so grateful to God, Dr. Neithardt, the entire RAD family, and my family for the support and encouragement I got during those extremely hard and trying times of my life. I almost gave up, but I BEE-LIEVED.

I know it is a tough journey, but to whoever reads my story: please believe you can get through it. We are all strong women and we will all have that little angel smile we pray and work so hard for someday. That will be the reward of what our hearts and bodies go through.