Infertility Awareness Week ~ One Woman's Journey

In honor of Infertility Awareness Week, Guest Contributor, Lana Hamblin, openly shares her journey to motherhood. The struggle is great, the miracle is greater!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hi, I’m Lana and my husband is Brian. We met and married in six months, when you know, you just know. Right? We started trying to have a family almost immediately.

From the time I was little, I couldn’t wait to be a mom. I had it all planned out in my head but I guess the saying goes, "the funniest thing you can tell God is your plans."

Here is our story...

Infertility, it’s devastating! After being diagnosed with endometriosis and my tubes being closed from scar tissue, we went through surgeries, therapies, medications, 6 months of induced menopause, and one big emotional roller coaster for 2 ½ years. During all of this, I remember a specific day when I was at the store and there was a woman in front of me in the checkout line. As she turned to the side, I saw she was pregnant. I left my cart and headed to the car, hysterical. A tear-filled phone call to Brian, asking "Why is God punishing me? What have I done wrong? I would be a great mom? All these people who abuse their children and I just want one to love….why why why??"  He listened silently and suggested I take a nap. I remember thinking, "A nap??? I don’t want a nap, I want a baby." I did as he said and when I woke up, I remember praying for God to forgive me for questioning him. 

At the end of all the therapies, surgeries etc., still no success. We were sent to a fertility specialist, the words “only a 5% chance”, were not what we expected to hear. We chose to go through IVF (In Vitro Fertilization). We started the journey of IVF, confident it was where God wanted us, but I was not prepared. There was a two hour commute every other day to be there by 8:30 am for blood work and sonograms. I prayed during my drives, believing in God's love and promises of goodness and prosperity. The big day came to collect the eggs. When I woke up from the procedure, I found out I had produced FIFTEEN. I was ecstatic!

After the fertilization process, a week later we had 4 viable eggs. We chose to implant two. The following two weeks were the LONGEST EVER!!!  The day came to find out if we were pregnant. I remember every second of that day. I drove up to my Doctors office and before I got out the song, “Move” by Mercy Me, came on the radio.

"I’m not about to give up, because I heard you say, there’s gonna be brighter days."

 I looked up and said, God it’s all you. After the test, I instructed them to call my husband, in the case it was a "NO". My phone rang at 3:12 pm and it was Brian. I was never so nervous in all my life. When I answered he said “Well babe, you’re gonna be a Mama”. I couldn’t even speak I was crying so hard, I just kept saying "Really? Really? Thank you God! Thank you God!"  When we got home to hug one another there was a level of love I don’t think either of us had ever felt. We had finally accomplished our dream. We were going to be parents!

You see, I’ve heard both sides. "How amazing it is that doctors can help men and women have a family?" But I’ve also heard how doing so is playing God. My position is this, God gives each of us our own individual struggles. He gives us “Our story”. To be witness to his great love! If there was meant to be no IVF or IUI or fertility help, my God would not have made a doctor to do so. I had a struggle, he made it a testimony of faith, hard work, and success. Matthew 21:22 "Pray for anything and if you have faith you will receive it." I prayed for so many years, having faith that God would make me a mom.

He did!

After all the hard work, I experienced the most unforgettable moment, my little miracle was born at 8:06 after 14 minutes and 31 pushes. I always laugh and joke that getting pregnant was the trial, giving birth was a cinch. God cut me some slack on that part!
 

Not everyone talks about their infertility story, and that is okay. I choose to share it. What good is being a testament to God’s love, if not to share it with someone possibly facing the same thing. I want to encourage, give hope, and show what infertility looks like.

This is our story!