Saran Kaur, a Brisbane lawyer, shares her journey with her three-and-a-half-year-old son, Ari, who she describes as a joyful and bright child. While Kaur is grateful for the successful IVF process that led to his birth, she cannot forget a traumatic experience that occurred during the embryo transport preceding his conception.
In November 2020, Kaur was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her six embryos, which were to be shipped from Melbourne IVF to Monash IVF in Brisbane. This transfer followed a lengthy six-month paperwork delay. On the day of transport, the embryos were collected; however, when Kaur reached out to Monash IVF the following day, she was alarmed to learn that the embryos’ whereabouts were unknown. Despite her concerns and persistent inquiries, no one at the clinic seemed to take the situation seriously, heightening her anxiety as the days passed without clarity.
After four agonising days, Kaur received a call from Melbourne IVF, informing her that her embryos had been mistakenly returned to them. While relieved to find the embryos safe, her worries shifted to their viability. A scientist later assured her that the embryos had been properly preserved during their unfortunate journey.
Throughout her pregnancy with Ari, the memory of the transport mix-up lingered, and Kaur grappled with fears about potential complications stemming from the ordeal. Ultimately, she opted to continue her IVF treatment with Melbourne IVF, having lost trust in Monash IVF, which later acknowledged the issue but partly attributed it to the third-party courier and Melbourne IVF.
When another IVF incident surfaced recently, involving a woman giving birth to the wrong baby due to an embryo mix-up at a Monash IVF clinic, it brought back painful memories for Kaur. She hopes her experience will shine a light on the importance of careful handling and communication in such sensitive matters, especially when it concerns potential lives.