SIU Medicine helps infertile couple on path to parenthood

Annie Klemm bounces as she runs to the slide at Sherman Village Park. Annie’s mother, Denise, follows with Baby Lucas on her hip. To nearby observers, Denise Klemm’s interactions with her two young children make motherhood seems so natural and easy. But eight years ago, having a family was anything but easy for Denise and her husband, Kevin, as they tried to get pregnant for more than three years. 

The Springfield couple’s path to parenthood set them on a journey they never anticipated, but one they felt passionately they had to complete. Filled with challenges and emotions, the journey tested their resilience, but also deepened their bond and strengthened their resolve for a happy ending. 

“We had no idea if either of us had any fertility issues,” Denise said. “I was frustrated, especially after the ninth month of trying on our own. Every time my period came, I would just cry.” In 2017, after a year of trying to conceive without success, Kevin and Denise sought help from SIU Medicine's Fertility and IVF Center. 

The fertility journey

With no significant symptoms or underlying health issues, the Klemms began their fertility journey under the guidance of SIU Medicine fertility specialist Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola and a dedicated team at SIU Medicine. "I met Denise and Kevin in the office for the first time and they really wanted to be parents badly. They were willing to do whatever it took to have children," Dr. Loret de Mola said. 

“Dr. Loret de Mola was a huge impact on us,” Denise said. We also had a very close relationship with our embryologist, Jim Kontio. The entire team—Nathan, Laura, Jenn, Mayjan, Ally, and Holly—became a part of our journey,” Denise shared.

The couple underwent an exhaustive process, starting with one round of timed intercourse and seven intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). With no success, they moved on to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Denise recalls the commitment and details involved both at home and in the clinic. “It was a lot—a lot of medications, procedures and emotions. It got rough for a long time. Emotionally, I was a wreck. My personal and professional lives began to suffer. Every time I would see a pregnancy announcement, I would just start sobbing. I was so miserable.” Denise said. “But I was determined to become a mother.”

One of the biggest challenges came when tests determined their fertility issue was due to male factor infertility. According to the National Institutes of Health, infertility issues are attributed to men in one-third of couples, women in another third, and either both partners or unidentified causes in the remaining cases.*“It was something he couldn’t control, but it was hard to process,” Denise said. 

Despite the emotional toll, the Klemms persevered, enduring three egg retrievals, five embryo transfers and countless blood draws. But the journey was not without heartbreak. 

Their first round of IVF failed. A subsequent partial molar pregnancy ended in miscarriage, and the couple had to wait another 6 months before attempting another IVF cycle. Emotions were raw and heightened. “That was probably the angriest I was throughout the whole journey. I had my hopes up, and then it was just a huge stab in the heart,” she recalled.

The dream for anyone pursuing fertility treatments is a healthy baby, but success can look different for every journey. Outcomes depend on factors like age, the cause of infertility, treatment options and a host of other variables. "SIU's Fertility and IVF Center's IVF success rates are 63% for patients under the age of 35, wich is significantly higher than the national average of 40%," Dr. Loret de Mola shared.

In March 2020, just as the world was grappling with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Klemms faced another failed transfer. But hope arrived that summer, when their fourth transfer succeeded. “I was still incredibly anxious, but everything was perfect,” Denise said. Their daughter, Annie, was born safely, though not without a final scare—her umbilical cord had a true knot, a potentially dangerous condition that was fortunately caught just in time.

The Klemm’s journey didn’t end there. In July 2023, they transferred their last embryo. Denise recalls the fear of failure setting in again as it had a few years ago. Her anxiety heightened when she started cramping and bleeding. "This time, I was 100% convinced I was miscarrying again, but thankfully, everything turned out fine," Denise shared. The last embryo successfully implanted, and the Klemms brought Lucas home to meet Annie in March 2024. 

Dreams achieved

As Denise and Kevin watch Annie play at the park, they know SIU Medicine was exactly the right place with the best possible people to care for her and her family. 

“They literally changed our lives for the better,” Denise says. “There was me before going through everything, and then there was me once I became a mother. I am not the same person at all. I am so grateful to Dr. Loret de Mola and the entire team for never giving up on us.”

A particularly memorable moment came after Annie's birth, when the Klemms ran into their embryologist, Jim Kontio, at the local farmer’s market. “I was holding Annie, and when Jim saw her, he had the biggest smile on his face. It was such a special moment—it felt like everything had come full circle,” Denise recalled with emotion.

For others facing similar challenges, Denise offers this advice: “Be open and honest. Reach out for support. It’s okay to be happy and sad at the same time. And most importantly, give yourself grace.”

Kevin and Denise’s story is a testament to the power of hope, the strength of perseverance, and the unwavering support of a compassionate medical team. “There is no way to thank them enough,” Denise says. “’Thank you’ just doesn’t seem strong enough when you get what you’ve always dreamt of having.”