She has until September to pay for IVF Treatment

“We suggest that you have your eggs harvested prior to surgery, if you want to someday have
children”, her doctors informed her. The cost for her to do so is approximately $20,000.

Trista has a condition known as Neurofibromatosis-1: an inherited genetic neurological

disorder. The condition generally causes benign tumors, known as fibromas, to develop
throughout the body. These tumors can interfere with organs around the body. Her father lost
vision in one eye to the condition. Her sister has a large visible growth on one of her wrists.
While Trista was lucky enough to avoid any major visible fibromas, she has recently
developed one internally that is pressing against her ovaries and has grown around major
blood vessels and nerves.

It’s hard to quantify someone’s pain, but we can paint a picture: she is prescribed around 20
pills per day, with increasing doses of oxycodone. The pain persists through the medication.
The only chance of relief is through surgical removal of the tumor. Due to the risks, not a
single doctor was willing to perform the surgery, until her persistent pleas for relief persuaded
them. Surgery means she could risk bleeding out, she could completely lose control of her
right leg, and will most likely have one of her ovaries removed. At age 26, she will likely
endure an early menopause — and might possibly become infertile altogether. Her and her
fiancé want nothing more than to have children of their own.

A parent with NF-1 has a 50% chance of passing it on to the baby. Through IVF treatment,
doctors can test the eggs for the condition before fertilization. While this procedure is covered
by healthcare in some provinces, it is not covered in Alberta. The combined cost of the
genetic probe, required medication and various procedures is around $20,000 and must be
paid up front... or she may lose the ability to have children of her own forever.

We are desperately seeking assistance in any form, whether it be a small cash donation, a
donation of recyclable bottles, or an item/voucher for an upcoming silent auction.

https://www.gofundme.com/urgent-freezing-of-our-embryos
All help is immensely appreciated. To contact Trista, please e-mail: tristajc92@gmail.com