The fiancée of TV20 anchor and reporter Dylan Lyons, who was killed earlier this year while covering a shooting, says she plans to have a child with her late partner using in-vitro fertilization
Casey and Dylan met at TV20 when he was an anchor and she was an associate producer, and fell deeply in love. Unfortunately, their dreams of a future together were tragically cut short when Dylan was shot and killed while on duty, just three months after their engagement.
Despite her pain and grief, Casey was determined to fulfill their dreams of parenthood together, so, shortly after Lyon’s death, she reached out to an Orlando-based urologist who, after an investigation and autopsy on Dylan’s body, was able to conduct a postmortem sperm retrieval.
“I’m just very, very, very grateful that it ended up working out, because this is like the thing that’s keeping me going at the moment,” Fite told “GMA.” “To know that I can continue his legacy, continue what we wanted.”
Casey views this as a sign from Dylan, as she and his mom had no prior knowledge of such a possibility. She believes it was his way of fulfilling his promise to her in the best way he could.
While Casey initially asked about the possibility of having twins, doctors advised against it due to the increased risk of miscarriage. She recently completed her first egg retrieval and currently has one embryo. However, she plans to wait until she has more embryos before moving forward with implantation.
Casey shares her IVF journey on social media and receives support from Dylan’s parents. However, she also faces criticism from strangers who do not understand the depth of her relationship with Dylan. Despite this, she has a strong support system, including his entire family, who will be there for her every step of the way.
The frozen sperm will remain at the fertility clinic until Casey is ready to undergo implantation and become pregnant. She is on track to do her second egg retrieval and hopes to have the embryo implanted by the end of the year. To help cover the costs of the IVF treatments, Casey has started a GoFundMe account with a goal of $50,000.
What is Postmortem sperm retrieval?
A medical procedure performed after the death of an individual with the aim of collecting and preserving their sperm for potential future use in assisted reproduction techniques, such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This procedure is typically carried out when a person has expressed a desire to have biological children after their death, or when their surviving partner wishes to have a child using their sperm.
The process usually involves a urologist or a reproductive specialist extracting sperm from the deceased individual’s testicles. This can be done shortly after death, and the collected sperm is then frozen and stored for future use. Postmortem sperm retrieval is a complex and ethically sensitive procedure that typically requires prior consent from the deceased individual or a legal authorization from their next of kin.
The use of postmortem sperm retrieval is subject to legal and ethical considerations, and the specific regulations governing it can vary by jurisdiction. It’s important to consult with medical professionals and legal authorities to understand the requirements and implications of such procedures in a given context.
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