A PKD-Free Future for Their Daughter: Kate and Ryan’s Story
How IVF with PGT-M and support from PKD-Free Alliance helped one family prevent PKD from reaching another generation.
When we first met with a reproductive endocrinologist, our goal was to get help starting our family naturally. At the time, we did not know that IVF with PGT-M could be used to screen embryos for inherited genetic conditions like PKD. Ryan has known since he was young that he had PKD. It runs in his family, and his father ultimately needed a kidney transplant. Once we learned that PGT-M screening was an option, we talked it over and felt incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to pursue this path and give our future child the chance to grow up without the uncertainty of inheriting PKD.
As we began navigating IVF and PGT-M, we found PKD-Free. It was incredible to discover there was a community of people walking the same path. The financial support of PKD-Free provided for genetic testing made a real difference, and we will always be grateful for that. Beyond financial assistance, seeing the work being done to advance research and treatment gives us hope for the future.
The process wasn't easy for us. IVF can be physically and emotionally demanding, and there were moments of uncertainty along the way. But today, we have a healthy seven-month-old daughter, and every challenge we faced feels worth it. She is the greatest blessing we could have imagined.
We know that every family's circumstances are different. But for us, it was an opportunity to break the cycle of PKD for the next generation, and that feels like an extraordinary gift.
To anyone considering this path, we'd simply say: you're not alone. Take the time to learn about your options, connect with others who have been through it, and make the decision that's right for your family. Having a community like PKD-Free reminds you that there are people supporting you every step of the way, and that can make all the difference.
