Meet the Women of #WeAreWeCan: Lacey Peterson

In our new blog series, meet the women behind our #WeAreWeCan campaign. We asked these brave and inspiring women to tell us about some of the challenges and struggles they've faced in their lives, and to share their stories with us. Our hope is that by talking about our experiences as women, we'll recognize that we are not alone and we can help others who might be struggling with similar issues. WE ARE strong, and together WE CAN overcome anything.

For our #WeAreWeCan campaign, we sat down with Lacey Peterson, age 27, to hear her story. Lacey has struggled with infertility over the last few years. She's trying to find joy in the journey, despite the heartache, and prides herself on being independent and hard working. She recently received a big promotion at her work—doing a job that mostly men do—which was something she worked hard to achieve. Below, read our conversation with Lacey and watch her video to learn more about her inspiring journey.

In your interview, you told us about your struggle with infertility over the last few years. Could you briefly share your story with us and tell us about your experience?

I suffered from a miscarriage four and a half years ago. Shortly after, my husband and I started seeing doctors to find out what was going on. I was on Clomid for seven months with no luck. After talking to friends, I started thinking maybe I had Endometriosis. My doctor just kept wanting to try things that I felt were delaying our road to conception so I decided to schedule a Laparoscopic surgery with someone different. After my surgery, my suspicions were confirmed: I had Endometriosis. At my follow up appointment, my doctor pretty much told me there was nothing more to do and to “just keep trying.” I was pretty angry at this point, so we took a short break from trying to get pregnant.

I ended up switching doctors again, and my new doctor had a better game plan and wanted the same end goal as we did. I was on Femera for another four months and we actually ended up moving across the state at this point. This put things to a screeching halt for awhile.

I’ve since seen a specialist who also diagnosed me with PCOS. She says we’ve had a 1%-2% chance of conceiving every month. We have a game plan now and we love our specialist. It’s been a rough four and a half years for me, but I have also come out stronger and, in some ways, I'm grateful for this experience. It has taught me a lot about patience and working through confusing feelings. It’s also helped me grow up and become more who I want to be.

How have you found strength, hope, and joy during your infertility journey? Have you found support from other women struggling with infertility as well?

The support part of this journey has been tough. It seems like everybody I have talked to that is also experiencing infertility has ended up pregnant in the time I’ve been waiting—that makes it very lonely because it’s one of those things you have to experience to fully understand. I have found strength through my husband, being faced with difficult situations, and myself. I know that eventually we will have a child; I try to just look at it as a matter of when. I have found joy through friends and family who let me love on their littles whenever I can. I have a bunch of nieces and nephews that I love and adore—they help me more than anything.

What advice would you offer women struggling with infertility?

The best advice I can offer is to not allow yourself to have knee-jerk reactions. A lot of the feelings that come with infertility are very confusing and lonely and hard to work through. I have made some terrible mistakes with the way I have handled situations during this process, and I have learned to be more patient with myself and others. For me, it’s easier to cope with if I talk about my journey with others and allow them to openly ask me any questions they want to know the answers to. Find people that are rooting for you and cling to them. Let them be part of your journey and give you strength. Let them be a beacon of hope on the hard days.

Fawn Design #WeAreWeCan - Lacey Peterson

Tell us about your recent big promotion at work—how did that make you feel?

Recently I had the opportunity to receive a promotion at work. I had my eye set on this position but didn’t think anything would open for a few years. I was among five candidates interviewed and I got the job! I was so nervous and honestly torn on whether or not I would take it but I’m so grateful I did. The position is mostly filled by men but there is one other woman with the same job. Its been very fulfilling for me and it took me awhile to admit, but I worked damn hard for the position and I’m proud of myself for getting it. I’m so grateful to work for leaders that saw something in me long before I ever saw anything in myself. I’m blessed to have had so many people cheering me on along the way and for seeing my potential.

Who is a woman that inspires you and why?

A person who inspires me is @literallyelise on Instagram. She has struggled with infertility, infant loss, and the adoption process. She has come through it with such grace and she uses her account as an honest platform to discuss these issues and bring them to light. Watching her with her son has been the sweetest, most humbling thing. She inspires so many women and she puts into words my feelings so perfectly. She is the perfect example of a strong woman who has had her fair share of trials and heartbreak but has come through beaming.

If you could go back, what advice would you give your teenage self?

I would tell my teenage self to not set unrealistic expectations for yourself. To not care what anyone else thinks, and that everyone has their own timeline. I love my life and I love my marriage. I have had a lot of lonely struggles with depression and it’s been a long, hard battle but I’m grateful for every trial along the way. I find myself a little bit more each time I endure a difficult point in my life. In the end, every hurt and heartache has helped me grow and to come out the other end a stronger woman. I’ve learned to find joy and love something about every stage of life that I’m in.