Some people know from the time they're young that they want to be parents when they grow up. For many people, becoming a parent is a lifelong goal.
Most of us assume that once we start trying to have kids, it will just happen. Unfortunately, for many couples it isn't that easy.
Lauren and Garyt Walker are all too familiar with that struggle. After meeting at Woodlands High School, Lauren and Garyt tied the knot in 2010 once they had both graduated from college.
The couple adopted a goldendoodle, Fenway, and started to get their life as a married couple in order. They knew they wanted to start a family together, so they started trying to get pregnant.
After a while, Lauren still wasn't pregnant, and she and Garyt were getting worried. It was then that they decided to seek medical attention.
In February 2017, after trying for two and a half years, they got the news they'd been waiting for: Lauren was pregnant — with twins!
As soon as she saw the ultrasound, she immediately burst into tears. On February 9, they announced the pregnancy on Facebook, sharing their joy with the world.
The photo Lauren posted showed two adorable onesies, but they were surrounded by hundreds of needles and medicine bottles.
The picture immediately gained national attention for being such an honest representation of the struggle many people have to go through to have children.
Lauren wrote in her Facebook post:
We prayed for 953 days…
452 Needles
1000's of tears
1 corrective surgery
4 clomid/letrozole attempts
2 IVF rounds
3 failed transfers
& 1 Amazing GOD.We are overwhelmed with joy to finally announce that we are expecting boy/girl TWINS!!
Duke & Diana Walker – August 2017
The hardest part of this journey wasn’t having to do IVF. Getting to that fork in the road is heartbreaking and difficult for anyone, but it was not my darkest hour.
My darkest hour was going through an entire cycle and losing embryo after embryo; 5. Coming so far only to miscarry.
Getting to where all the hope, the money, all of what could have been your children were gone. The End.
My faith was tested every. single. time. My heart told me to keep going. Not to give up or give in.
Some days I look back and I can't believe I made it. No, I don't mean that as in I finally got pregnant. I mean, I MADE it. I'm stronger. It didn't break me.
The prize is not these twins. The prize is discovering new found faith. The GIFT is these twins.
They say God only gives you as much as you can handle. Well, He must think very highly of us.
As painful as these few years have been, I'm honored that he chose this path for me.
He has shown me the power of faith, the comfort of prayer, and a strength I would have never found on my own.
On top of all that, he has blessed us with not one miracle but TWO.
When I saw that first ultrasound and held their picture I remember crying.. shaking.. looking at them and saying over and over "Mommy loves you. Mommy loves you both so so much."
I could barely get the words out. God chose ME to be their mother on HIS time. He chose ME to be Garyt’s wife. I feel like I’ve won the life-lottery.
I carry battle scars on my heart that will always remind me of what it took to receive these two precious blessings.
And I would do this 2,000 times over and over, again and again.
I knew all these trials were grooming me to be a mother of something mighty and fierce. Twins, no doubt!
I knew deep in my bones that light was at the end of this darkness. Even though there were days filled with doubt.
We just had to KEEP THE FAITH.
For anyone struggling, may our story give you comfort and hope.
They say "When you ask God for something He either says 'yes' and gives it to you. Or he says 'ok' and makes you wait. Or he says 'no', makes you wait longer, and gives you something better."
Had he answered or prayers way back then, in 2015, we wouldn't have these two angels on their way today. They would be different children and we would have a different life.
He was making us wait for THEM.
And when we hold them in our arms and kiss their tiny noses, all His plans and all our dreams will have come true.
Duke & Diana, you are already so loved.
You are "fearfully and wonderfully made." (Psalms 139:14)
Mommy and Daddy cannot wait to hold you in our arms, for we have carried you in our hearts for a lifetime.
Infertility can be very difficult for a couple to deal with, especially if they've always wanted to have kids.
Garyt and Lauren were lucky to have one another and their faith to keep them going through their tough times.
Can you relate to Lauren's story? Let us know in the comments, and please SHARE this story with your friends and family!
