Dublin Couple’s Fertility Journey Ends with ‘Miracle Baby’ Grace

Childhood sweethearts Ciara and Shane Kelly from Dublin have navigated a challenging fertility journey, ultimately welcoming their daughter, Grace, in April 2025. The couple’s story is one of resilience, marked by heartbreak and hope, as they sought to realize their dream of parenthood.

The Kellys first met in primary school and began their relationship 15 years ago. They always envisioned starting a family after their wedding, which was initially planned for August 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to postpone the ceremony by a year. Ciara, 38, explained, “We discussed that we were hoping to have children and decided we would get married first and start trying afterward.”

After tying the knot in August 2022, they began actively trying to conceive. Yet, after several months without success, the couple found themselves feeling stressed and frustrated. They decided to take a step back from actively trying and focus on enjoying married life.

Seeking Medical Help

By spring 2023, the couple still faced challenges in conceiving and consulted family members for advice. Following her sister’s suggestion, Ciara and Shane reached out to the Repromed Fertility Clinic in Dundrum to undergo testing. Ciara underwent the AMH test while Shane had a semen analysis.

The results revealed a low sperm count for Shane. This discovery prompted a consultation with Dr. Hans at Repromed, who outlined various fertility treatment options, including Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). After further testing, the couple opted for ICSI and underwent an egg retrieval, yielding 17 eggs, of which 11 were fertilized, resulting in 10 embryos stored for future use.

Ciara described the process, stating, “I was supposed to have a fresh transfer, but it ended up being a frozen transfer a month later. In September 2023, we had our first embryo transfer.”

Heartbreak and Hope

The initial transfer brought joy, but during early scans, complications arose. Ciara recounted, “It was successful on the first transfer, and we were overjoyed. However, further scans revealed medical issues with the baby.” Tragically, the scans indicated severe complications, including a large bladder and a hole in the skull. After careful consideration, the couple made the heartbreaking decision to terminate the pregnancy. Their son, Jack, was born on December 21, 2023.

Despite the loss, Ciara and Shane remained determined to continue their journey toward parenthood. They attempted another transfer on July 2, 2024, which was unsuccessful, but a subsequent transfer on August 8 proved successful. Their daughter, Grace, was born in April 2025.

Reflecting on their journey, Ciara said, “The journey has been full of ups and downs… We hope our story shows people to never give up hope. We feel so lucky to have our little miracle baby in the end.”

A Name with Meaning

Grace’s arrival has brought immense joy to the couple. Ciara described her daughter as “a blessing,” noting that she is a great sleeper and a very happy baby. The couple chose the name Grace Kelly, inspired by a song performed by the Wolfe Tones during a concert they attended in October 2024. “It felt meant to be,” Ciara said, highlighting the significance of the name.

Through their experience, Ciara and Shane aim to break the stigma surrounding infertility. Ciara encouraged couples facing similar struggles to seek help, stating, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. IVF shouldn’t be a taboo subject.”

The couple invested a significant amount in their fertility journey, with costs ranging between €12,000 and €15,000 in 2023 for testing, egg retrieval, and ICSI. In 2024, expenses decreased to under €5,000 for embryo testing and transfers, as they still have seven embryos in storage.

Future.Life has recently launched a campaign titled “Let’s Talk About Fertility” in partnership with CooperSurgical, aiming to reduce the stigma surrounding fertility issues. According to research by the fertility group, over half of the 2,000 individuals surveyed felt fertility was rarely discussed unless there was a problem, highlighting a significant gap in understanding.

Jane Exon from Future.Life emphasized the need for better access to information regarding reproductive health, noting, “People are waiting longer to start families, but they’re simply not getting the information or access they need to make empowered decisions.”

As Ciara and Shane raise Grace, they remain grateful for the journey that ultimately brought her into their lives, hoping their story will inspire others to persevere through their own challenges.