John and Jennifer O’Neill started coming to COLFS about 13 years ago. They came looking for help with fertility. Jennifer knew there was a possibility she might have difficulty getting pregnant, since being diagnosed with stage two Endometriosis in 2005. After John and Jennifer got married in 2009, they hoped to be blessed with a child, but after four years, it seemed that pregnancy would be impossible to achieve. In their search for remedies, they realized quickly that the options available were against church teaching. “We couldn’t go down that road. We even went to the IVF clinic just to see how it was, but we were overwhelmed with uncomfortable feelings, not that spark of joy or hope. They were telling us how they handle certain scenarios of freezing and downsizing and we could see why it was wrong and so we left.”
It felt like there was zero help available to Catholic families. John and Jennifer went to a fertility specialist for several months, only to feel barely noticed, because they were not willing to go through expected and expensive procedures. “There was nothing natural about it.”
They spent weeks searching for help. Online information was not as easily discovered thirteen years ago. Eventually, Jennifer came across information on NaProTechnology, the Creighton Model System, and a list of doctors who could help. Jennifer found a specialist who could train her in the Creighton Model System. God was watching and directing their path and after two months, John and Jennifer were blessed with a positive pregnancy test.
Given the difficulties already experienced, they sought out a doctor immediately. The first doctor’s name on the list was Dr. George Delgado. Jennifer called and emailed her Creighton chart over to COLFS. “It’s amazing how the doctor can just look at the chart and tell you exactly what’s wrong,” she explains. The COLFS office quickly called back and told them to rush down.
When they arrived at COLFS, they met Dr. Delgado, who informed them that based on her chart, Jennifer’s body made low amounts of progesterone. He ordered a blood test and gave an initial dose of progesterone, since she had a positive pregnancy test. A few days later, Jennifer got another call from COLFS to come down and receive more progesterone. Dr. Delgado informed Jennifer that her body produced very little progesterone and that she required a larger dose.
From then on, Dr. Delgado and his team at COLFS were there, monitoring and helping to sustain the precious life of the beautiful baby in Jennifer’s womb. John and Jennifer would make that hour drive down every two weeks, to stock up on progesterone and for COLFS to monitor mother and child to ensure that everything was going well. John and Jennifer welcomed their first daughter, Emily, in 2013. “We didn’t care about the drive. COLFS took such good care of our family, we wanted to continue the care as long as possible.”
The O’Neill’s continued care with COLFS for Emily as an infant and into childhood. In 2014, John and Jennifer found out they were pregnant again. They immediately called COLFS, knowing what they needed to do. With her second pregnancy, progesterone was once again needed, as well as additional uterine care and bedrest. In 2015, John and Jennifer were overwhelmed with joy when they welcomed their second daughter, Natalie.
“Without COLFS, we would not have our girls. Without our Catholic faith, love and support, we would still be lost and searching and with no children. We owe it all to God.”