A Long Journey to Parenthood: IVF Success After Heartbreak

“Thank you for coming into this world and giving us the chance to become parents.”

In the long journey of life, some are destined to face more twists, turns, and waiting than others. The path to parenthood for Mr. Lin and Mrs. Zhou was a journey filled with tears and unwavering perseverance.

This Asian couple, residing in Japan, were both over forty and had long been unable to welcome a child of their own. The reason was that Mrs. Zhou had lost her fertility due to a serious illness.

They had also seriously considered adoption. They studied the procedures, visited welfare institutions, and spent time supporting and donating to children in need. The smiles on the children’s faces filled them with warmth. Yet, in the end, they still longed for a child biologically connected to them, and their adoption plan was set aside.

Determined to pursue their own child, the couple began researching IVF techniques extensively. Learning that the U.S. allows third-party surrogacy, they contacted Uterus International Medical and decided to embark on an IVF journey abroad.

The first attempt did not go as planned.

In June 2023, they underwent egg retrieval and sperm collection in the U.S., obtaining a total of nine eggs. Unfortunately, none of the embryos developed successfully. This heavy blow forced the couple to pause treatment. Following the doctor’s advice, they focused on improving their health, working diligently to enhance the quality of their eggs and sperm.

The second attempt finally brought hope.

In August 2024, Mr. Lin and Mrs. Zhou set out again. This time, 15 eggs were retrieved, 5 matured, and after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), 4 were successfully fertilized, resulting in 2 transferable blastocysts—a boy and a girl. They also successfully matched with a surrogate mother.

In September 2024, the surrogate mother underwent her first transfer of the male embryo. Seven days later, the pregnancy test was positive, and the family was overjoyed. But at 70 days, the embryo was unfortunately miscarried. This series of setbacks left them nearly heartbroken.

Fortunately, one healthy blastocyst remained. In October, the second transfer was completed successfully, and this time, the baby found a safe home in the surrogate mother’s womb.

Finally, joy after hardship.

In July 2025, their long-awaited baby was born—a healthy 7 lb 3 oz little bundle of joy! At that moment, Mrs. Zhou hardly wanted to let anyone hold the baby, wanting to keep him tightly in her arms. Looking at their baby’s rosy and adorable face, the couple said with overwhelming happiness:

“We feel indescribably blessed. With you in our lives, our hearts are full of joy!”