Spurred by this realization, Eva sought out fertility consultation at a local clinic. A battery of tests followed, but luckily the results were positive - Eva's fertility was on par with what was expected for her age. She would be able to conceive naturally without medical intervention. The news was a relief, but Eva was still grappling with overwhelming uncertainties and felt she had few to share them with. The biological possibility of motherhood was a world apart from the reality of raising a child on her own. She eventually found strength and courage in the stories of friends who had embraced solo motherhood and took comfort from their experiences.

Time passed, and Eva found herself growing stronger; her resolve gradually hardening. At 36, she was ready to embrace the next phase of her journey. Guided by her trusted GP, she turned to Juno IVF. The clinic is renowned for its professional and compassionate care, but for Eva, it was their comprehensive approach to donor selection that comforted her most. She had considered asking a close friend or someone within her network to donate sperm, but no one seemed the right match for such a monumental role. She also worried the donor could complicate things later in her life. Finally, she turned to the expertise of fertility professionals to navigate the overwhelming prospect of selecting a donor.

At Juno IVF, Eva met Chaka – a compassionate fertility professional. Chaka introduced her to the unique collaboration between Juno IVF and Donor-Network. Unlike traditional sperm banks with their overwhelming catalogues, Donor-Network offered a highly curated selection of donors, each vouched for by fertility staff. The donors underwent rigorous screening, including criminal background checks, an aspect Eva found comforting. Suddenly, a picture of her ideal donor took shape in her mind – a man with physical characteristics akin to hers, reflecting her Northern European heritage. Having a donor with an ID Release profile or not wasn’t something Eva really thought about. As she leafed through the Donor-Network's selection, she discovered Ricardo. His Danish background, blue eyes, and clean family medical history clicked with Eva's vision. Reading the psychologist's interpretation of Ricardo's personality, she found herself imagining the environment her child would grow up in and the values and traits they would inherit. She made up her mind on the spot.

Finally, the day of treatment had arrived! Eva arrived at Juno IVF and was greeted by the warm smile of Lynn, her designated midwife. The intrauterine insemination (IUI) process began with a series of scans, tracking her cycle to identify the optimal time for insemination. Each scan brought her a step closer to her dream. The procedure was surprisingly simple; it was over before she knew it. Leaving the clinic, Eva felt a mixture of anticipation and hope.

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A few weeks later, a pregnancy test confirmed what Eva had been hoping for - she was pregnant. She was overcome with joy. Even more so, she was astounded by her luck - she had become pregnant on her first attempt! She immediately shared the momentous news with her parents and sister. Even though it was very early in her pregnancy and there was a risk it wouldn’t go as hoped, she wanted them to be a part of her journey either way. The day of the first scan was filled with nervous excitement and a dash of trepidation. But as the image of her baby flickered on the screen, she instantly knew she had made the right decision. There he was, her little boy, growing safely within her.

From the moment she held her baby boy, whom she named Claus, Eva knew she wanted him to have siblings. Looking into Claus's eyes, she knew she wanted her future children to share the same genetic heritage. Two weeks after Claus's birth, Eva contacted Donor-Network. She reserved five more straws from Ricardo, cementing the foundation for her growing family. As she cradled Claus in her arms, she dreamt of the joyous chaos of a house filled with children, a family crafted out of love, resilience, and a dream that dared to defy convention.