Statesboro couples receives national fertility grant

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Anderson Dukes might be closer than ever to getting his wish of being a big brother with his parents suddenly in better position to add to their family.

Vivian and Andrew Dukes are among the millions of couples in the U.S. facing fertility challenges, having tried medication, fertilization and losing one pregnancy before being blessed with their son four years ago.

But complications with that delivery would make conceiving again even more difficult.

“We thought it would be easy,’' said Vivian. ”Just decide and have kids like normal people.’'

“We always planned on having one, probably two kids,’' added Andrew. ”That’s what we always expected. We learned a lot in the process. We wanted to do something for somebody.’'

Realizing they were not in position to start a foundation or a grant for infertile couples, they arrived at a more personal way to help complete another family with a baby.

Although Vivian couldn’t get pregnant, she could be pregnant.

“One day Vivian said, ‘there’s this girl Rachel that needs somebody to carry for her and we can do that,’' said Andrew.

“We didn’t plan on it, it was just laid on my heart,’' added Vivian. ”And I know it was really hard for us going through infertility. We were like, she physically cannot have a child but she has the embryos, and how amazing that somebody else gets to become a mom and dad.

“That was so rewarding for us. That was the highlight of our whole relationship when we got Anderson. So, little old us could make such an impact on one family.’'

Vivian carried Rachel’s baby to term and the couples have become an extended surrogate family.

“On Facebook, we had friends,’' said Vivian. ”We knew of each other a little bit. But we became much closer and we talk every day now that we had their child.’'

The second pregnancy also renewed Vivian and Andrew’s wish to grow their family.

But it would be difficult because they had spent much of their retirement savings to have Anderson and would require a more expensive IVF procedure if they tried again.

“You get into a situation,’' said Andrew. ”where, what can you handle emotionally, what can you handle financially?’'

“We were like, you know what, we’re religious and if it’s meant to be, God will open doors for us,’' said Vivian. ”And I came across these grants and I was like, there’s no way little old us are going to win a grant. But I told my husband, maybe we should just go for it.’'

The Dukes’ applied for The Wyatt Foundation/Conceive Fertility Foundation Grant, submitting a video as part of the process.

The video starred Anderson saying he wanted to be a big brother.

“It was the cutest little video,’' said Vivian. ”And it got us to our story as well, which is a little unique. It got us looked at and we won the grant.’'

Just before Christmas, they were told they would receive $15,000 to extend their fertility journey and try for another baby.

“They’re amazing,’' Vivian said of the foundations that have provided the grant each year since 2024. Five couples were selected this year. ”It changed everything financially. It changes the whole equation.’'

Now, Vivian and Andrew are starting down the road to give Anderson a sibling.

They are as excited as he is about the possibility and encouraged that their surrogate experienced helped them as much as the family they carried for.

“It just showed me that I can have a healthy and a great experience pregnant,’' said Vivian. ”I had no issues, she was the picture perfect health, birth, everything. So, it really healed me and gave me a lot of confidence for this new journey.’'