The Shorthouse family

It’s going to be a strange Christmas this year due to covid, but for me and my husband, it’s going to be our best one yet. Our first Christmas as parents to a beautiful baby boy - all thanks to TFP.

It has been a long journey for us, 6 years of trying to make our little family. We had egg collection at TFP, and at the end of that we had 5 embryos of good quality, one transferred, and for to freeze.

On our first attempt, we got a positive test result, only for our dream to be shattered with an ectopic pregnancy. We took some time out from treatment before we tried again. The second result was negative.

We kept telling ourselves, maybe the 3rd time will be lucky. I don’t think deep down that we really thought it would be, but we got our positive test result.

At 12 weeks, I was told I needed to have a stitch put in my cervix as it was short, but that it had to be done by open surgery, almost like a c-section. Without it, the baby had a high chance of being premature. The operation itself came with risks of losing our baby, but so did not having it. At 16 weeks, I had the operation done and took it very, very easy afterwards. I was told that I’d have to have a c section birth at 37 weeks as the stitch had to stay in for any further pregnancies.

Fast forward to July, and our baby was born! We couldn’t believe it had finally happened, couldn’t believe that he was really here and that he was ours. We kept waiting for someone to come and ask for their baby back. He was healthy, and I loved him so so much instantly. All the treatment and all the heartache was so worth it - to finally have our amazing little miracle, Connor.

TFP helped us to make our dreams come true, all while being so kind, helpful and supportive. I’ll forever be grateful for all that they have done.

Leanne, Richard and Connor Shorthouse