Episode 218: Building Family After Breast Cancer: A Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant Winner’s Story
Guest: Deniece and Gardy Delerme, AHA Grant Recipients
Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny
Deniece discovered a lump that led to a stage two breast cancer diagnosis just days before her 33rd birthday. In today’s episode, she and her husband Gardy share their emotional journey navigating cancer treatment, fertility preservation, and the financial burden that comes with unexpected medical challenges.
Faced with a fast-moving and shocking diagnosis, Deniece made the decision to freeze her eggs before beginning chemotherapy. That choice offered a sense of control, hope, and the possibility of family for her and Gardy. A few years later, Deniece was cancer-free, married to Gardy, and they were ready to embark on family building.
But their journey was far from straightforward. Deniece experienced miscarriage, underwent major surgery to remove dozens of fibroids, and faced multiple rounds of unsuccessful fertility treatments. Each setback tested her endurance, but Deniece was strong and resilient, backed by Gardy’s continued love and support.
With renewed strength and financial support from programs like the AHA Grant from The Broken Brown Egg and Progyny, they are one step closer to making their dream a reality. This time with experience, hope, and support behind them.
Check for applications cycles of AHA Grants at www.thebrokenbrownegg.org
For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page and Progyny’s Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.
Watch this episode on YouTube:
Host
Dan has been in the healthcare industry for the past ten plus years as a multimedia content producer. Better known as ‘Video Dan’ he has interviewed numerous doctors, patients and other experts in the world of fertility. He’s also the producer for this podcast, This is Infertility and the producer behind the Progyny YouTube Channel which features interviews with dozens of the nation’s leading fertility specialists. On a personal note Dan’s parents started fostering kids when he was four years old, and he considers himself a proud older brother to over 100 foster children.
Guest
My infertility journey began just six days before my 33rd birthday in January 2016, when I was diagnosed with Stage 2B breast cancer. That day, my world moved at lightning speed, much like the cancer cells growing inside me. With dreams of becoming a mother in the future, my oncologist recommended freezing my eggs before chemo and radiation, and I followed her guidance. In 2019, I was cancer-free, engaged to Gardy, and planning for our future family. On our 1-month wedding anniversary in 2020, I was scheduled for a myomectomy to help with conception, but to our surprise, I was pregnant! Sadly, I experienced a biochemical miscarriage a few weeks later. Though heartbroken, we proceeded with the myomectomy, expecting to remove eight fibroids—doctors found nearly 40, leading to a blood transfusion. After a three-month recovery, we tried to conceive naturally, but after a year of no success, we considered IVF . Despite having 16 eggs frozen, the high cost and our existing medical debt from cancer treatment were overwhelming. We chose IUI as a more affordable alternative, but after three unsuccessful rounds and learning of a blocked fallopian tube, we were devastated. Another year of trying naturally passed without success. With support from our families and savings, we were able to try an embryo transfer in July 2023, and were thrilled to be pregnant again. Tragically, it ended in another miscarriage due to a blighted ovum, and I had to undergo a D&C. Now, with financial assistance from Broken Brown Egg x Progyny, we’re preparing for another embryo transfer cycle with PGT-A testing. We remain hopeful that this will bring us our long-awaited dream—a loving family of our own.