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The Sykes Family Story

Seeds of Success Guest Blog
By Charity Sykes

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.

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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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