Shannon and Ryan Buck were determined to expand their family. The married couple, who are based in Austin, Texas, had tried for years to naturally conceive; however, it was proving to be more challenging for them. Still wanting to welcome a baby into their family, Shannon, 35, and Ryan, 39, decided to try in vitro fertilization, which would cost them roughly $25,000 per round in Texas. After three “unsuccessful” IUI procedures, the couple still didn’t give up hope. Instead, they began researching other opportunities to attempt to expand their family, leading them to discover the Bahceci Fertility Clinic in Turkey. Shannon tells PEOPLE that the lower cost and the high IVF success rate pushed them to reach out and begin their process outside of the country. “After years of trying in Texas and going through three unsuccessful procedures, we still knew we were meant to grow our family,” she tells PEOPLE. “We leaned on God through all of it, and He opened every door that led us to Turkey.” Shannon adds, “It was more of an adventure to get to go to another country and experience their culture, rather than a medical procedure.” Shannon and Ryan took a leap of faith, got on a plane and traveled nearly 6, 500 miles for a monthlong experience that she can only describe as “incredible.” With the procedure, medicines, flights, Airbnb, food and fun, the couple spent only $20,000. “We had an English-speaking care coordinator who walked us through every step attending every appointment and procedure with us and helping us get all of our medications. It truly made everything so seamless,” she explains. “Our doctor, Professor Gurkan Bozdag, was incredibly personable, knowledgeable and supportive. The whole process exceeded our expectations.” Two weeks after returning home, Shannon and Ryan received the news that they’d been waiting years to hear. They were expecting their first baby together, and now, months later, the doting mom says she “still can’t believe he’s really ours. We found out two weeks after we got home, and it felt completely surreal,” she tells PEOPLE. “It truly felt like every prayer had been answered.” For the Bucks, becoming parents has been “an amazing experience,” especially with everything that they went through to welcome their baby boy, who’s now 10 months old. “It’s been such an amazing experience full of hard times and sleepless nights but so much more joy than we could have ever imagined that makes it all worth it,” Shannon says. “Truly an answered prayer.” Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Looking back at their experience, Shannon tells PEOPLE that they have “zero regrets” with the decision to travel across the country. She even adds that the couple is planning on making another trip to expand their family again. While expanding her family was far from easy, the proud boy mom advises other couples who wish to welcome a baby to trust the process and stay connected to each other.
https://people.com/texas-couple-travels-to-turkey-to-try-and-get-pregnant-exclusive-11857909
After Years of Struggling with Infertility, Texas Couple Travels to Turkey, Where They Saved Thousands on IVF (Exclusive)
