Written by Lauren Murphy, SIU School of Medicine
Lexi Kotner is only 5, but she’s already an avid ice skater, gymnast and dancer. Kody Kotner, like his big sister, is active, joining his first soccer league at age 3. But seven years ago, their mom Jeannie underwent six failed inseminations and two failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and believed she might never become a parent.
“Seven years ago, we were very frustrated and losing hope,” Jeannie said.
In 2009, Jeannie’s “stars aligned.” She and her husband, Marcus, met Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola, OB-GYN and director of the SIU Fertility & IVF Center. “By chance, I ran into Dr. Loret de Mola at the Springfield airport,” explains Jeannie. “I recognized him from a picture in the local paper. I had left popcorn on the plane and was trying to convince the flight attendant to let me back on. It was nothing of real monetary value, but it was valuable to me – it was Garrett’s famous popcorn!” she laughs. “Dr. Loret de Mola overheard my conversation with the flight attendant and agreed with me that, of course, that popcorn was worth going back for. He convinced the flight attendant to let me back on!”
After confirming that the man was indeed Dr. Loret de Mola, Jeannie introduced herself. “I gave him my full fertility history and struggles in about five minutes,” she explains. Dr. Loret de Mola was confident that he and the SIU fertility team could help the Springfield couple. Less than a year later, Jeannie was pregnant with Lexi.
Now, as a mom of two, Jeannie has some advice for other couples struggling with infertility: There are no shortcuts. “You must follow your doctor’s and the team’s instructions,” cautions Jeannie. “Women and men going through fertility treatments need to be their best selves, they need to be as healthy as they can be to ensure this process will be successful.”
According to RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, one in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility.
SIU’s Fertility and IVF Center opened in 2009 to provide a comprehensive approach to finding solutions for couples struggling with fertility. The practice provides evaluation and treatment options for female and male infertility. Among the treatment options are revolutionary, robotic-assisted surgical procedures, on-site surgical intervention for treatment of male infertility, ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization. Team members include faculty and staff from OB-GYN and urology, psychologists, geneticists and licensed dieticians.
“Our kids are our world,” said Jeannie. “I feel like I owe everything to SIU’s Fertility Center because I don’t think we would be parents today if the stars had not aligned and we were not able to use their services.”
Interested in learning more about SIU’s fertility services or meeting our specialists? Join us from 3 to 6 pm on Sept. 13 at Erin’s Pavilion as the Center celebrates its fifth birthday. Call 217-545-3101 to RSVP or to learn more about our services.
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