Nurturing you with all the light and love
you need to FLOURISH & GROW
through your journey!
Nurturing you with all the light and love
you need to FLOURISH & GROW
through your journey!
Fertile Ground Counseling & Wellness was created as a result of my very own personal reproductive journey. Very early on, I knew my story of having a family would be much different than that of other family and friends who seemed to conceive without any difficulty. After 4 years and still no success, I almost convinced myself to give up my dream of motherhood. Through many tears, prayers and research, I quickly realized I would need a small fortune to get pregnant with no guarantee. I remember feeling alone and defeated-even more so, I felt lost. What direction should I take...Fertility treatments? Adoption? Or just accept the cards that were dealt...maybe motherhood just wasn't meant for me. Little did I know the GROWTH that would take place…and I don’t just mean my belly.
Diagnosed with endometriosis at the young age of 19, I was told that conceiving could be challenging once I decided I was ready to start a family. I had no idea at the time that the reality of this challenge would mean 6 years of trying to conceive.
Tears, Fears and Needles, OH MY!
Growing in faith, allowed me to release control and discover the courage I never knew I had.
After my diagnosis and learning that IVF was my ONLY option, there was a $20,000 barrier now blocking my path to motherhood. The saying, "don't sweat the small stuff" came to mind and I realized this was "small stuff" compared to having 0 options which meant 0 dollars resulting in 0 children.
( I'll take IVF STAT for $20,000 please, Alex.)
Growing in HOPE provided me with a new perspective allowing me to gain even more than what I ever expected.
I must admit, many times I felt as if life dealt me an unfair hand. However, accepting what was, completely transformed my beliefs, my attitude and my actions. I actually began to LOVE my journey to motherhood. My journey was a unique and special gift which granted me amazing "little extras" you don't get to experience when conception happens naturally. To this very day, I LOVE what my fertility journey has taught me and as a result I LOVE who I have become!
My personal growth in faith, hope and love inspired me to pursue an education that would equip me with the knowledge and skill set to empower others to survive and thrive throughout this journey called life ! I am a licensed independent social worker in clinical practice (LISW-CP), earning my Master's degree in 2011 from the University of South Carolina. Ironically, I walked across the stage at graduation 7 1/2 months pregnant after an eventful IVF cycle. I gave birth to a miracle...a healthy baby girl who is a precious reminder of my life's purpose: to use my gift of compassion and my journey of triumph to help others.