Meet Our #COTW Shannon Minge – ‘A Cyst Caused Permanent Damage to My Fallopian Tubes’
Minge is a 28-year-old mother of two beautiful children – Addison (9) and August (15 months). Her husband’s name is Brad and the couple is currently stationed in Hawaii.
There’s just one thing standing in their way – Minge has secondary infertility.
Because her first child was conceived despite the fact that she was on birth control, Minge thought it would be incredibly easy to get pregnant again a second time. However, after a few months of trying, Minge had a gut feeling that something was wrong.
Minge’s first doctor (in California) didn’t take her seriously, but when she finally met with a doctor in Hawaii her fears were confirmed. There was a mass obstructing the view of her uterus. That’s when she went in for a laparoscopy.
During her first laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon discovered a cyst so large that it caused damage to both of her fallopian tubes.
Once Minge woke up and heard the news, she asked her doctor, with tear-filled eyes, if she would ever be able to have another child. Her doctor, ever the optimist, said as long as she had ovaries and a uterus there was no reason she couldn’t try IVF.
Three months later, Minge began IVF.
“I feel like the whole thing was kind of a blur looking back on it now,” Minge said. “It definitely did not feel real for a very long time, even after my son was born, it still felt like I was living life through a dream.”
Minge has always wanted to have three kids and hopes that one day her dream of a second IVF baby will come true.
Even so, Minge feels going through secondary infertility treatment has made her a hell of a lot stronger. And whenever she receives funny looks or comments like “Awh, is he your only one?” Minge replies “Nope, I have a nine-year-old at home.”
In those short moments, she fights the urge to tell people what she’s been through to have her son.
Despite her struggle, this experience has allowed Minge to center herself and truly realize how grateful she is for what she has.
Minge also prides herself on being there for others who are struggling. Hopefully, she’ll be able to give them a sense of hope by sharing her story.
“If there’s one piece of advice I could give, it would be to never give up and do whatever it takes,” Minge said.
Minge is an #EndoBabe and a warrior. She’s compassionate, empathetic, and shows nothing but love for every woman who’s going through infertility. I wish nothing but the best for Minge and her beautiful family on their IVF journey.
Learn more about Minge’s IVF journey on Instagram.