Nicole Crawford endured five rounds of IVF before she conceived baby Reagan. Photo / Caters News Agency
Nicole Crawford endured five rounds of IVF before she conceived baby Reagan. Photo / Caters News Agency
A woman paralysed from the neck down has spent more than $17k on IVF to fulfill her baby dream.
Nicole Crawford, 26, from Sydney, Australia, broke her neck in a car crash that left her a quadriplegic - she now has no movement in her body below the neck.
But Crawford was determined to become a mother and saw a specialist who agreed to IVF. With the help of a sperm donor, she began treatment.
Crawford had five rounds of IVF, which cost A$16,000 ($17,477), and in November 2016, baby Reagan arrived via C-section.
Crawford's mum, Sandra, 53, has taken a year off work to help care for Crawford and Reagan, and the family couldn't be happier.
Nicole said: "I had always dreamed of being a mum but after the accident I never thought it would become a reality.
"My mum is now a full-time grandmother and I wouldn't be here without her. She does all of the feeding and washing, and the rest of the family help out when they can too.
"I saw a specialist at IVF Australia, they support single women or same-sex couples who want children and my case was reviewed before they agreed to the treatment.
"But it was clear that despite being immobile, I had a strong family support network around me who wanted to help.
"The doctors said that my body was healthy enough to carry my own baby and so I began IVF in 2014.
"As I don't have a partner I needed a sperm donor and each round of IVF cost £2100 [$3686] but I knew it would be worth it.
"When Reagan cries it's my motherly instinct to pick him up, and it is sometimes frustrating knowing that I can't, but my family are always on hand to help and they always bring him to me.
Nicole Crawford with her mum, who is a full-time grandmother, and baby Reagan. Photo / Caters News Agency
"Mum places Reagan on a cushion on my lap where he lies and I wheel him around.
"I know I won't be able to do everything that a normal able-bodied parent would but we will work it out. Reagan is my little miracle and I am so lucky to have him."
Crawford was a passenger in the backseat of a soft-top car when she was involved in a horror smash.
She broke her neck and was given the devastating news that she would never walk again.
Baby Reagan. Photo / Caters News Agency
"From that moment my life completely changed. I spent nine months in hospital but I always tried to stay positive. I was thankful to be alive.
"I am able to move my arms slightly but I have no control over my wrists and no other movement from my neck down.
"In 2014 I moved into a purpose-built house with my mum, brother and two aunties.
"Everything had been specially adapted to accommodate my wheelchair and it made life so much easier.
"It was at that point when I decided I wanted to have a baby. Ever since I was little I had always wanted to be a mum and so I didn't understand why this had to be taken away from me as well.
"I approached my mum with the idea and she said that she would fully support my decision."
Nicole Crawford with baby Reagan. Photo / Caters News Agency
Crawford had five rounds of assisted conception using donor sperm and intra-uterine insemination.
Unfortunately the first four attempts were unsuccessful, but on the fifth attempt, in April 2016, she received the news she could only dream of.
