Photo of newborn surrounded by 1,616 IVF needles captures couple's fertility struggle
The couple tried to conceive for four years
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A picture taken by an Arizona photographer has captured the emotional and physical struggle that many couples go through when they try to conceive.
In the photo, taken by Samantha Packer of Packer Family Photography, two-week-old baby London lies in the middle of two hearts created from the hundreds of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) needles the couple used to conceive their daughter.
Packer, who shared the moving picture on Facebook, captioned it with the couple’s heartbreaking words.
“Four years, seven attempts, three miscarriages, and 1,616 shots,” Patricia and Kimberley O’Neill had told Packer when they asked her to photograph their newborn.
The couple, who married in 2017 and had been trying to conceive for 2014, thought it would be easy to have a baby, according to CNN.
But after seeing a fertility doctor for intrauterine insemination and having two failed attempts, the O’Neills turned to IVF.
After four miscarriages and the diagnosis of Factor V Leiden, a blood-clotting condition, the couple wasn’t sure if they could keep trying - but they did, finally working with a doctor who specialises in Factor V Leiden and welcoming a healthy baby on August 3.
The emotional photograph has since gone viral on Facebook, where it has received more than 61,000 shares and resonated with thousands of people who understand the difficult journey.
“This photo shows so much beauty and strength. Those lovenox injections are no joke. I take eight shots a day and we plan on doing something with all my saved up shots too. Tell the momma congrats because this is such a photo of strength from one mum who has a similar story,” one woman wrote.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments