Jessica Shoemaker | Secretary
For those who receive it, the diagnosis of infertility is a heartbreaking one. Jessica and her husband received their diagnosis around the time of their fourth wedding anniversary in 2013. A year into their journey, they sought the help of the Institute for Reproductive Health. After a lot of testing, a few months of timed cycles, and a laparoscopy, it was discovered that Jessica had stage 3 endometriosis. Their only IUI attempt and first IVF cycle failed, leaving Jessica and her husband devastated. In the spring of 2014, they were finally able to conceive their daughter via IVF. Jessica and her husband were lucky to have the support of their employer (whose headquarters is located in Massachusetts, a mandatory infertility coverage state) and therefore a large percentage of their procedures were covered. Recognizing that the blessing they had received is a cost that many others have to incur out of their own pocket, Jessica joined a group of fellow patients she had met during her infertility treatment to form Parental Hope in an effort to financially support other men and women in their journey to parenthood.
