May 6th, 2025 | 8 min. read
Every year, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) gives us an opportunity to shed light on the many paths to parenthood and honor the strength of those facing fertility challenges. Here’s a look back at the powerful stories we shared throughout NIAW 2025.
Skip to a section:
- What is National Infertility Awareness Week?
- Taking Action: Federal Advocacy Day
- NIAW 2025: Looking Back, Pushing Forward
- Navigating IVF and Cancer
- A Surrogate's Pregnancy Journey
- Finding Light After Loss
- Choosing Single Motherhood
- From Unexplained Infertility to a Family of Four
- Raising Awareness Through Storytelling
- Share Your Story
What is National Infertility Awareness Week?
Created by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association in 1989, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is an interactive, virtual event held each year in April that highlights infertility and family-building challenges in support of the following goals:
- To raise our voices and increase awareness for those struggling with infertility
- To talk about the issues facing the fertility community
- To make sure we continue to support those most in need
- To ensure everyone who wants to grow their family gets the chance to do so
- To turn infertility awareness into action by joining Advocacy Day efforts
Taking Action: Federal Advocacy Day
This annual one-day event brings infertility advocates, families and legislators together to offer a forum for sharing stories, showing why infertility matters, and pushing for increased access to fertility care for all.
Want to get involved? Join the Illume team and hundreds of advocates from across the United States on May 20, 2025 to use your voice and help make change. Register now!
NIAW 2025: Looking Back, Pushing Forward
The theme of National Infertility Awareness Week 2025, #ALLinFertility, highlighted a shared truth in our community - infertility often feels like being dealt an unfair hand while others around you grow their families with ease.
At Illume Fertility, we’re honored to be able to support patients through some of the most emotionally and physically challenging chapters of their lives. This year, five brave individuals and couples opened up about their unique experiences with infertility, IVF, surrogacy, pregnancy loss, and solo parenthood.
Their stories truly capture what it means to go "all in" on building the family of your dreams, even when the odds feel stacked against you.
Here’s a look back at the powerful stories that inspired us throughout NIAW 2025.
Navigating IVF and Cancer
"Life these days is crazy! Our kids are silly, wild, energetic, loving, sarcastic, messy...and we wouldn't have it any other way."
After conceiving their first child with minimal intervention, Heather and Mike were surprised by the difficulties they encountered when trying to grow their family a second time. Having been diagnosed with severe endometriosis at age 19, Heather always expected some fertility challenges, but never could have guessed what lie ahead.
The couple eventually began IVF treatment and had a successful embryo transfer — only for Heather to receive a shocking breast cancer diagnosis in early pregnancy.
Today, Heather is not only a breast cancer survivor, but a grateful mom of three. Their story is a testament to resilience, love, and trusting your gut — even when the path forward feels uncertain.
Meet Heather & Mike
After facing breast cancer and fertility struggles, a couple turns to IVF to complete their family.
A Surrogate's Pregnancy Journey
"Seeing their family brighter and happier and full of so much joy — it was beautiful."
Illume team member Savannah is a mom of two who felt a calling to help another family experience the joy of parenthood through gestational surrogacy. This second chapter of her surrogacy story details the journey from transfer to delivery — and the unforgettable moment she placed a baby girl into her intended parents’ arms.
It’s a beautiful story of empathy, strength, and selflessness.
You can read Part 1 of Savannah's story here.
Meet Savannah
A gestational surrogate shares the emotional, rewarding second half of her journey, from embryo transfer to delivery.
Finding Light After Loss
"If sharing our story helps even one person feel less alone or less afraid to ask for help, it’s worth it to us."
After experiencing the devastating loss of a pregnancy at 22 weeks, Laura and Dave had their world turned upside down. Reeling from the grief and confusion of their sudden loss, they eventually turned to fertility treatment — but the road was far from smooth.
After multiple cycles and heartbreaks, their final embryo transfer was a success, and they welcomed their son Weston. Laura and Dave’s journey reminds us that grief and joy often coexist — and that healing is possible.
Meet Laura & Dave
After years of heartbreak, one little embryo helped two hopeful parents finally welcome their miracle baby.
Choosing Single Motherhood
"Talking about my journey helped me heal - so many women opened up to me about their own struggles, losses, fertility treatments, and alternative paths to motherhood."
She knew she wanted to be a mom — even if it meant doing it on her own. As a single mother by choice, Elizabeth found empowerment in making the decision to pursue parenthood with the help of a sperm donor. But her path wasn’t without setbacks.
After navigating many false starts, long periods of waiting, and unsuccessful embryo transfers, she eventually welcomed her son, Luca, and embraced her long-awaited role as a solo parent.
Elizabeth’s story is a powerful example of carving your own path and redefining what family looks like.
Meet Elizabeth
Driven by her desire to become a mother, Elizabeth overcame obstacles and pursued IVF on her own to create the family she always dreamed of.
From Unexplained Infertility to a Family of Four
"Our path was different, but that doesn’t make it less valid. You can’t measure your success against anyone else's."
High school teachers Kate and Tom spent over a year trying to conceive on their own before seeking the help of a fertility specialist.
After being diagnosed with unexplained infertility, they turned to IVF. As they progressed through treatment, they were surprised to end up with only one viable embryo each cycle. Thankfully, one embryo was all it took! They've since welcomed two wild and wonderful girls, Mallory and Ella.
Their story reflects the uncertainty so many fertility patients face — and the hope that often emerges when you keep moving forward, one step at a time.
Meet Kate & Tom
With only one viable embryo after IVF, Kate and Tom defied the odds—and now cherish life as parents to two daughters.
Raising Awareness Through Storytelling
Every person who shared their story during National Infertility Awareness Week this year left a mark — not just on our team, but on the countless others who got to see themselves reflected in these journeys.
Opening up about our personal experiences with fertility and family building brings connection, validation, and encouragement to those still in the thick of it. To all who shared (or read along) during NIAW 2025 - thank you.
Your courage helps break the silence around infertility.
Share Your Story
Inspired by these stories? We’d love to hear yours. Whether you’re just embarking on your path to parenthood or have already completed your family, your voice matters — and it may be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
Submit your story here or explore our diverse collection of patient journeys.
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