They’ve endured so much and are now appealing for help
Sammi and Lee Dryhurst who have been trying for a baby (Credit : Submitted)
A Devon couple who have suffered ten miscarriages, two ectopic pregnancies and years of gruelling medical treatment are appealing for help to fund specialist fertility care that could finally give them the baby they long for.
Sammi, 34 and Lee Dryhurst 36, from Tiverton, began trying for a child in late 2020. But instead of joy, the past five years have brought repeated loss, emergency surgery and a constant fight against the clock. Their most recent heartbreak came just weeks ago when Sammi experienced a rare ovarian ectopic pregnancy – a complication affecting less than one per cent of cases – leaving her at risk of losing her remaining ovary and fallopian tube.
Their first pregnancy in 2021 ended in emergency surgery for a tubal ectopic pregnancy, during which Sammi also learned she had endometriosis. Since then, every pregnancy has ended in miscarriage, most at around six weeks. “We thought it was just bad luck the first time,” Sammi said. “But it kept happening – over and over again.”
Sammi and Lee Dryhurst who have been trying for a baby (Credit : Submitted)
The couple have been treated at multiple NHS and private clinics across the UK, including Tommy’s St Mary’s Recurring Pregnancy Loss Unit in London and a specialist centre in Epsom.
They have undergone every test the NHS offers, taken part in research trials, and spent thousands on private investigations. Between them, they have received nine fertility-related diagnoses, including low ovarian reserve – leaving Sammi with only one to two years before she is likely to enter perimenopause – as well as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, and a genetic blood clotting disorder.
They have transformed their lifestyle to improve their chances: giving up alcohol, losing a combined seven stone in weight, exercising daily, limiting caffeine, and following a strict supplement regime. Sammi also undergoes holistic treatments such as reflexology and red light therapy. “We are both 100% committed – everything is 50/50,” she said.
Despite this, their doctors say they now require an advanced and highly medicated IVF protocol, with intensive monitoring from conception through pregnancy. The cost could exceed £25,000 – far beyond what they can fund alone.
Sammi and Lee Dryhurst who have been trying for a baby (Credit : Submitted)
To make matters worse, NHS rules in their area mean they do not qualify for funded IVF because couples must go two years without pregnancy – including miscarriages – before being eligible. Their appeal could take over a year, and even if successful would only provide a basic IVF package, with most of the complex treatment still needing to be paid for privately.
“We were very against doing this for a long time but feel it’s now our only option,” Sammi said. “We have some savings, but the cost of what we need is huge and time is not on our side. Any donations, no matter how small, would mean the world to us.”
Four days into their second round of fundraising, they have already reached nearly half their target thanks to donations from family, friends, and members of the “trying to conceive” community Sammi has supported for years. She has worked in children’s services since the age of 18, and recently trained as a holistic fertility and early pregnancy specialist, helping more than 180 couples achieve pregnancy.
Their next step is a final round of private tests at the Epsom clinic later this month before deciding whether to try high-protocol medicated cycles or proceed straight to IVF. Any unused funds will be donated to miscarriage charities that have supported them along the way.
Sammi and Lee Dryhurst who have been trying for a baby (Credit : Submitted)
For now, they are holding on to hope. “We just want a baby to love,” Sammi said. “One day, we hope we’ll be able to tell our son or daughter how hard we fought to bring them into the world.”