Tracey & Dan's story

Welcome to the world, Oliver

Building a family

To the Wetzels, Oliver will always be their miracle baby. See Tracey and Dan share their story.

Tracey Wetzel and her husband, Dan, were ready to have a child. They knew it could take time. But, when they weren’t successful after a year, they considered fertility treatment.

Exploring their options

Tracey went to her primary care doctor, Dr. Jennifer Garvin-Cress, an OB/GYN at the Aurora Medical Center in Manitowoc County. Dr. Garvin-Cress suggested options, including fertility treatment. They called fertility services at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay for an appointment. During their consultation, Tracey and Dan were told their chances of having a baby without medical help were very slim. They learned about fertility options, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), the most common infertility solution.

Next steps

For Tracey and Dan, IVF was a clear choice. And only 3 weeks after her first embryo transfer, Tracey found out she was pregnant.

Tracey and Dan were impressed by how easy and comfortable the IVF process was. “The caregivers at the fertility clinic were very personable and made you feel like you were the only patient there. They were flexible and willing to work with our schedule,” says Tracey.

About two months before Tracey’s due date, Dr. Garvin-Cress noticed that the baby wasn’t meeting typical growth expectations. She referred Tracey to a maternal & fetal medicine specialist.

Tracey went to an appointment with Dr. Edward Hayes, a Maternal & Fetal Medicine physician at Aurora BayCare, who diagnosed the baby with intrauterine growth restriction, a condition in which the baby’s fetal weight is below the 10th percentile for gestational age. Tracey was admitted to the hospital for rest, and her baby’s progress was monitored.

The experience was tense. But as Tracey recalls, “The doctors and other hospital staff went to great care and concern to explain what was going on. You have to deal with your circumstances as they happen, but don’t be afraid to ask questions. I had confidence in the doctors.

”When the growth restriction became worse, the baby was delivered at 34 weeks through an emergency cesarean section to prevent potential health problems.

The Wetzels’ son, Oliver, was born small – 2 pounds 13 ounces – but otherwise completely healthy. Doctors monitored Oliver's growth and development for 5 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before he went home.

A year and a half later, Oliver is active and thriving. Tracey and Dan were thrilled with their experience at Aurora BayCare Medical Center and have recommended the fertility services to friends.

“It’s important to share your story and talk about your situation, because it helps you cope. You learn you’re not the only one. If you’ve been trying to have a child, don’t be afraid to go in for a consult,” says Tracey.

Affording your dreams

Read more about financial information and pricing options for fertility services.

Fertility FAQ

If you’ve got questions about fertility services, we've got answers for you in our FAQ.