Friends of besotted Aylesbury couple launch £13,000 fundraiser to help achieve dream of having kids

Danie and Stuart Caws from Aylesbury are hoping to raise £13,000 for IVF treatment so they can have a child.
Danie and StuDanie and Stu
Danie and Stu

The couple have suffered a devastating 7 failed pregnancies through miscarriages, failed embryo transfers and two ectopic pregnancies.

Unfortunately, due to Danie’s age (38) she no longer qualifies for NHS treatment in the Buckinghamshire area.

The UK average for NHS IVF treatments is three rounds of IVF for women under the age of 43, but in Bucks you can only have one round of IVF if you are over 35.

Stu and DanieStu and Danie
Stu and Danie

Instead, the pair have used their life savings with help from donations from their family to self-fund two cycles of IVF.

Devastatingly, both cycles failed.

To compound matters, the previous cycles produced no embryos to freeze.

The efforts for a child have cost them thousands of pounds, but they haven’t given up hope yet.

If you can donate to this great cause, please do!If you can donate to this great cause, please do!
If you can donate to this great cause, please do!

They are hoping that two new rounds of treatment will produce an embryo so they can have children.

Two of Danie's colleagues at the Ambulance Trust, Georgie Burge and Letty Smith, are now attempting to help fund an IVF treatment with a different clinic and consultant for a fertility treatment in the hope that they will give birth to a child.

Letty Smith, who works with Danie and Stu said: “Danie and Stu did not want us to do this fundraising, but as a work family we really wanted to do something to help them whilst they're in need to help fund their next cycles.

“As friends of Danie and Stu's, it is absolutely heart-breaking to see them go through such an ordeal especially being in hospital during Covid with her 2nd ectopic pregnancy, and her husband could not even be with her."

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.

The fallopian tubes are the tubes connecting the ovaries to the womb.

If an egg gets stuck in them, it won't develop into a baby and the mother's health may be at risk if the pregnancy continues.

Danie suffered two ectopic pregnancies within months of each other in 2020.

Danie said: "I've always dreamed of having children.

"Stu and I have amazing nieces and nephews and we spend a lot of time with each other (when not in lockdown).

"There's nothing we'd love more than to share those experiences with our own children, to go on holidays and do what families do.

"That's the dream."

The Just Giving project is hoping to raise about £13,000 for two round of IVF treatments.

Clinics will often give a discount for a 'multi round' of treatments, and that's what they are aiming for with the fundraising.

Danie said: "I've met the man of my dreams in Stuart, and nothing would make me happier than to have children with him.

"Stuart has been absolutely exceptional, inspirational, and so calm and reassuring. He's been so calm for me and through all of the pain he has been so supportive. He's stayed strong and I think lucky to have met him.

"We're doing as much overtime as we can and have also done loads of research into the best places to try.

"Care Northampton and Oxford Fertility are two clinics we'll be looking into.

"They have great success rates so fingers crossed this time will be the lucky one.

"We've really got to do it before I am 39, as the costs up again and it will become harder and harder to conceive.

Danie said that she was absolutely floored by the support her colleagues have shown to her.

"It's honestly been so amazing, so inspiring.

"Seeing and getting support from people who just want the best for you, it's very, very moving.

"The support from our work colleagues has been amazing - people just want the best for you.

"We're both really touched."

The attempts at conceiving have taken a huge toll on both Stu's and Danie's mental health.

Danie said: "I think my lowest point was being in hospital for emergency surgery for the second ectopic at the beginning of June when Stuart wasn’t allowed in with me, due to COVID.

"It was scary on my own, and it must have been a horrible feeling for Stu too, not being able to be there.

"I was also terrified of getting Coronavirus."

After the devastating news of losing her first fallopian tube, Danie was scared that it could happen again.

She said: "I was absolutely terrified of losing another Fallopian tube and having to lose another baby that was growing in the wrong place.

"It was difficult as we couldn’t see our families or friends for support or comfort but felt also very lucky to be alive and have so many wonderful flowers, gifts, cards and well wishes!

"We are truly blessed to have amazing family & friends.

"It's taken a large toll on my mental health, I am a strong girl but I am emotional. It's been a lot to go through but it's what I've wanted my whole life.

"You've got to carry on working and to be there for your family."

Georgia and Letty have now set up a Just Giving Page where you can donate to help this family have a child.

They have raised over £2,000 in just two weeks, but need to raise £8,000 to make things work,

If you would like to donate to this amazing cause, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/help-danieandstu

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