An Edinburgh woman has spoken out about her challenging fertility journey after suffering 12 miscarriages.
Pamela, 43, and her husband Ian MacKenzie, 45, from Gilmerton, now say they have 'one last chance' to give their only son a sibling.
Their four-year-old son was conceived through IVF and Pamela says he 'desperately' wants a little brother or sister.
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Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Pamela explained how she and her husband tried everything to get pregnant and on the NHS they only allow two treatments of IVF. When these sadly failed, Pamela and Ian travelled to Prague and Spain for treatment.
Now with only two embryos left in Spain, they have only one chance left.
The mum said: "We tried for a baby for 18 years but I had 12 miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. In 2018, we were told by the NHS that we didn't qualify for any more help. After two sessions, we couldn't get anymore, the funding just isn't there, but we were treated well by the NHS.
"We had to find somewhere private so we went to Prague and used donor embryo transfer. Fortunately, we got our son Patrick through that. We've been trying for a sibling for him for about three years now. He's being assessed for ASD and the one thing he really wants is a brother or sister."
Fuelled by determination, Pamela who volunteers at the National Infertility Charity, went through another two cycles of IVF in a private practice in Spain.
She said: "The treatment I got there was amazing. Each time I got pregnant but each time I've had a miscarriage. I've got two embryos left in Spain but no funds to keep going over.
"I just want to give it one last try. If it doesn't work then we'll have to move on from it. I'm 43 and my husband's 45 so it's our last chance. So we've decided to try and raise funds for us to go."
Speaking about the journey of going through IVF again, Pamela said she was 'prepared for it', she knew the process and the risks.
But she added: "The thing about secondary infertility is the guilt, the guilt of not being able to give Patrick a sibling. But it just pushes me to try. If I don't try, I probably will regret it."
Speaking about her experiences before Patrick, she said she tried to get pregnant for 18 years.
"It was tough", Pamela said. "The NHS was so good though, they gave me all the treatment options. I tried taking tablets to induce ovulation, and I got pregnant a couple of times with them and miscarried. Then I went on to injections to help me ovulate and release an egg. But each time I just end up miscarrying. Then IVF.
"It's just really hard because you build up hope and then even if you get pregnant you wait for something to go wrong. When I was pregnant with Patrick I was on edge all the time.
"It wasn't until I was seven months pregnant that I actually bought a buggy and stuff just in case something went wrong and I'd then have all the stuff in the house. Even when the scans are showing that everything is fine, you still have that doubt in your mind."
Despite the heart wrenching challenges and losses Pamela and Iain have gone through, they are ready for one last go for their little boy. "I don't know if I'm strong, my friends tell me I am, but I'm just determined," she adds.
The couple are now raising funds with a target of £1,500 to help them get to Spain. It would cover travel, accommodation, and medication in a bid to help them try and have a second baby. You can donate on Just Giving.
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