Monticello couple dream to have child of their own


Miranda (Bohlken) and Michael Breeden cannot wait for the day they can have a child of their own. Miranda was diagnosed with DOR, so their only option is a clinic in St. Louis. To assist in their efforts, a Go Fund Me page has been started. (Photo submitted)
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     When Miranda (Mandy Bohlken) and Michael Breeden of Monticello were in their mid- to late-30s they received some devastating news.

     In 2014, not long after the couple was married, they found out Miranda had Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). She described this as a condition where the woman’s egg supply becomes depleted early in life. As it turns out, Miranda was born with the condition.

     “Even in adolescence,” she said, “I didn’t have enough eggs.” About 10-30 percent of women presenting to infertility clinics are diagnosed with DOR.

     Knowing their age at the time, and the fact that a woman’s egg supply decreases through the years, time was of the essence for the Breedens to start a family of their own.

     “The diagnosis was devastating,” said Miranda. “I almost passed out, but he (Michael) was very optimistic.”

     “I thought, ‘This won’t be a problem,’” said Michael.

     Miranda said she could carry a child; nothing is wrong with her uterus. Her egg count is just low.

     She resorted to using supplements to help increase that egg count, and resorted to fertility monitors and medications.

     “You name it; we tried it,” Miranda said. “Nothing worked.”

     Michael joked that they got a return on their investment with their Amazon Prime account during this period in time.

     In 2016, they visited a fertility doctor in Des Moines for another opinion from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Miranda started IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination). The cost of that came from out-of-pocket expenses because the procedure is not something insurance covers. In addition, insurance in Iowa, Miranda shared, also does not cover IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).

     After three rounds of IUI proved unsuccessful.

     “We were hopeful that this time was ‘the time,’” they said. “But we did not get pregnant.”

     Then, the fertility specialist recommended IFV, which cost the Breedens $15,000. This time, they had to get a loan.

     With all of the fertility medications, shots and monitoring they were doing, their hope was at an all-time high.

     “We spent the better part of 2016 traveling to Des Moines,” Michael said of the fertility options.

     “It was a monthly, non-stop process,” recalled Miranda. “We were very resilient and stayed on top of everything we needed to do.”

     “It seems like it’s been non-stop for five years now,” added Michael.

     Miranda took a pregnancy test and much to their surprise it was positive.

     “We were just elated,” shared Miranda of the news they had been waiting for. “But we tried not to get too excited.”

     Michael said they stuck to using the same pregnancy tests every time. Seeing the positive red line, they took a picture and sent to their close family and friends to make sure they were hallucinating.

     “So many people knew about our issues,” said Michael.

     “We waited five years, and to see the a positive,” added Miranda, “I just had to have someone else see it to be true.”

     The Breedens were experiencing the highest of highs… Then the lowest of lows came about. It turned out that the positive was false due to the fertility shots Miranda was taking.

     “The trigger shot caused the positive pregnancy test and we were not actually pregnant,” she said.

     Growing ever more frustrated, the couple sought the expertise of the Fertility Center in St Louis, Mo. Here, doctors were able to develop a procedure for women like Miranda with DOR. One egg at a time can be taken out and kept alive until enough eggs are ready for implantation for IVF. This way, it’s still Miranda’s egg and Michael’s sperm.

     While this option is possible, Miranda said it could take multiple egg retrievals to get enough eggs to start the process.

     “The doctor has to take at least six eggs out of you, inject each one with sperm, let the embryos grow for five days, see how many live, and test them for genetic diseases, and then put the embryos inside your uterus one to two at a time,” explained Miranda of the tedious process. “Then we wait two weeks to see if the eggs implanted for pregnancy.”

     This option is the last biological option the Breedens have.

     Now in their late-30s/early-40s, they are pressed for time and money.

     With the failure of the IVF option, the Breedens received a refund from that, and also had money left from the loan. However, that does not even begin to help them pursue the opportunity offered by the Fertility Center.

     To help the couple make their dream come true of having a child of their own, a family member started a Go Fund Me page. Their story is laid out for all to read. The account goal at this point is $60,000. So far, over $13,500 has been donated.

     “I’m 42 years now,” offered Miranda. “I probably have three years left with this condition. The doctor says we need to get on this now.”

     The Breedens are private people by nature, pretty modest as well, so putting their story out there for the world to see was a huge step.

     No matter what option they take, foster care, adoption or egg donation, it’s going to cost them more money than anything.

     “We are considering all of these possibilities,” said Miranda, “because we want children. It means the world to us.

     “But we cannot do this alone. Your help would mean a family for us; a dream fulfilled. It’s emotion; it’s love.”

     Miranda said ever since she was a little girl she dreamed for having children of her own some day.

     “That feeling just doesn’t go away,” she said. “And Michael wants kids as much as I do. We would be overjoyed, thankful and grateful to have a baby.”

     “It never leaves you,” Michael added.

     “We’re just trying to see what could happen with this,” shared Miranda. Again, insurance does not cover something like this.

     You can visit the Breedens’ Go Fund Me page at www.gofundme.com/baby-for-mental-health-therapist. Donations can be public or given anonymously. You can also make your donation “offline” directly to Miranda and Michael Breeden.

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