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- It’s a long process. The person I knew who went through IVF at the same clinic before me did her egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and had a baby all within the same year. I thought that was normal going into it and set myself up for disappointment because it took us four years. I also compared how many healthy embryos we had and obsessed over other things that were unnecessary. It only takes one healthy embryo and someone without CF will likely have a completely different journey.
- There can be hiccups, delays, disappointments, heartbreaks, and that’s all okay and normal. Take breaks, enjoy your partner, if a cycle is cancelled or you need some R&R take a spontaneous trip or plan something special for the two of you. Listen to your body and take breaks when you need one.
- If you don’t have a therapist or counselor I recommend finding one with some fertility experience. It can be a long process and takes an emotional toll. Your partner can (and should) support you, but there is guilt that comes along with being the one with fertility issues and they may not be able to help you work through that alone. Also anxiety, so much anxiety.
Megan received care at Kindbody Dallas with Dr. Rinku Mehta
In recognition of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, we are proud to share the powerful stories of families whose journeys to parenthood were made possible through the partnership between the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Kindbody. These families represent what’s possible today for people living with CF—and the importance of reproductive healthcare access for all.
Guest post by the Khourys
We are the Khourys! Christina was diagnosed with CF at four weeks old, and through years of wonderful care with various teams, we heard about the BEF grant opportunity through my current social worker. We applied for the grant and the rest was history!
How did BEF and Kindbody support impact your journey?
BEF impacted our journey by giving us hope that there was financial support available to us for IVF. Prior to the grant, we were preparing for years of saving funds to get the chance to try IVF, which was going to impact our family-building timeline, especially with consideration to Christina's age and health. The BEF grant helped us stick closer to our preferred timeline by significantly buffering the financial burden of IVF.
Tell us about your IVF journey with Kindbody
Kindbody has been an accessible facility due to their use of technology. Having to travel a bit to our chosen location, we appreciated the communication at our fingertips through their portal. The team has been friendly and patient with all of our questions!
How has parenthood changed your life?
We literally cannot describe how much joy parenthood has added to our lives. We adore our baby girl more than we could explain and parenting her together is the brightest part of our days, every day. We have a very strong marriage, but watching each other bond with our girl, as we also bond as a family has connected us more than we expected. We are also more motivated to continue with healthy and productive life choices, to raise our daughter in a positive environment. We are also reevaluating our plans, beliefs, and ideas, to make sure we are walking the walk and talking the talk that we hope for our girl.
What would you say to others in the CF community who hope to start a family? -
I would say that hope is alive, especially with the BEF grant, and that CF doesn't have to hold anyone back from having a family. There may be good days and bad days, but isn't that life and parenting in general? Everyone has a "hard," and "CF hard" might be different, but it's manageable!
What do you hope to one day share with your child about your journey to become their parent?
Christina's sister said it best, when she said our daughter will always know she was deeply wanted. The trials of IVF were the easiest thing I'll ever do because they led us to her. We want her to know that there wasn't anything that would've stopped us from trying for her, and that she is more than we ever could have hoped and prayed for.
The Khourys received care at Kindbody Princeton with Dr. Rachel Cohen
We are devastated by the bombing that occurred this weekend at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs. Our hearts go out to those who were harmed, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrifying act of violence. Attacks on healthcare workers strike at the core of our shared mission to provide compassionate care. We stand in solidarity with our reproductive healthcare colleagues and patients during this difficult time and reaffirm our commitment to safe and accessible fertility care for all.
All Kindbody clinics will remain open and continue providing care as usual on Monday. We are actively monitoring developments, including guidance from RESOLVE and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for every patient. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local clinical care team. We’re here for you.
" ["post_title"]=> string(42) "Kindbody Statement on Palm Springs Bombing" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(229) "We are devastated by the bombing that occurred this weekend at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs. Our hearts go out to those who were harmed, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrifying act of violenc" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(42) "kindbody-statement-on-palm-springs-bombing" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-05-19 09:48:14" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-19 13:48:14" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(29) "https://kindbody.com/?p=11351" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [3]=> object(WP_Post)#5024 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(11326) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-05-13 09:00:00" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-13 13:00:00" ["post_content"]=> string(3060) "Leading National Fertility Clinic Network and Family-Building Benefits Provider Brings Access to High-Touch Fertility Care to the Area
Kindbody, the leading national fertility clinic network and global family-building benefits provider for employers, today announced the opening of a state-of-the-art fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab at 420 Providence Road bringing high-touch fertility care to employers and consumers in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area. Kindbody Charlotte was built to meet the growing demand for comprehensive fertility care and family-building benefits by local employers. Kindbody serves 135 employers, with 90 employer clients with employees in the area. Kindbody Charlotte is led by Dr. Kristen Cain, a board-certified fertility specialist in both reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics and gynecology.
The new Kindbody location sits at the crossroads of Charlotte’s historic Myers Park and Eastover neighborhoods — an area known for its tree-lined streets, stately homes, and a vibrant mix of restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and museums. It’s a walkable, community-centered district where many Charlotte residents live, work, and play. Dr. Cain said, “Charlotte is a city that blends innovation with a strong sense of community. I’m honored to join this vibrant area and help more families grow through personalized fertility care and a truly patient-centered experience.”
Dr. Cain is a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and in reproductive endocrinology with over three decades of experience in infertility care. She began her career after completing her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at UCLA. Dr. Cain served as an Assistant Professor at SUNY Stony Brook before co-founding a private fertility practice on Long Island that became the region’s largest and the third largest in New York State. During her tenure, she launched pioneering donor egg and fertility preservation programs and opened Long Island’s first egg bank. Later, Dr. Cain served as one of only three reproductive endocrinologists in North Dakota covering a vast region that included North Dakota, northern Minnesota, and eastern Montana. Dr. Cain earned her undergraduate degree from Jamestown College in North Dakota and her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Virginia before returning to Johns Hopkins for her Ob/Gyn residency. She is also a number one best-selling author.
Dr. Cain is accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, click here.
" ["post_title"]=> string(73) "Kindbody Opens State-of-the-Art Fertility Clinic and IVF Lab in Charlotte" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(348) "Kindbody, the leading national fertility clinic network and global family-building benefits provider for employers, today announced the opening of a state-of-the-art fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab at 420 Providence Road bringing high-touch fertility care to employers and consumers in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(73) "kindbody-opens-state-of-the-art-fertility-clinic-and-ivf-lab-in-charlotte" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-05-12 13:55:55" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-12 17:55:55" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(29) "https://kindbody.com/?p=11326" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [4]=> object(WP_Post)#5023 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(11298) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-05-05 14:03:51" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-05 18:03:51" ["post_content"]=> string(2981) "The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) partnered with Kindbody to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) become parents through IVF treatment at one of Kindbody’s 27 fertility clinics nationwide. Two years into the BEF IVF program, ten families have welcomed a baby. This is remarkable because, until recently, people living with CF didn’t live to reach adulthood let alone become parents.
The inspiration behind BEF is Gunnar Esiason, the son of former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason. Boomer’s dedication to combating CF was deeply personal, sparked by Gunnar's diagnosis at just two years old in 1993. At that time, the prognosis for CF patients was grim, with many not expected to live beyond their teenage years. Determined to change this trajectory, Boomer and his wife Cheryl established BEF aiming to fund research for a cure.
Over the past three decades, Boomer has tirelessly advocated for people living with CF. BEF has raised over $175 million to support the fight against CF and to find a cure for Gunnar and others living with the disease. In 2018, a significant breakthrough occurred when Gunnar participated in late-stage clinical trials for Trikafta, a groundbreaking CF medication. This drug, supported by BEF's funding, has turned the disease into a manageable ailment for many patients.
Gunnar and his wife Darcy are now proud parents to Kaspar and Mieke. Through BEF’s partnership with Kindbody they’re helping others with CF build families. While CF is primarily thought of as a lung disease, it also causes infertility in approximately 99% of men due to congenital absence of the vas deferens, and may cause infertility in women due to thickened cervical mucus and/or irregular ovulation. Today, 25 families have been part of the program at Kindbody. We are excited to share that ten babies have been born and eight families are currently undergoing IVF treatment to start or expand their families.
May is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month. Over the coming weeks we will share the stories of families whose dreams of parenthood were made true by BEF and the BEF IVF partnership with Kindbody. Accessible, equitable, and affordable care is our guiding light for all of us at Kindbody and we could not be more proud of this partnership that has made a difference in the lives of so many families.
Check back on Instagram to learn more about these inspirational families throughout the month of May.
*The Esiason's story was chronicled in the Emmy nominated ESPN documentary "Second Wind: The Boomer and Gunnar Esiason Story," which aired in December 2024.
" ["post_title"]=> string(92) "Kindbody + Boomer Esiason Foundation: Making Parenthood Possible for People Living with CF " ["post_excerpt"]=> string(397) "The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) partnered with Kindbody to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) become parents through IVF treatment at one of Kindbody’s 27 fertility clinics nationwide. Two years into the BEF IVF program, nine families have welcomed a baby. This is remarkable because, until recently, people living with CF didn’t live to reach adulthood let alone become parents." ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(87) "kindbody-boomer-esiason-foundation-making-parenthood-possible-for-people-living-with-cf" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2025-05-05 14:03:52" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-05-05 18:03:52" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(29) "https://kindbody.com/?p=11298" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [5]=> object(WP_Post)#5020 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(11223) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2025-04-10 14:30:56" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2025-04-10 18:30:56" ["post_content"]=> string(2861) "This week, we had the incredible opportunity to present at The Conference Board's Employee Healthcare Conference in New York—a premier gathering of industry leaders, forward-thinking employers, and benefits executives. The event served as a dynamic forum for exploring the latest trends and groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of employee healthcare.
Our Chief Innovation Officer and Founding Physician, Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, took the stage alongside our valued employer partner, Lisa Mars, Senior Vice President at Blackstone, to delve into one of today’s most pressing topics: the evolving legislative landscape surrounding reproductive health. Together, they offered key insights into how organizations can navigate these changes while setting new standards for fertility and family-building benefits in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment.
Here are some highlights from the event:
- Today’s workforce is more diverse than ever, with a wide spectrum of reproductive health and family-building needs. A comprehensive program should cover: a range of ages, varying conditions, all gender identities, heterosexual couples, same-sex couples, single parents, and they should be geographically distributed.
- Employers are increasingly enhancing their benefits programs to support employees through different life stages from preconception to postpartum through menopause.
- A comprehensive, holistic benefits ecosystem is essential. Blackstone offers its employees five holistic health sessions in addition to coverage of fertility treatments and generous donor, surrogacy, and adoption benefits.
- Today’s legislative environment is evolving and employers must be prepared to navigate reproductive health challenges. In times of uncertainty, many are turning to their employer to fill these gaps in care. As the only benefits solution that provides patient care, Kindbody is uniquely suited to act swiftly and help support your employees during uncertain times.
Are you interested in learning about the steps you can take to support your employees with their reproductive healthcare needs during uncertain times? Reach out to solutions@kindbody.com to learn more.
Next stop: The Conference Board in San Diego. We hope to see you there!
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Guest post by Megan
I’m Megan, I have cystic fibrosis (CF) and went through IVF to have my first and only child using a grant from BEF.
I first heard about the BEF IVF grant through social media and email but hesitated to apply after having an unsuccessful IVF journey with another clinic. We had tried with IVF for about three years on and off in between infections, blockages, travel and other life events. We felt the only thing we gained from it was trauma, so we were coping with that and we were ready to call it quits without accumulating any more disappointment.
My CF doctor brought it (the BEF grant) up to me at my next appointment. She is very active in reproductive studies and knew our journey thus far. She encouraged me to apply so we talked it over and decided that if we were given the grant we’d try again at a new clinic.
When we received the call that we were getting the grant I cried on the spot. I had a rush of excitement and despite knowing that it could be false hope, I still felt hopeful that we could be parents.
Kindbody was great to work with. Having been to a colder, more sterile-feeling IVF facility before, we were surprised at how warm and inviting it was. The doctor told us that studies showed that a more relaxed and cozy environment helped increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
My doctor at Kindbody was more receptive to hearing about trials that my CF doctor discussed with me. Other doctors in the past weren’t as open to trying new things so I struggled with different stages of treatment. Some CF patients don’t absorb medication well through their skin because of the higher presence of salt. Some IVF medications are patches so Kindbody allowed me to try injections instead and we saw much better results from that. I really appreciated having a doctor and a clinic that let me advocate for myself and they wanted to hear more ideas from my CF doctor. The whole process went better than I imagined from start to end, we decided to let the gender be a surprise and use the healthiest embryo. We had a successful transfer on the first try.
Unfortunately for us, it wasn’t the first time we were hearing that we were pregnant and going to be parents so, when the call came this time around, we stymied our excitement. We didn’t share the news. I remember truly believing that if I said it out loud it would be over. We waited, and waited, we knew it was high risk. We wanted to get to the second trimester before sharing with anyone. When we made it to week 14 and had good scans, we called our baby’s grandparents first. There were tears and cheers galore— this baby was so wanted and loved!
Throughout pregnancy we had some hiccups—gestational diabetes (going into it as a pre-diabetic, everyone told me it would be an issue sooner than normal so please get yourself tested earlier! ) An infection came that I tried my hardest to beat but after about two months and hitting week 36 I was getting worse and had to go in-patient. I wept at the news. No nesting period, no final walk out of the house as a family of two, no cute little hospital bag packed for a two night stay. Instead, panic and the realization that we needed help ASAP.
When I went to write our baby’s birth story in her book I blanked. I couldn’t put down that I was there for two weeks before she came. It didn’t feel right to have such a heavy topic permanently documented in her book. I don’t want her to know how sick I was. So when I tell her about her birth, I start with us checking into the L&D floor and how we watched a movie and listened to Leon Bridges and waited for her to come, so excited to meet her and love her forever! I will tell her that her dad cried when he said “it’s a girl!”. A perfect, healthy, beautiful, little girl was born on that day and she changed our lives forever for the better.
In hindsight, after giving birth, I realized there was no way I could have given birth without the antibiotics. I wouldn’t have been able to manage my breathing to get through it. I wouldn’t have been able to push without coughing. There was no other way and so I’m grateful to my clinic for making that call which seemed so unfair to me at the time.
I haven’t thought much about how we’ll tell our baby how she was made, I just want her to know she was so wanted and is so loved. She is everything, our whole world, and we would do it all over again, all of it, to have the privilege of being her parents.
It’s no coincidence that both CF and IVF patients are referred to as Warriors, neither are known for being easy. If you have CF or your partner has CF and you’re thinking about expanding your family, here are a few things I’ve learned along the way.
- It’s a long process. The person I knew who went through IVF at the same clinic before me did her egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and had a baby all within the same year. I thought that was normal going into it and set myself up for disappointment because it took us four years. I also compared how many healthy embryos we had and obsessed over other things that were unnecessary. It only takes one healthy embryo and someone without CF will likely have a completely different journey.
- There can be hiccups, delays, disappointments, heartbreaks, and that’s all okay and normal. Take breaks, enjoy your partner, if a cycle is cancelled or you need some R&R take a spontaneous trip or plan something special for the two of you. Listen to your body and take breaks when you need one.
- If you don’t have a therapist or counselor I recommend finding one with some fertility experience. It can be a long process and takes an emotional toll. Your partner can (and should) support you, but there is guilt that comes along with being the one with fertility issues and they may not be able to help you work through that alone. Also anxiety, so much anxiety.
Megan received care at Kindbody Dallas with Dr. Rinku Mehta
Meet Megan: Making Parenthood Possible for People Living with CF
In recognition of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, we are proud to share the powerful stories of families whose journeys to parenthood were made possible through the partnership between the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Kindbody.
Meet the Khourys: Making Parenthood Possible for People Living with CF
In recognition of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, we are proud to share the powerful stories of families whose journeys to parenthood were made possible through the partnership between the Boomer Esiason Foundation and Kindbody.
Kindbody Statement on Palm Springs Bombing
We are devastated by the bombing that occurred this weekend at the American Reproductive Centers in Palm Springs. Our hearts go out to those who were harmed, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrifying act of violenc
Kindbody Opens State-of-the-Art Fertility Clinic and IVF Lab in Charlotte
Kindbody, the leading national fertility clinic network and global family-building benefits provider for employers, today announced the opening of a state-of-the-art fertility clinic and in vitro fertilization (IVF) lab at 420 Providence Road bringing high-touch fertility care to employers and consumers in the greater Charlotte metropolitan area.
Kindbody + Boomer Esiason Foundation: Making Parenthood Possible for People Living with CF
The Boomer Esiason Foundation (BEF) partnered with Kindbody to help people living with cystic fibrosis (CF) become parents through IVF treatment at one of Kindbody’s 27 fertility clinics nationwide. Two years into the BEF IVF program, nine families have welcomed a baby. This is remarkable because, until recently, people living with CF didn’t live to reach adulthood let alone become parents.
Highlights from The Conference Board New York
This week, we had the incredible opportunity to present at The Conference Board’s Employee Healthcare Conference in New York—a premier gathering of industry leaders, forward-thinking employers, and benefits executives. The event served as a dynamic forum for exploring the latest trends and groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of employee healthcare.
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