I achieved happiness after 40!

Gülbahar- Cemil TAŞKIRAN – March 2007

I got married when I was 21 years old and had gone from doctor to doctor to have a baby for eighteen years. I was burning with desire to be a mother.I had always prayed to God, “Grant me a good husband and good children.”But the children were missing.While I was hoping to have children and to eventually play with my grandchildren, it looked like I was not going to have children nor grandchildren.

At the end of the first year of our marriage, my husband and I went to a doctorto discuss having a baby. Unfortunately, we learned that we would not be able to have a baby because of some obstacles.After an egg follow-up and five to six insemination attempts, we went to a hospital in Ankara for IVF treatment.I endured a series of tests, examinations and surgeriesthat altogether lasted more than five years. Finally we reached the trial phase.Fourteen eggs were picked up on the first IVF attempt and eight embryos were obtained, three of which were transferred.But none of them adhered.It took two years for us to recover both financially and morally.We again went to the same hospital.This time, the egg developed but my ultrasound was a day late and I continued the hormonal medication until that time. After the E2 test my discomfort increased. Under these circumstances, five embryos were transferred. My discomfort increased further and we had to go to the emergency room of the same hospital.I was examined by gynecologists and hospitalized.I was diagnosed with overstimulation.I stayed in the hospital for ten days;the result of the pregnancy test was negative.While we had gone there to have a baby, we now rejoiced over getting out alive.

WE DECIDED ON ADOPTION!

We came home but it felt as if the roof had caved in and I did not want to go inside; both my husband and I were depressed.A year later, we went to a hospital in Istanbul.Again, following a series of tests and examinations, they recommended microinjection to us and administered the necessary medications for the first attempt. Thirteen eggs developed and were transferred but the result was a total disappointment!Once again, our whole world came crashing down around us. The longing for a child was pushing us.The doctors told us, “This time your chances are higher; we are going to try a different method.” We believed in them and tried again.They removed a small section from my uterus and set up an appointment a month later.This time, they were going to develop the embryos on this removed section.We got our hopes up; fifteen eggs developed and were picked up.Three of them had developed well but two days later we were told that the embryos had a growth retardation. Another transfer was performed and then we were sent home.

While home, my husband was injecting the post-transfer medication (progesterone). There was tissue damage in my thighs. The result was disappointment, of course.This time my sedimentation value had increased to 150, which led to pains in my knees and joints accompanied by high fever, so I went to the doctor.I was given antibiotics but I did not recover.I went to the university hospital where I was told that my body resistance had diminished throughout the last four years. I was treated for this condition.We decided to give up on IVF and visited an orphans’ home for adoption.Just when we were about to apply to the related agency, I learned that a friend of mine who had gone to the German Hospital returned home with a triplet pregnancy.Of course, we started to rethink our decision. My friend told us about the doctors and the seriousness of the treatment there.She was very satisfied and I was convinced.We gave up on adoption and went on our way to the IVF Center at the German Hospital.

During our first visit my husband and I also witnessed the seriousness of the work and the intense interest shown by the staff. Dr. Halit Fırat Erden examined me, and after some tests referred me to Dr. Murat Berksoy.We went to Dr. Berksoy, who requested some additional tests.Some of the test results were imperfect.Of course, we were upset.But Dr. Berksoy told me, “If you trust me and follow the diet list and prescription I give you, we can overcome it.”His speech was steady and confident; we trusted him fully.They told us that we were now ready to leave and should come back a month later.

We went to the German Hospital a month later and picked up the medication required for microinjection.We went upstairs to Dr. Berksoy’s office and he told us, “Getting pregnant is not the end.Do not be happy until you hold your baby in your arms!There is always the risk of miscarriage.”With that, the treatment began.The tissue damage in my thighs, cardiac arrhythmia, allergies, postprandial blood glucose hyperglycemia, goiter and high sedimentation value were treated under the control of Dr. Berksoy.At the end of treatment, seven eggs developed and two of them were fertilized.Only a single one was good.My husband and I were extremely demoralized.We were preparing ourselves for probable disappointment and collapse.We went to Dr. Berksoy’s office and said, “We are sad to hear that that only a single embryo is good,”He answered, “We all came from a single embryo.That is good enough.”«He gave us a few recommendations. We decided that we wanted this single embryo to be transferred, which they did.We returned home and waited.Ten days later, I gave blood and waited for the results with excitement.My husband went to the laboratory to obtain the report.Minutes, even seconds seemed to go on forever.Then the phone rang at 16:15 p.m.I picked it up; it was my husband.“Honey, the result is positive,” he said.I did not hear him and I said, “Sorry?” He repeated it – I felt as if I was walking on air.I thanked God and I raised my hands up to pray.I owed this happiness first to God and then to Drs. Berksoy and Erden.We immediately called Dr. Murat Berksoy, who told us he was as happy as we were.I knew he was telling the truth; I could feel it.Then Dr. Berksoy continued, “Okay, you got pregnant but this is not it; what is more important is to hold your child in your arms.”He never broke his connection with us and we literally pestered him day and night!I always called Dr. Berksoy whenever I had a difficulty and I reported my postprandial glucose level to him every 10 days.I also had tests done for my other health conditions once a month and was given the necessary treatment.It was again Dr. Murat Berksoy who treated my protein deficiency.And finally, I held my baby in my arms.

We obtained our desire and were united with our child thanks to first, God, and then, Drs. Berksoy and Erden,I wish the same to all who have not yet succeeded and I extend my thousands of thanks and gratitude to our doctors. »We cannot give them their due, no matter what we do.

Our source of happiness, our son, OĞULCAN