Jolene McCaw, 41, from County Tyrone, discovered as a teenager that she had been born without ovaries, a rare condition that halted her puberty and triggered early menopause at just 15. At the time, doctors initially suspected an eating disorder, but it later emerged that she lacked the ovaries necessary to produce oestrogen. This lifelong hormonal deficiency has required her to undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) since adolescence and has left her vulnerable to bone fractures and other health complications. However, it is the emotional toll of infertility that has weighed most heavily on her.
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Despite these challenges, Jolene has remained determined to pursue motherhood. In 2015, she met Gareth, now her husband, on a blind date, and the couple soon realised they wanted to start a family. While Jolene can carry a pregnancy, she requires a donor egg to conceive. The couple’s hopes were dashed when they discovered the NHS had no available eggs, and the strict regulations around donor anonymity made finding willing donors difficult. One potential donor was rejected due to her child’s kidney condition, which further delayed their plans.
With NHS options exhausted, Jolene and Gareth turned to private clinics, only to find the cost in Northern Ireland exceeded £20,000—far beyond their means. Eventually, they discovered a clinic in Madrid offering treatment for £8,000, which with travel and related expenses could total £10,000. They have since signed a contract and plan to undergo insemination in September. To fund the procedure, they launched a GoFundMe campaign, which has already raised over £3,000, thanks to overwhelming support from their local community in Cookstown.
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Jolene, who has battled health and societal challenges since her teenage years, remains hopeful but realistic about the road ahead. “It’s incredibly emotional and scary,” she said. “If it doesn’t work, we may not be able to afford to try again.” Nonetheless, she and Gareth are clinging to hope and the generosity of those around them, as they continue their journey toward becoming parents.
