✨"I try to look at my life through the lens of myself in 20 years from now, and that helps to remain focused on what is important and what matters."
✨ "My story is not your typical infertility journey — but it's mine, and it's unique, and I am stronger and more grateful for it."
✨"Not everyone has to understand or relate to what you are going through to be kind and supportive."
✨"Talk about it, do not be ashamed — even if it makes others uncomfortable."
✨"Perspective is everything... and in 20 years from now I won't think I was overweight, I'll see a young 30-something trying to grow her family and doing the best she could."
Meet Laura
The Unseen Phoenix
Warrior Name: The Unseen Phoenix
Because like a phoenix, she keeps rising from the ashes of heartbreak, uncertainty, and setbacks — stronger every time — even when much of her journey is happening unseen, quietly, behind closed doors. Her spirit is persistent, fierce, and fueled by deep love and hope, even when the world around her doesn’t fully see or understand the battles she’s fighting.
Unfinished: The Silent Struggle of Secondary Infertility
Laura’s journey to grow her family has been anything but predictable. In her mid-20s, a fertility test revealed low egg reserves — news that left her frozen in fear at a time when motherhood wasn't even on her radar. She stopped birth control as advised, tucked the worry away, and moved forward with life.
Fast forward five years: newly engaged, planning her wedding — and shockingly, pregnant. The news was a complete surprise, mixed with awe and anxiety. She mourned the loss of the wedding she had envisioned but felt the miracle of life growing inside her was no coincidence; it was a sign, especially with a due date near the anniversary of her late brother’s passing.
Motherhood suited Laura, and after her daughter, her son arrived amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. Life was busy but beautiful. And yet, Laura knew in her heart, she wasn't done. She and her husband felt their family wasn’t complete — their dream was always three children.
Trying for a third has proved a much harder road. Painful, heavy periods disrupted her life, and doctors initially brushed it off as "normal." Deep down, Laura knew something wasn’t right. After months of trying and suspected early miscarriages, she turned to a fertility doctor. Eventually, an ultrasound following a miscarriage revealed a large uterine polyp, likely responsible for many of her symptoms. The discovery offered a glimmer of validation: her body wasn’t failing her — it was trying to tell her something all along.
Surgery followed, offering the first sliver of answers after a long year of confusion, heartbreak, and waiting. Laura is now in recovery, her hope cautiously but firmly intact. The journey continues, filled with uncertainty, but also with fierce determination. She dreams of the day when she gets to watch her daughter become a big sister again, and her son no longer the "baby" of the family. She knows her heart will expand in ways she can't even imagine yet.
Laura's story isn’t the typical infertility story — but it’s hers. It’s a testament to perseverance, self-trust, and the deep, often unspoken ache of wanting to grow a family.
Her advice to anyone struggling? Talk about it. You don’t have to walk this road alone. Advocate for your health, trust your instincts, and be gentle with yourself. Life viewed through the lens of the future — 20 years from now — shows a brave woman doing her best for her family, and that’s something to be proud of.
Resources that lift her up? Friends who understand and supportive online communities. When days feel impossibly hard, perspective — sometimes found through a good podcast and a walk — can be a lifeline (The Mel Robbins Podcast has been a favorite).
For loved ones wanting to help: Show up with kindness, not questions. Words matter — and sometimes just being there is the greatest gift.
Laura's journey is still unfolding. It's real, hopeful, painful, beautiful — and uniquely hers. She shares it not because it’s finished, but because someone else out there might need to hear it today.
Gems for the journey
Advocate for yourself and trust your body.
You know when something isn't right; persistence in seeking answers can make all the difference.
Share your story without shame, even if others don't understand.
Opening up can create connection and support, and might help others feel less alone, too.
Prioritize gentle self-compassion over perfection.
Rest when needed, zoom out for perspective, and honor this version of yourself with pride and kindness.