Our Families
Dear ORM, letters & words from our families.
Patient Testimonials
The physicians and team at ORM deeply appreciate the many family testimonials and photos we have received over the years.
Share Your Story.
We read every email, card, note and letter, and share them throughout the office. We share in your joy and are humbled by the incredible impact of our work in helping to create families.
ORM Families
Whitney & Brittany
Whitney and Brittany always knew that they wanted to become parents, but they were concerned about the long-standing history of breast cancer in Whitney’s family.
Liz & Andrea
Andrea and Liz met in 2010 through mutual friends and have been together ever since. After they were married, they had their first son through IUI in Phoenix, Arizona.
Kelly & Kery
Kelly and Kery got married in March of 2012. They had been high school sweethearts, and knew they wanted to start a family immediately after getting married.
Cara & Jen
Cara and Jen met in 2003 and shared a commitment ceremony in 2006. A year later, they decided to grow their family.
Kelly & Charles
When you ask Kelly and Charles to tell you about their daughter Sophie, they trip over each other’s sentences.
Kim
Kim always knew she wanted to be a mom. There was no question in her mind that she would someday have a child.
Paige
Paige is a graphic designer from Portland who comes from a big family. She is also a five-time egg donor.
Lisa
Lisa always knew she wanted children someday. In 2010, when she was 32 years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Jeff & Chris
Jeff and Chris have been together since they were sophomores in college.
Erez
Erez and his partner have been together eight years. They celebrated a formal marriage ceremony in May 2013 and soon after, started to pursue their lifelong dream of becoming parents.
Heather & Brandon
Heather and Brandon met at a dance club in Cleveland and then married in 2008, spent a few happy years together, bought a home, and then decided to start their family.
#ORMBaby
💞 With Mother’s Day tomorrow it’s hard not to feel the mix of emotions still waiting for this little one’s arrival but ever closer to the day I get to meet them. I’m reminded to celebrate the wins all along the way - the physical changes, the midnight wake ups, every heartbeat and kick to my ribs. They are reminders of how far I’ve come. Patiently waiting and counting down…
•
#singleparentbydesign #singlemombychoice #nontraditionalfamily #IVFstories #ivfsuccess #lgbtqfertility #loveisfamily #ORMBaby
•
📸 amanda_reed_photography
🤰🏻This is not Plan B
•
Over the last three years, I have watched in awe as the online fertility community has expanded with support, diversity, perspective, debate, and love. I adore hearing your stories and getting to know each person I’ve connected with. In all this connection, truth be told, there is a piece of my fertility story I really don’t see represented. This week for NIAW I want to offer up a perspective often missing from family building conversations - those for whom parenthood was always the dream, partnership was not. In other words, this is not Plan B.
•
The asexual community is one of quiet existence. “Ace” for short, we often fly under the radar, considered the silent orientation that makes up an estimated 1% of the population. Add wanting to have a child + infertility to that, and you’ve pretty much narrowed down the population to, well, maybe a handful of people, maybe. The Ace of Pineapples as I’ve come to call it.
•
In an effort to make more stories seen, known, and heard, I offer mine up to any ace folks trying to figure out how to have a baby through fertility treatments. Here’s what I know: You probably won’t see yourself in the research, you still belong here. Not every doctor or clinic with get it, but some will and they’ll create safe space for you. Even with less visibility, you can find your people, and you still belong here.
•
🧡 #wecanall learn from each other and elevate these stories to help those struggling to grow their family feel less alone
🧡 #wecanall advocate for more representation and research beyond heteronormative family building
🧡 #wecanall help redefine what family looks like and broaden our understanding of those outside the cultural norm.
•
Our stories make up the kaleidoscope of representation and belonging. Thanks for following along with mine.
•
#NIAW2022 #NIAW #Thisismystory #thisisnotplanB #singleparentbydesign #singlemombychoice #nontraditionalfamily #IVFstories #ivfsuccess #lgbtqfertility #loveisfamily #ORMBaby
Beta #2 today!
Pray, send energy, all the good good for BIG NUMBERS!
We had a heck of a time getting blood from me today. I was starting to get emotional but we got it. We always do, but the process really gets me down some day.
I just hope and pray todays numbers are right where they are supposed to be and the babies and I are on the right track!
Thank you guys!!!!
I’m just gonna be sitting here, working, distracted as heck, waiting for the call.
🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍
3rd things a charm…?! 🙏🏼 #FET3
I know I’ve been SUPER quiet about this transfer… not sharing all the updates, and every little detail but just more of my day to day.
It’s been 2 months and 2 days since we lost the twins. 😭 and have needed the time away.
But we wanted to jump on and let you guys know we tested positive today! (I took 3 to make sure 😅) 🥹💜🌈
I absolutely love testing.. I’m a pro- TESTER and support anybody in their decision to test or not. But I’m a hardcore tester and just wait til the right day now! Plus I can write off pregnancy tests on my taxes so I’m like bring it on 😆
We love all of you on this journey with us and the multiple go fund me’s, donations, parties, messages … sometimes we feel like this is OUR BABY (ours and yours!) and we want you guys to be a part of every high, low and in between.
Being transparent in this process I have helped several people make the decision to make their first appointment.
I have met women who have found me on IG and tiktok and FB and we have grown invested in each other’s journeys.
I know we have 1000 mountains to climb but this win felt like OUR WIN.
I also know of what could go wrong.
Our beta is Friday and we knew we wanted all our people to know to pray, send good energy, whatever you believe in.
We love you guys, and these babies and we pray it’s our time.
🧡 I cannot wait for these kids to meet
•
#diblingfamily #loveisfamily #ormbaby #fertilityjourney #nontraditionalfamily #lgbtqfertility #thirdpartyreproduction
📸 beckygstudios
My Girl. Happy birthday, Sophie Cadence. 🌈👧🏼
•
•
•
•
#ivfjourney #ivfsuccess #infertility #infertilityawareness #makingbabycaraher #oneinfour #oneineight #salemoregon #ormfertility #ormbaby #rainbowbaby #ivfbaby #parenting #ivf #girlmom #plussizeparent #parentingafterloss #parentingafterinfertility #plussizemama #raisingbabycaraher #parenting #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #babiesofinstagram #milestones #sophiecadencecaraher #toddlersofinstagram
I was in love with a girl I’d never met one year ago. I had hoped and wished and dreamed of her for so long, and this time a year ago I was trying to sleep, but it was hard knowing that the next day, my life would change forever. I wasn’t someone who grew up knowing I wanted to be a mom, until I met Luka. We hadn’t been together for long before I knew they were my person, and I wanted a family with them. Starting our family was hard, but on April 12th 2021, it became a reality. A complete, perfect family of three. Sophie Cadence Caraher is the perfect piece to our puzzle. Her entrance into this world wasn’t easy, but loving her is. She is sweet, spunky, courageous, and smart. She brings a smile to the faces of everyone she meets. She is goofy and silly and strong, and I am so proud to be her mama. I have savored every moment of this year, and tomorrow, I will wake up with a toddler. We are moving into a new chapter and I can’t wait to see who she continues to become. We have kept a video of one second from every day of this past year. Here’s just a snippet of our baby girl growing into toddlerhood. I love you, Sophie Girl, and I can’t wait to celebrate your birthday tomorrow.
•
•
•
•
#ivfjourney #ivfsuccess #infertility #infertilityawareness #makingbabycaraher #oneinfour #oneineight #salemoregon #ormfertility #ormbaby #rainbowbaby #ivfbaby #parenting #ivf #girlmom #plussizeparent #parentingafterloss #parentingafterinfertility #plussizemama #raisingbabycaraher #parenting #motherhood #motherhoodjourney #babiesofinstagram #milestones #sophiecadencecaraher #toddlersofinstagram
One week of IVF Transfer #3 down!
*I will do my best to do more updates!*
(A shot of us on date night through each other’s eyes last week) 🥰
For this protocol I’m doing hormones twice a day and three times a day twice a week 😅😅😅😅😅
I have had headaches, SO much bloating, and my tolerance level is at an all time low 😆
IVF is not for the faint of heart.
Hopefully you come strong but best believe you will get strong 💪🏼
Tonight I will do my 3rd round of shots 💉
It’s so crazy to me to think we are just a little over 2 weeks from being pregnant again! 🥰🥰🥰🥰🫶🏼
WELL - if my lining acts right 👋🏼🤣
My uterine lining got us postponed at BOTH our last transfers 7-10 days so it’s possible it could still happen but I’m thinking THICK THOUGHTS 👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼😎
As of now our protocol is :
Supplements (a lot)
Baby Aspirin
Estrogen injections 2x a week
Estrogen pills vaginally 2/ a day 🫡🫠
Next week is my official lining check to see if my tentative frozen embryo transfer date is set or if I have to go back and check again until it’s where it should be…
The total shit thing is that when those things don’t happen it means more money on ultrasounds and blood tests.
Ultrasounds are about $300 and blood tests are about $120 each time.
We are already over $70,000 into this journey 🫣😵💫
THANKFULLY, we went DEBT FREE for the 2nd time together and we are completely paid in full as of now!
BUT STILL -
I do most things with the frugal living mindset and budget and do not want to pay for things because my body isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do.
So think thick thoughts and I’ll give you guys reminders, of course!
💜🌈
