Andrea Gunning

After they got married, the couple decided to move to Chad's hometown in Illinois.

To call it a small town is an understatement.

The entire population could fit in one high school football stadium.

Well, the town we live in, Erie, is only 1,900.

It's small.

Small, but perfectly suited to the life that they were building.

A life that centered around family and community.

Plus, Chad had grown up there, so he knew nearly everyone in town.

And everyone seemed to adore him.

In fact, he'd been the high school valedictorian.

Once they moved back to Erie, the couple also joined Chad's church, the church he grew up in.

Their life was falling into place.

A happy marriage, a strong foundation based on shared values, a community that supported them, and a church they felt welcomed by.

And Chad was making progress in his career.

He began the certification process to become a financial advisor.

He wanted to start his own firm.

She was proud of him.

And for the time being, she kept working too.

But conceiving their first baby didn't happen as quickly as Danielle hoped.

The months turned into a year.