April 25th, 2026 | 5 min. read
A year and a half. One failed cycle. And a care team that refused to let them feel alone through any of it. This is how Azavier and Lauren navigated IVF to become a family of three.
In this article:
Meet Azavier & Lauren
Azavier is originally from Wisconsin. Lauren is from Michigan. They met in New York, and the connection was immediate. "From the very beginning, there were fireworks," Azavier says. They married not long after they started dating, and building a family together was always part of the plan.
Before they started trying to conceive, the couple spent much of their free time traveling. Together, they've explored Paris, Aruba, Costa Rica, Greece, and Bali. Azavier is a flight attendant, which has only fueled their shared passion for international adventure.
Their Next Chapter
As a same-sex couple, Azavier and Lauren knew that building a family meant seeking out fertility care from the start. That reality comes with its own specific pressure: finding a clinic that doesn't just tolerate your family structure, but genuinely embraces it.
"As an LGBTQ+ couple, it was incredibly important for us to find a fertility clinic where we felt comfortable, supported, and truly welcomed," Azavier says. They did their research and scheduled a consultation with Dr. Alexander Kucherov at Illume Fertility.
From that very first appointment, she says, they knew they had found the right place.
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Photos: Azavier and Lauren's maternity photoshoot.
The Value of LGBTQ-Focused Fertility Care
For LGBTQ+ families, choosing a fertility clinic is its own significant decision — and not all clinics are equipped to adequately support them.
At Illume, our dedicated third-party reproduction team works closely with intended parents navigating surrogacy or using donor sperm, eggs, or embryos, walking them through everything from selecting a reputable donor bank to understanding genetic compatibility and coordinating cycles.
That commitment to LGBTQ+ families isn't incidental. Illume's founder and medical director Dr. Mark Leondires and his husband built their own family through surrogacy. That lived experience shapes the culture of care across the entire practice.
Illume is also home to Gay Parents To Be, a specialized resource hub built for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples exploring paths to parenthood, with education, guidance, and community support at every stage.
Why the Right Team Makes All the Difference
Azavier and Lauren did their research before choosing Illume, and what they found exceeded their expectations. "Everyone we encountered was warm, kind, and professional," Azavier says. "We were never treated any differently. Instead, we felt genuinely supported every step of the way."
Nothing felt unclear. Nothing fell through the cracks. "Our team made what could have been an overwhelming process feel organized and manageable," Azavier says. "Communication was always clear, and we never felt unsure about what came next because everything was handled so thoughtfully and proactively."
Their nurse, Jamie, became a particularly grounding presence throughout the process. "She was not only knowledgeable but also so kind and reassuring," Azavier says. "She truly made us feel cared for throughout the entire journey."
During fertility treatment, where patients are often absorbing difficult information between long stretches of waiting, having a nurse who brings both clinical precision and genuine warmth shapes the entire texture of the experience.
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The Journey to Parenthood
The path to pregnancy is rarely linear. For Azavier and Lauren, it took about a year and a half.
Before they could start IVF, Azavier discovered she would need treatment for polyps, pushing their start date back and requiring patience before the process could even get underway. When they did begin their first IVF cycle, it wasn't successful.
"Although this experience was difficult, the support we received during that time meant everything to us," Azavier says. A failed cycle brings grief and uncertainty. But what she remembers from that period isn't disappointment. It's the way their team responded to it.
"When we returned to Illume to try again, our team was just as compassionate and encouraging," she says. "They took the time to support us emotionally while also doing everything they could to help us achieve a successful outcome. That level of care and dedication made all the difference."
With their care team's guidance, the couple embarked on a second IVF cycle. It was successful, and they welcomed their daughter Akoa on February 5, 2026.
Photos: Newborn Akoa; Azavier & Lauren with Akoa at the hospital.
What They Learned Along the Way
Looking back, Azavier doesn't hesitate when asked what got them through. "What helped us most was our support from family and friends and the incredible team we had at Illume."
Her advice to other couples navigating family building is simple: "Be kind to yourself and give each other grace. Going through any kind of fertility treatment is tough mentally and physically, so be each other's peace. Always."
She's also candid about what surprised her most: the cost. The financial reality of fertility treatment catches many patients off guard, even those who have done their research. While progress has been made and insurers are slowly catching up, many LGBTQ+ families (and those needing the help of a donor or surrogate to have a baby) still encounter serious inequities.
That's why we prioritize transparency and offer financial tools to help families afford the care they need. Visit our Fertility Finance Hub to explore cost ranges, state insurance mandates, IVF grants, medication assistance programs, financing options, and more.
Living in the Present
These days, Azavier and Lauren are fully in the thick of new parenthood. Lauren recently accepted a new position, and the family is preparing to relocate to the Washington, D.C. area in June.
They know there will always be time for passports and itineraries. Right now, the greatest adventure of their lives is already underway. "We look forward to being able to travel again and show our little one the world," Azavier says, "but for now, we're soaking up these special moments as a family."
The year and a half it took to get here — the delays, the failed cycle, the hard moments, all of it looks different from where they're standing now. "Illume Fertility gave us more than just medical care," Azavier says. "They gave us hope, support, and a place where we felt at home during one of the most important journeys of our lives."
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LGBTQ+ Families Start Here
At Illume Fertility, Azavier and Lauren found a team that supported them every step of the way. When you're ready to begin your own journey, we're here.