Terminology Tuesdays: At journey’s end…

Today’s Terminology Tuesday post has a happy IVF ending and a baby in it. We just wanted to include that warning up front for our readers who prefer not to read about pregnancy and birth during their journey to conceive.

After our first IVF success, my wife and I struggled with infertility…again. We proceeded to IVF promptly. After a long journey, on 1/11/11 @ 9:43 AM, my wife and I proudly welcomed our second child into our family. Her name is Chloe and she weighed 5lbs 15oz and measured 17.5 inches. As I gaze upon my newborn daughter, I am reminded why I work so hard for my patients. I dream this moment for every single one of my patients.

I want to share a letter that I wrote to my daughter the day she was born.

Dear Chloe,

Your mom and I waited so long for you. We dreamed and dreamed of you. And for so long…we couldn’t reach you. So, we set sail on a journey to find you. And on that journey, we waited patiently.

We waited for IVF to begin. We waited for the pregnancy test results. We waited for the first sonogram to see you. We waited for your first screening tests to return. We waited to hear your heart beat at each doctor’s visit. We waited patiently.

While we waited, your mom and I watched you grow. We watched you squirm. We heard you hiccough. We saw you move. We talked to you every day from the time we awoke to the time we fell asleep. But, we waited patiently.

Now you are here. We heard your magnificent cry. We saw your cute round face. We counted all 10 fingers and 10 toes. You have filled our lives with love, joy, and hope. Thank you for ending our long journey. We can’t wait to begin the next journey with you.

Love,

Your dad

Dr. Lowell T. Ku, M.D. is a leading Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist at Dallas IVF, one the nation’s premiere infertility centers.  Dr. Ku clarifies the many confusing terms used in the world of Infertility using straightforward explanations.