Sunset Point Anniversary Photo Shoot | Infertility Survivor Story

I loved meeting Ali and Jordan a few weeks ago for their anniversary photo shoot at Sunset Point!  Sunset Point is this beautiful location north of the Phoenix area near Black Canyon City.  It’s a gorgeous scenic overlook at a little rest area on the highway and the view is truly breathtaking.  Bonus, it’s about 10 degrees cooler there than it is in the Phoenix valley and that seriously makes a difference in the summer!  I loved chatting with Ali and Jordan and getting to know them and their story throughout the photo shoot, they are such kind and gracious people.  Their anniversary photo shoot was also an infertility survivor story shoot, and I am excited to share their story here so that you can get to know them and understand what an incredibly strong and beautiful couple Ali and Jordan are.  They’ve been through a lot of hard times together and have supported and lifted each other through it all, and I know that one day they will be incredible parents to a very lucky child!  I hope that day comes really soon for them.

Ali & Jordan’s Infertility Survivor Story
written by Ali

A little background about you as a couple
My husband and I met when we were 12, dated in high school for a year before breaking up to go to college. We reconnected several years later and it was like nothing changed, we have been together ever since and have a wonderful marriage. We had started to plan a wedding but I ultimately did not want a wedding so we ended up getting married on a whim with just both our parents and my sister present. We didn’t have the opportunity to have professional photos taken at our impromptu wedding so it was such a blessing to have some beautiful photos taken of us finally, 2.5 years later!

Your infertility story
After a year of marriage my husband and I decided to start trying, after a year of no success we looked into infertility treatment. We found out that I have one blocked Fallopian tube so my chances of getting pregnant naturally are 50% of normal couples. We decided to proceed directly with IVF and forgo IUI as the chances were slim. Everything went so right until it all went so very wrong. Egg retrieval produced plenty of eggs and we made 13 embryos, genetically tested 8 and 4 came back normal. 5 are still untested. Our first frozen transfer resulted in a pregnancy but sadly ended with a miscarriage at 8 weeks. I had to have a D&C which resulted in no return of my cycle for 3 months. My second transfer has been delayed twice now, hopefully this next attempt will be successful and my body will cooperate to be able to do the transfer.

What would you say is the hardest thing about infertility?
The hardest thing so far is the loss of our pregnancy. I feel overwhelming grief and loss every day. I am scared we will never have our own children.

Are there any ways you have grown stronger as a person/couple as a result of infertility?
I feel like this struggle has brought us closer together as we only have each other to lean on. We don’t have family out here in Arizona and we have learned to rely on each other. We are trying to focus on the other good things we have in our life.

Are there any resources that have helped you emotionally/spiritually through your infertility journey?
We tend to lean on each other for support, with mostly me needing it. My husband is such a strong supportive individual and I am so blessed to have him in my life, especially as we go through infertility. We hold onto the fact that our life is happy and healthy.

Is there anything you wish people who don’t struggle with infertility knew?
Surround yourself with those who are 100% supportive. One of the hardest things is watching others become pregnant easily or on accident. It is okay to withdraw from those people if it is too difficult to watch. True friends will help you and support you and make it easier on you.

What advice would you give to someone else who is currently going through infertility?
I would say to keep your options open. I know for us personally we are interested in adoption as well. It is a fine balance we try to keep as we spend money, time and heartache trying to have a biological child yet knowing we can pursue adoption as well. We set a limit to our attempts at IVF and I try to keep faith that I will have children and love them regardless of how they came to be in my life.