Eggcellent Mom Chronicles

The Jewish calendar follows the lunar cycle. Every 28 days, one month ends and a new one begins. It’s funny how this past year has made me so acutely aware of time. This month is Nisan, the first month of the Jewish year, and it just so happens to coincide with another milestone: one year since I formally decided to pursue motherhood without waiting any longer.

It’s been a year of experiences waxing and waning; a rollercoaster of emotions—darkness, hope, despair, and a whole lot of waiting. It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year, and yet, in many ways, it feels like an eternity.

In less than two weeks, time shifts again, this time to surgery. After careful consultation with both my reproductive endocrinologist and my OB-GYN surgeon, we’ve decided to flip the script. Typically, laparoscopy to remove endometriosis happens after a stimulation cycle and egg retrieval, since endometriosis thrives on estrogen. But of course, my case is a little different—and it’s time to break the mold.

Flashback to last July: during my first retrieval, only follicles from my left ovary could be collected. My right ovary kept rolling away, stubbornly out of reach. Now, we suspect an endometrial lesion is the culprit. That’s why this time, we’re doing the surgery first. By removing the lesion, we hope to access both ovaries during the next retrieval.

The scientific clock hasn’t been kind to my body this year. As I edge closer to 40, the quality of my eggs and the likelihood of retrieving mature ones ready to become embryos continues to decline. That truth weighs heavily on me. I’m preparing for another retrieval in June—nearly a year from the last one. But what will the quality be? How many eggs? How many mature? It feels almost cruel that a ticking biological clock plays such a big role in something so deeply human.

Still, through all of this, I’ve learned a lot—about science, about resilience, and about myself. I’ve also learned how fortunate I am to be surrounded by an incredible, supportive community. I continue to rely on you, again and again, and I’m so grateful you’re here.

I share this blog post as a surgical update (I’ll be on FMLA for two weeks after my surgery on April 22), but also as a heartfelt request for continued prayers, good vibes, and love. Some pre-surgery nerves are starting to settle in, but I trust my doctors, and I know I’m being held up by each of you.

My GoFundMe remains open, and I am, as always, deeply thankful for your support.