My spouse and I are distant relatives. Five years ago, during the birth of our first daughter, everything started beautifully, but later on, some health issues arose with our baby. After extensive research, we discovered that our daughter had a genetic disorder caused by our consanguineous marriage. It was incredibly devastating for us, and our only solace was the hope that our child could recover if a suitable tissue match was found.

Unfortunately, neither my husband nor I were a suitable match. Our doctor suggested that if we had a second child through IVF, a suitable treatment could be provided. We immediately began researching. We already knew that IVF centers in Cyprus were highly successful. This time, there were many options to choose from. Upon a friend’s recommendation, we consulted with the doctor. After reviewing our genetic test results with a genetics expert, the doctor informed us that it was possible to identify an embryo that would be both genetically healthy and tissue-compatible through IVF. We were thrilled to hear this.

The process was lengthy. First, we sent our blood samples, as well as our child’s, to the genetic laboratory. A preliminary evaluation took about a month. The waiting period was, of course, quite difficult. After the results were in, we began our IVF journey. Thankfully, in our first attempt, a healthy, tissue-compatible embryo was identified. My wife is now seven weeks pregnant, and we’ve been thoroughly informed about the tests that will be conducted during the pregnancy.

Our advice to couples facing significant genetic issues like ours is to carefully evaluate both the doctor and the laboratory when choosing a center. We are immensely grateful to the doctor who treated us, the embryologists and staff at Kolan British IVF Center, and the genetics center. Now, we are praying for a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and for our first child to find hope through this process.