"When God Closes One Door He opens Another"

I'm sorry that we have not posted in awhile, but not much has been going on until this week. After I recovered from my last surgery I went back to see my fertility doctor. She told me that my ovaries were not functioning and that I had another cyst. She said that our only option left for me to get pregnant was egg donation.

After that day I felt like my doctor had done everything that she possibly could for me. I decided to get a third opinion from the infertility department at UAB. I was very surprised when I called to make an appointment and they said we can get you in tomorrow. I thought to myself "It's got to be meant to be." I was so glad that Bradley was able to go with me. As we sat in the exam room waiting on the doctor to come in I kept telling Bradley that I was so nervous. Now, If you know me then you know that I competed in Miss Alabama for several years. I competed during the time that Deidre Downs won Miss America. Let's just say that she was my role model and I looked up to her for years and still do. I knew that Deidre had just graduated from medical school and that she was doing her residency in OBGYN.

All of the sudden the door opened and Deidre walked in. I was speechless. She told me that she was doing a rotation with Dr. McLaren. After everything that I have been through I couldn't have been happier to see a familiar face. I immediately relaxed because I knew I was in good hands. So at this point I knew that God had sent me to UAB for a reason. I later got to meet Dr. McLaren and she was wonderful. She did some lab work and wanted to see me back in a week.

I went back to see Dr. McLaren on Monday and again the news was not was I was hoping for. Again, I was so nervous about hearing the results. She told me that based on test that she did my ovaries are not functioning and from the looks of my pelvic area she doesn't think that I will be able to carry a baby to term. As I sat there and cried I knew what was next. It broke my heart, but I looked at her and said "it's time to move on...I'm ready for a hysterectomy." She said that she honestly thought that it was the best way to stopping my pain.

She said that this surgery is going to be major and that she wants to do it within the next month.  I'm nervous and scared, but I know I'm in good hands. I'm going to have an endocrinologist, OBGYN and an oncologist performing my surgery. I have been to three doctors now and they have all said the same thing. I have been devastated since Monday, but in a way I'm relieved because I want have to worry anymore.

We are going to start the adoption process after my surgery. Right now, I'm extremely sad because I don't understand, but I know that years down the road I am going to thank God for the precious child that he is going to give us.

Please keep us in your prayers as this is just as hard on Bradley as it is on me.

God has closed this door and I know that he is about to open another.

Mary Kathryn