During National Infertility Awareness Week, Denise and Kevin Klemm are opening up about their emotional journey to parenthood, offering support to others facing similar challenges. The couple, now parents to two children, spent years undergoing fertility treatments before realizing their dream of becoming a family of four.
“It’s one of those clubs that nobody wants to be part of, but also one that nobody understands unless you’ve been through it, especially as the woman,” Denise shared.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that about 11 percent of women and 9 percent of men face infertility. Kevin recalled the emotional toll of the process, saying, “People often say, ‘It’s going to happen, don’t worry.’ While it seems reassuring, it can also make you wonder, ‘What if it doesn’t?’ We started to question if we were meant to be parents.”
The Klemms found help through Dr. Loret De Mola at SIU Medicine’s Fertility and IVF Center in Springfield. After several years and five rounds of in vitro fertilization, they finally became parents.
Dr. De Mola highlighted the importance of perseverance, saying, “It’s those patients who stick with it and remain open to all possibilities that eventually take their baby home.”
He also discussed advancements in fertility treatments, such as genetic testing on embryos and robotic surgery, which have improved outcomes. “In the past five to ten years, robotic surgery has allowed us to fix blockages and other anomalies, significantly improving results,” he explained.
Reflecting on their journey, Kevin expressed gratitude for their family: “The original plan didn’t work out, but when we aimed for two kids—a girl and a boy—it came together perfectly.”
Denise shared a message of hope for others facing infertility: “It’s okay if you’re not okay. There are others who understand and have been there. Don’t give up, and reach out for support. No one else truly understands unless they’ve been through it.”
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