Jolanda & John

After years of in and out of hospitals, operations, IVF, ICSI, I became a little desperate; what am I supposed to do now, just resign myself to it, or still follow my heart and my gut, because if you don't try, it's always a miss anyway!

After earlier treatments and three attempts in Groningen, where everything otherwise went fine, I made an attempt in Brussels. Unfortunately, this experience was depressing to the max! The hospital was a grey building that certainly didn't lift your spirits! Very soon we got the feeling of "being a number" instead of a patient who wants to be helped. This experience, and the failed attempt, made me end up on the internet (and that's saying something, because the internet and I really don't get along!) And that's how I ended up at Human First, and so, Istanbul! Turkey, then... First thought is still, "what would we be doing in Turkey?" I know Turkey from Alanya, Antalya, Marmaris, always sun, all-inclusive and smooth-talking guys... But again I realize I'm being prejudiced and shouldn't generalize!

After reading the site, that clinic appeals to me and the first impression is good. But you are and remain Dutch, and on top of that from Groningen, so first a good look before leaping! Called John in and said: Yes, Jolan, it looks good, but is it any good? Calling can't hurt, so we called Human First. Sounded very professional and above all: no waiting list! What? I say; No waiting list? Plus point for Turkey!

Meanwhile at work another colleague is pregnant. Being happy for someone else again. Nice for her, but I'd rather it be me!! At my work it's only women, so extra hard; and believe me, there's understanding, but only up to a point, because everyone has kids and I'm 36, so time is starting to run out too...

Without thinking too long we made an appointment, and after sending in our medical files everything is set in motion: Turkey, here we come!! We fly with KLM, small detail, but still... Arriving in Istanbul we're met by the Dutch-speaking hostess, which is already really nice. She guides us to the hotel, where we'll spend the first days, alternating with visits to the clinic. Each time she comes to pick us up at the hotel, we walk to the boat, which takes us to the Asian side of Istanbul, where the clinic is located; then a short taxi ride. Everything is paid for by the hostess, since that's included in the trip.

The first meeting with Dr. Cem Demirel is very warm, the clinic is truly top-notch, very modern and exceeds our wildest expectations! Also very professional, and they really share in your feelings, including our lovely hostess. Truly amazing!! Dr. Cem does everything himself from the very first examination and is very involved. That too was something we hadn't experienced before! He examines the womb, what could go wrong and how we can best make this succeed. Also the retrieval, the "pick-up," removing the egg cells, is very painful for me, because the ovary sits a bit behind the womb. No problem, said Dr. Cem, because it can always be done under anesthesia. That too was new to me... Another plus point for Turkey!

In the end 12 egg cells were retrieved, and given the fact that I only have one ovary, that's an amazing result. Then my John's sperm is added, and then it's just waiting to see what comes of it. In total 9 were fertilized, 9 embryos of very good quality... That's really a lot for me!! Never had that many before... On the day of the transfer, Dr. Cem isn't too positive. The womb is too moist. We fly back to the Netherlands and are allowed to do the test 12 days later... Negative!!!! The disappointment is enormous again, but we hold on to what Dr. Cem told us when we went back: If it fails, that's not the end! And we had such a good feeling about this man, don't ask me why, but he's so involved and has thrown himself into it so much, that you can't help but respect this man!! After phone and email contact (yes indeed, Dr. Cem's mobile number, because he wants to be reachable for us 24 hours a day). He'd like to do a laparoscopy, which can also be done in the Netherlands. And then certainly it would be a year before it's our turn here. We don't do that and go back to Istanbul, so Dr. Cem can examine exactly what he wants to examine.

Luckily the laparoscopy doesn't turn up anything unusual, apart from what Dr. Cem is now going to prescribe us in terms of medication, so that a pregnancy can follow from transferring the still-frozen embryos! Back in the Netherlands it's now waiting for the next period, back on the medication to make the uterine lining thicker. Also constant contact with Dr. Cem, and then having an ultrasound done to determine the thickness. After seeing the ultrasound sent via email, Dr. Cem agrees with us on the date the "transfer" can take place. Flew to Istanbul on a Friday, arrived half past one, at the clinic by half past two, transfer at five, of course done by Dr. Cem himself, and by eight o'clock we were happily sitting down to dinner. Saturday morning the hostess even came to the hotel to say goodbye, and by 8 PM that evening we were back home.

Then those exciting 14 days again and then... PREGNANT!!!!!! Did quite a few urine tests, because I just kept refusing to believe it... But it's really true... As I write this I'm now 10 weeks along and everything is going well.

Of course the place where such an attempt succeeds is the best one, but I've done various attempts in various places, so I feel I can judge. We hope to go to Istanbul in March to give Dr. Cem the chance to do an ultrasound himself too; because he, and no one but him, is the man!!! And of course we're also going to show off my big belly to the hostess and the other hospital staff. We're proud, and they're allowed to be too, and we'd love to share that with them!!!

Jolanda and John

This story was translated from Dutch by our team. Read the original Dutch version →