My 2015 egg donation story. I remember growing up playing with my baby dolls always being that motherly figure never expecting to be blessed with children at such a young age. Lucky me , not only did I have one beautiful baby girl but I can proudly say I am a wonderful mom with two healthy beautiful girls. Although I am young never once did I take for granted all those beautiful moments of pregnancy and the fact I was so easily able to conceive (without even having to try). Never once did I actually ever think about how many people were out in the world that weren’t as blessed or as you call “lucky” as myself. After having kids and almost losing one during pregnancy it made me stop and realize so many things. God is truly amazing and I have a gift that I can so easily share with other people who’s hearts are so heavily hurting for a child. People looking in magazines touching the paper hoping once day they will get their miracle. I never had the idea to have more children and adopt them out to people in need, that just wasn’t possible for me. I never actually thought in my head to much about surrogacy because I feel my body wasn’t quite ready. I never got the chance to even apply to be an egg donor. This journey fell into my lap, and theirs only one way possible… GOD!! I know somewhere out there a family was hoping and PRAYING…Sure enough a beautiful family all the way out from Spain has hoped for 10 years they would be so lucky to concieve, but that wasn’t exactly gods plan. God wanted to send them me! I was their missing piece. A company by the name Grace LLC reached out to me ,saying how they have a family that is very Intrested in me being an egg donor for them and if I was able to fill out an application they would greatly appreciate it. That moment I knew what was right in my heart. I then talked to my mother who crazily researched everything she could about the company and about egg donation. Before my mother could change my mind I had my application filled out, tons of child-hood photos sent, photos of myself, photos of my daughters. I decided on an open egg donation. I didn’t want a baby out their in the world I wouldn’t know a thing about. This was it. From their I got to talk to many people from the agency, a lady named Lenka in specific. Everything after that point went so fast! I got to meet the family from Spain from that point I was eager to get my donation process started, their story made me cry. If only I knew why God waited 10 years to bless them with me. I got flown out to California for 2 days to be able to get approved for my egg donation. They did my weight , height , pap, blood tests and a super duper (that’s a mom word right) long psychological evaluation. They had to make sure I knew exactly what I was getting myself into because I’m younger than an average donor. (Usually they like you to be 21, but since this family requested me everything worked fine, because they don’t even like to take anybody out of california. But they family didn’t care they were willing to pay for me to come.) I waited about two full weeks before I knew details, sure enough they approved me and I was on my way to doing legal paper work. I had gone to a monitoring clinic only an hour or so away from me to get blood work done to check on my blood work before anything else also.Weeks passed by and the second weekend of November I got my contract , I read everything, changed things to my liking and signed my signature with my whole heart!

After thanksgiving everything was officially confirmed (communication was hard because they only spoke Spanish and they were all the way in spain) . After everything was confirmed I got to skype the surrogate mother who will be carrying my eggs for the intended parents. So basically how this works is they take my eggs (yes my DNA) the intended parents (the guy) his sperm and put this inside the surrogate mommy who will carry the babies for 9 months for the family…. Because sadly she’s unable to use her eggs or carry the baby. At the begining of December I was being monitored in a clinic close by and they gave me the okay for me to get started on my injections (which the company one day shipped) I then stopped the birth control they put me on and learned how to properly mix and do the shots. Night one my body wouldn’t allow myself to poke itself, I just couldn’t do it- so thank god nicks mom is a RN. The next few nights I made my boyfriend do my shots for me, although the the initial poke didn’t hurt it was the thought of doing it to myself in my own belly. I had to be checked after being on my medications a few days to check on my eggs they do blood work and vaginal ultrasound. As soon as they believed I was ready(average is 12-14 days of injections) they flew me out to California to safely be monitored at their clinic. When I had my appointment in California they then told me I was flown out to soon and I wouldn’t be ready till much later then planned. At that point my body was pumped full of hormones, I couldn’t handle it I wanted to turn around go home and give up. What was I thinking? I’m leaving my kids at home , to give my eggs away? I was beating myself up at the time and sorta regretting what I got myself Into. I had to learn to give myself my own injection in my stomach which after all wasn’t as bad as I thought. I got myself calmed down after awhile because Lenka took me out and we enjoyed ourself the best we could. I was bummed I was there on my birthday but all in all sometimes you have to make sacrifices.

 What was the worst is that I am an “over thinker” so the pain, the swelling/bloat and feeling uncomfortable sometimes got the best of me but I had to stop myself and realize how the intended mother would do anything to feel what I’m feeling

 (something anything!! )

I had multiple appointments to check my eggs in California and things were kinda slow (although the I was on the highest doses of medications I was on my birth control longer than planned and messed it up ). (Enjoy my selfie on the examination bed )

Finally it was time on a Sunday we scheduled the set in stone precedure day and I was prescribed a trigger shot to make things grow to be fully ready! I got my blood taken Tuesday and I was scheduled early wenesday morning to be there an hour before my procedure.I filled out paper work and agreed to things and got fully prepared.

Before I could even know what was going on I was put under. It went so quick I was told the procedure was about 30ish minutes. I wokeup from being put under … I super emotional, overwhelmed with what I had just done. They were beyond impressed and happy because they took a whopping 27 eggies from my body!(they say usually 12-20 average)! I was crying when I found out because those are something im wasting away and the fact these are treasured is everything. (They do genetic tests on some eggs and the rest get frozen stored egg) (I told them when they are done having kids they are not allowed to donate to science and if they wanted to donate MY eggs to another family I would have to be notified and I would also have to agree)

After I recovered fully I got to go home that same day, in fact I ate Jimmy johns subs after leaving the surgery center. They told me they never seen somebody bounce up or “recover ” as fast as I did. I was on high pain meds and got to fly back home to South Dakota the same night. I didn’t care about the pain I wanted to see my babies. Since I have been home I am super bloated, a little sore and uncomfortable but it has been 4 days and I even went shopping at the mall (with a pain pill though). They say watch for signs and (the risks) for ATLEAST 10 days but so far so good. I feel like a million bucks and I could honestly say with my whole heart, I would do this a million times over and honestly I will be a egg donor ATLEAST 1 more time. (They say you can only donate 6 times at most)

People need to know this is not something you just decide to do. I have to live knowing I have another baby out their that is half of me that I’m not raising. You need to be a strong person to accept this. I made my egg donation open because since I’m not pregnant with this child and not raising the child I know I am strong enough  to meet them etc….NO this is not adoption, because that would be my egg and my boyfriends sperm and I would carry my baby to term and then give the baby up. (I couldn’t handle that) 

On January 6th is when they plan to do my transfer. They are using 2 eggs and are hoping to expect twins whom will arrive probably in later August. I don’t think I will be sharing photos of the family or the babies. As far as those babies are concerned I’m in no way shape or form their mother not even their “bio” mom. The intended parents hope so much for this… I would never want to steal the joy of this family finally having their own. 

As far as the injections, I started out doing 1 a night mixing 5 different viles together. I then went up to 2 injections and then I had my trigger shot at the end. I did them in my belly and I just pinched my skin a tiny bit and poked in fast like a dart motion. The needle has to go straight in and not angled. It honestly doesn’t hurt bad just a tiny sting which is easily gotten over. I have to switch sides also so I’m not constantly doing same exact spot. (Ouch) The shots basically trick your body into dropping more eggs and having the eggs grow to a big enough size to be harvested  

And last main question YES their can be risks Ofcourse to egg donation because everybody will react differently to the injections. Please be careful because a company will make it seem like theirs no risks and it’s all gonna be okay but their are in fact risks that need to be taken seriously.My fertility could change in the future because of this, I could have pains later in the road etc..you just have to be that person willing to take the risks if you are truly ready.

This is my story and how things went everybody is going to feel differently and go different because you are not me. Please be careful and if you have any questions I would recommend talking to the company I went to. You can donate your eggs or company’s have compensation plans for $$ to sell your eggs! My flight hotel and food was all paid for for myself. You need to be healthy and fit to be able to donate. Usually ATLEAST 20 (with kids) no smoking drinking and no health issues with you or family members that are bad. No tattoos or piercings within the last year. Std free as well! 
Gracellc.com – you need to call and just bring up my name Ivyonna North and ask them anything . I don’t feel comfortable answering questions that may be different for you! 

Sometimes I still think about how those babies will grow up and how this all got thrown into my lap. Although I had some very emotional times in my journey , this is something worth doing. The good outweighs the bad for me.

I want to thank the company for being so great and helpful during all this time. And also my mother for watching the girls and Nicholas for being by my Side and agreeing to take this journey with me. And trust me when I say….This is just a short version of my journey I could truly go on forever in details. But I’m not an expert in egg donation. I am just a girl like any other who was called to bless another out of the kindness of my heart. Even in days I regretted my every decision in my heart I knew I would go through with it. I couldn’t ever back down and dissapointed a family who has waited for the perfect match forever. To think I blessed them with 27 eggs is beyond me. That’s the true work of Jesus! 

2019. – it’s been 4 years! Another family got eggs from the family I originally donated too. The original family ended up having a beautiful baby girl with a beautiful name and she’s a doll. I keep up with the family and I’m so happy for them. I would do it again!