Jackson grabs my hand in his, and for a moment I almost forgot he’s here beside me. “Can we get more information on embryo freezing?”
My head snaps up to meet his gaze but I’m met with his profile instead as he continues to face the doctor.
“Jackson, I can’t ask that of—” I start but he shakes his head and turns, giving me a look that says we can discuss this further later, which we most certainly will.
How could he possibly want to have children with me? My eggs are probably compromised by now anyway. And that’sifthey’ll even be able to retrieve any. If I’m even able to keep my ovaries. I choke back a sob threatening to escape.
Not here. Not now. Keep it together.
I silently repeat the mantra to myself as Jackson continues to ask Dr. Prescott further questions about my surgery, my anticipated recovery timeline, when the egg retrieval process will begin, and when we’ll know more about my treatment options post-op. His questions have clearly been researched, and he asks some of them after glancing at a note on his phone.
He took notes.
The scene before me is too overwhelming. Jackson, the first and only man I’ve ever loved, is sitting in an oncologist’s office with me. He’s asking questions on my behalf—questions I should’ve thought up on my own—and taking notes on his phone with my doctor’s responses.
I block out his questions and her answers for the most part, but my back stiffens and my ears perk up when I hear him ask, “Can you walk me through more of what we can expectafter the egg retrieval? How long will we have to wait to know how many eggs were successfully retrieved? When will we know the number of embryos? And at what point do they become blastocysts?”
We?Why is he asking all of these questions with the word “we” in them?
“Blastocysts?” I hear myself echo the word in question.
“Those are great questions, I’m glad you asked.” Dr. Prescott focuses her attention on me as she continues. “Taevin, you will know how many eggs were retrieved upon waking up from anesthesia. We then will take the eggs and fertilize them if that is what you choose to do. It typically takes one to two days for a fertilized egg to become an embryo. You can anticipate knowing how many viable embryos become blastocysts five to six days after fertilization. Blastocysts are embryos which have reached a more advanced developmental stage, and have a higher chance of implanting successfully. We typically freeze at the blastocyst stage because they have a higher success rate with thawing and implantation.”
I feel as though I’m frozen in time, watching my life happen as an outsider looking in. I’m filled with anguish as I sit here in an uncomfortable chair across from an oncologist, wishing so many things could’ve gone differently in the past decade that didn’t leave me here on the verge of being infertile.
If there’s one thing I’ve always hoped and prayed for in my future, it was to become a mother. And now, the ability to grow and carry my own child is being stripped from me.Again.
Country star Taevin Gray rumored to have checked into rehab
Where oh where is Taevin Gray?
By LARA BRADLEY
In the days following her onstage collapse, Taevin Gray hasn’t been spotted in Nashville, or anywhere else for that matter. So where is she?
The country music star, 28, is rumored to have checked into an exclusive rehabilitation facility somewhere in the Dominican Republic for substance abuse.
Country Know Nowhas reached out to Gray’s reps for comment, but have not yet heard back.
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9
Then
How is it that Taevin has been mine for eight weeks already? Time has flown by but nothing has ever felt so right. Every moment we spend getting to know each other, I swear is my favorite, only for the next day to roll around, taking over the top spot.
Right now being the perfect example. We’re nestled together in the bed of my truck, parked in a random field off a country road as we celebrate our two month anniversary—yes, I’m well aware I’m a complete sucker for this girl and celebrating a monthiversary may be cheesy as fuck, but I’m too far gone for her to even care.
There’s not a word in the English language strong enough to describe my fascination—my utter obsession—with Tae. We’ve been nearly inseparable since the night of our first date, sneaking away at every opportunity to spend time together. My friends are pissed I’ve ghosted them outside of school and hockey, and I know her father has to be suspicious of how much time Taevin is spending with “Ryan” lately.
In the matter of a couple months I’ve fallen fast and hard for the girl I’ve got wrapped in my arms. As I play with a strand of her long, inky waves, I say, “I feel crazy asking this, because I feel like it’s something I should already know but I’m gonna ask anyway. Where are you planning to go to school in the fall?”
“I got nearly a full ride to Berklee—” she starts, but I cut her off.
“As in Berklee College of Music?”
“The one and only,” she tells me as she turns onto her stomach and rests her chin on my chest.
