Happy 4th of July from NYC!

Happy 4th of July! It is so wonderful to read all of the good news in Blogland, from the great scans and egg retrievals, to the new BFP's, to the recent births and to people's journey's coming full circle.

Well the good news is that Brian and I are working hard to save money for treatment and we have a plan! I will be doing IVF again under my insurance coverage in September/October and I will be shipping my frozen embryos and Brian's sperm to India using Greg at Core Cryobank. If our embryos don't take, then we are prepared to use an egg donor and I am at peace with that. I have been inspired by so many of you who have come full circle in your journeys and you give me the strength to keep on going even though our first journey to India was unsuccessful.

Oh and we have decided on a clinic a pretty darn good one at that. Now it's just a matter getting the rest of our money in order before we officially get started, as we wanted to have a large chunk of change in the bank and not just the money for the initial transfer and program fees. Have a Happy Fourth of July!

Feeling Like Katniss

Katiniss Everdeen- Independent, Strong-Willed, and a Survivor Against All Odds... Katniss often struggles with her inner-self as many of us on this journey called infertility do. But one thing is for sure, when life throws obstacles in your way, you have to get up and fight. Things went well with my regular RE and most importantly we have a plan!

My May To-Do List
*Have my FSH re-tested (Hasn't been tested since last year)
*Have my AMH tested
*Deposit the hubby's swimmers at our RE's clinic
*Reach out to Core Cryobank

Just like the Dandelions in The Hunger Games symbolize hope for Katniss, India is a symbol of hope for us. This journey through infertility can be fearful but if you have hope...

 “Hope is the only thing stronger than fear“

Searching...

Hello Fam!

I know it has been a while since I have posted, but work has been busy, busy, busy! After the new year, I started searching for a new clinic and I am taking my time as I want to make the RIGHT choice! This time, I am only looking at clinics in Mumbai and New Delhi!! With lots of prayer, I believe God will allow me to make the right decision. I want to cycle in August, and I have an appointment next week with my regular fertility doctor in NYC to discuss if I will do a cycle in NYC and ship my embryos to India, since I have insurance coverage or just go to India and do a fresh cycle. Family, feel free to chime in...

I want to send thoughts and prayers out to Bernadette, Scarlett and Hayden as well as Jill...

Avey and Hari, I am glad things are progressing ;)

Temmy you are almost there!

Allie thanks so much for checking on me ;)

So Thankful...

I am truly THANKFUL that God has allowed me to see another year and that he is making my trip to India possible! I am also thankful my IVF Meds arrived on time. I am on Day 2 of Birth Control Pills and I start Lupron in December. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Dubai Anyone?

FLIGHTS BOOKED!!!


Hello Fam,

I know it has been a while since I have posted, but after months of researching the most cost effective options for my trip to India, I finally purchased my tickets and I will be flying out at the end of December. I will be flying from New York City to Dubai and then on to India. Flying into Dubai first saved me $900 on flights! I will be spending 2 days in Dubai and I am really looking forward to that.


My doctors in New York and India have been communicating and planned my IVF Calender to a T. I begin Birth Control Pills November 22 and my first Ultrasound and Baseline are December 10 both in New York. Praying I grow lots of follicles for my Egg Retrieval in India. There has been so much great news lately and I want to send a huge CONGRATS to Temmy, Jeff & Kevin, Bernadette and Rene'!

Next item on my Agenda, hotels and my Tourist Visa!

Something's Coming...

Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something’s coming, something good,
If I can wait!

Something’s coming, I don’t know
what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!

~Leonard Bernstein- Westside Story



So, it looks like Something Great is Coming: I will be in India towards the end of December. I have a consult this week with the IVF Nurse at my clinic in New York who will create my IVF Calender for November/December and order my IVF meds. I will start my IVF here in New York and fly to India for Egg Retrieval with Dr. B. My clinics in India and New York have been great and have been coordinating to God willing make this cycle a success.

Sending out a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Bernadette and Duane on their BFP!!!!!

Laugh to Keep From Crying....

I know that God allows us to go through trials and tribulations for various reasons. Sometimes those trials and tribulations are so tough, that we have to LAUGH to KEEP from CRYING. We now have another trial to add on our journey to becoming parents:




This morning I was contacted by Dr. B to let me know that our embryos had arrived in India, (it only took 5 days) but that the dewar that the embryos were shipped in was at room temperature and the liquid nitrogen surrounding our embryos had all evaporated, which is not good news. Dr. B ROCKS because he called the shipping company this morning from India before I even called them and he sent me copies of the time an temperature paperwork that he had to sign once the dewar was delivered to him.

I ended up using a shipping company that my clinic in New York recommended and they have been very helpful today regarding this very hurtful matter that most likely all of our embryos have been lost, and have agreed to refund us the shipping costs. In addition they are doing an investigation to find out what could have happened between New York and India, including looking at all of their data logs.

We have decided to still press forward on our journey and open our hearts to God asking him to guide us as we make our way...

WHATS NEXT?

*I have an IVF Consult with my Dr. in New York this coming Wednesday

*We are currently working on the Surrogate Agreement with Dr. B

*I will start another Fresh IVF Cycle with my clinic in New York as soon as possible (I have to take Birth Control Pills for 3 weeks so the earliest the ball would get rolling with the actual meds and injections is October), and they will coordinate with Dr. B, so I can fly to India when it is time to do my Egg Retrieval (this will save me from taking a lot of time off from work) and then do a transfer into my chosen Gestational Carrier

Look out India, CocoaMasala is on the way.....

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6





So, for the past couple of weeks I have been soul searching and praying about what our next steps should be. We have 7 frozen embryos from our recent fresh IVF cycle, which ended in my 5th consecutive miscarriage. We also have two frozen embryos from a previous fresh IVF cycle done last year, so that's a total of 9 frozen embryos. In my heart of hearts I can tell you I am tired of going through miscarriage after miscarriage. They are physically and emotionally taxing on the body. In my heart of hearts I can tell you Brian and I are realists and as we are about to kiss our mid thirties good-bye we know that we are truly blessed to have these embryos that have been frozen at the blastocyst stage.

Brian has told me that he feels my pain and can't stand watching me go through loss after loss. I have the option of going through an FET here in the USA, but why? The last FET I did last May ended in miscarriage after two strong betas. I know that anything can happen and miracles do happen but, I have decided to listen to my body for now. I have decided to step out on FAITH and pursue Gestational Surrogacy in India.

Does this mean that as a woman I don't want to experience pregnancy? Of course not. Is it the end of the world if I don't? Absolutely not!! What is most important is becoming a parent whether our embryos grow in my womb or in my heart. Since my body keeps rejecting my own tissue, in the future I have the option of pursuing Donor Eggs (where the eggs of a younger fertile woman and Brian's sperm are transferred into my womb) to experience pregnancy up until the age of 55. At this point in our lives, Brian and I realize and both strongly agree that Gestational Surrogacy is going to give us the best option of trying to have a biological child.

I believe God has placed a desire in my heart to have children. I believe I will have children although it may not be the way that I planned. Lord knows I did not plan on pursuing Gestational Surrogacy in India. When one door closes I believe another door opens. I have contacted Greg from Core Cryo Labs and he was very prompt and detailed with his response. I know with him my snow babies will be in good hands. I have an appointment with my Fertility Dr. to discuss my next steps and I am going to tell him I am stepping out on FAITH through a new door, a new door of opportunity in India....

Hail Mary IVF Results...

The Bad News: I got pregnant once again but had another chemical pregnancy (early miscarriage). This makes my 5th consecutive loss and I am totally stumped, as all of my immune tests are normal.

The Good News: My clinic froze 7 blastocysts (advanced stage embryos) for future use. Now Brian and I have to decide if we are going to do a Frozen Embryo Transfer into me here in the US, or save those Frozen Embryos for India. The issue with the frozen embryos is when will India lift the ban on shipping embryos and sperm?

THOUGHTS Blog Family??

Oh on an even more positive note we have narrowed our clinic choices from three down to the last two FINALISTS!!! Within the next few months we will be ready to start making some moves...

Stay Tuned...

Hail Mary IVF in Progress...

It has been a while since we have blogged, as we have been busy with the holidays. Currently, we are in the middle of our Hail Mary IVF Cycle with my own eggs. Things are going well with the cycle and we would be remiss not try, as we have great insurance coverage for IVF. We may even have frozen embryos that we can use for treatment in India in the near future.

In other news we have narrowed our search down to 3 clinics in India. We are also considering Donor Egg IVF where donor eggs or donor embryos are transferred into me. Congrats to Kerrie and Mark on their pregnancy as they are a true example of determination, perseverance and never giving up on your dreams.

A View to a Search

I can't believe it has been 8 months since we have started this blog! Within that time, our research into the various IVF/Surrogacy clinics has given us a beautiful VIEW from Northern to Southern India.



Here is a SNEAK PEEK into the locations of some of the clinics we are strongly researching and some of the unique landmarks within each city:


New Delhi, India

Baha'i Lotus Temple

Mumbai, Maharashtra India

Victoria Terminus

Ahmedabad, Gujarat India

Ashkardam Temple

Anand, Gujarat India

Anand Milk Union Limited Complex

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India

Charminar

Chennai, Tamil Nadu India

Makka Masjid

Stay Tuned...

National Infertility Awareness Week in the USA

National Infertility Awareness Week is a movement to raise awareness about the disease of infertility which affects 7.3 million Americans and of course this disease impacts couples all over the world....

It doesn't matter if you are male or female. It doesn't matter if you suffer from PCOS, Endometriosis, Azoospermia, Poor Sperm Morphology, Autoimmune Disorder, Premature Ovarian Failure, Uterine Fibroids or other Medical Conditions. It doesn't matter whether you are undergoing treatment using Timed Intercourse with Clomid, IUI with Injectable Medications, IVF, Donor Egg IVF, Donor Sperm or Gestational Surrogacy. We are all bound by a common thread and desire to become parents. We are one Community and Together We're Better....

Who are CocoaMasla?

We are just a couple of colour in love from New York City and have been together over 6 years. Through that time we have tried to create the gift of life but it seems that after three years of suffering from multiple miscarriages, chemical pregnancies and failed IVF due to PCOS and Immune issues it was not God's appointed time. I believe God answers prayer and when it seems like one door closes another door opens....

We are blessed to have IVF insurance coverage and we currently have Frozen Embryos. We seem to make good Embryos, but my uterus just does not want to cooperate and carry them. Currently we are undergoing Immune testing before our next IVF cycle just so we can have peace of mind knowing we left no stone unturned in our quest to experience childbirth firsthand. After many years of tears and fears, I have peace of mind that it is okay if I can't carry my own child. I realize that the end result is the most important part of becoming a parent.

There were nights that I cried and cried afraid that there would never be another way for me to have a biological child if I could not carry and then God opened my eyes to the world of Gestational Surrogacy. Initially I looked at Gestational Surrogacy in the US and saw how many celebrities used Gestational Surrogates to conceive. I also saw the price tag and became totally dismayed. Then I came across an article about Surrogacy in India and I talked to Brian about it and we both agreed that we should do some extensive research and penny pinching, and that if I needed a Gestational Carrier that this would be a great option.

So, this is our journey to find out as much as we can about Gestational Surrogacy. We are sure we will run into some inspirational stories along the way and with God's help we will fulfill our dream of becoming parents one way or another...