Paul Brunson

Now, some people have told me that there are limitations in certain countries around how many years you can actually store your embryos. But it's such a grueling decision to have to make. And it's one that we made. I understand the desire to be a parent. I fully do.

Now, some people have told me that there are limitations in certain countries around how many years you can actually store your embryos. But it's such a grueling decision to have to make. And it's one that we made. I understand the desire to be a parent. I fully do.

How old were you and Jill when you decided to do IVF? I say this because you said 16 years ago. You look about 34. Yeah, yeah.

How old were you and Jill when you decided to do IVF? I say this because you said 16 years ago. You look about 34. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah. I would say I was about 30. Yeah, I was mid-30s.

Yeah. I would say I was about 30. Yeah, I was mid-30s.

And Jill was?

And Jill was?

Same.

Same.

Mid-30s, okay. Yep. And you were trying for eight years.

Mid-30s, okay. Yep. And you were trying for eight years.

So quite honestly, we had been trying. So we got married when I was 25, right? We started trying shortly thereafter because I've always wanted to be a father, always. And so very quickly after we got married, we thought – You know, children as us will have it. And it just doesn't happen that way.

So quite honestly, we had been trying. So we got married when I was 25, right? We started trying shortly thereafter because I've always wanted to be a father, always. And so very quickly after we got married, we thought – You know, children as us will have it. And it just doesn't happen that way.

And what we began to see is that one of the challenges was around the stress that we had in our lives and how we were unhealthy as a result of the stress and the impact that was having on our inability to have children.

And what we began to see is that one of the challenges was around the stress that we had in our lives and how we were unhealthy as a result of the stress and the impact that was having on our inability to have children.

Did it cause a strain on your relationship when you went through these struggles with fertility?

Did it cause a strain on your relationship when you went through these struggles with fertility?

Absolutely. You know, the script that I felt was handed to me, and this was a script, is that You're a man. And if you can't have a child, you're not a man. That was the script. That was literally, I remember being at the barbershop, right? When I had hair, when I used to go to the barbershop. And that was the idea. You know, you'd have the guy who was like, I've got eight kids, you know?

Absolutely. You know, the script that I felt was handed to me, and this was a script, is that You're a man. And if you can't have a child, you're not a man. That was the script. That was literally, I remember being at the barbershop, right? When I had hair, when I used to go to the barbershop. And that was the idea. You know, you'd have the guy who was like, I've got eight kids, you know?