Valley fertility center helping couples achieve their dream of having a family

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Chris and Lindsey Johnson of Clovis love to make funny faces at their baby Nolan to get him to smile. Because the proud parents haven't stopped smiling themselves, since he was born.

"To this day he still blows me away, cause sometimes it seemed like a far-fetched dream," said Chris.

A far-fetched dream because it was a long journey to reach joy. Chris's 2008 spinal cord injury from a diving accident complicated the couple's already existing fertility challenges.

"It's rough, emotionally. It's hard emotionally, financially, physically," said Lindsey.

The Johnson's had unsuccessful fertility treatments at one Valley clinic.

"We sort of felt pawned off from specialist to specialist for a while. No one really knew how to deal with our situation," said Lindsey.

Then they went to the Women's Specialty and Fertility Center on the campus of Community Hospital in Clovis. They immediately felt a difference.

"As soon as we walked into the facility, they just treated us like family," said Chris.

Besides the warm reception, the center offered state of the art fertility techniques, which even just a few years ago could be found only outside the Valley.

"We now are a full-blown program capable of performing all advanced reproductive technologies here locally," said Dr. Michael Synn, OB/GYN, Director W.S.F.C.

Dr. Synn gave us exclusive access to the technology in the labs where eggs are prepared for invitro fertilization.

Dr. Synn said the lab has the technology to develop embryos to five days instead of the traditional three days. Until recently, Valley patients would have to travel to clinics in San Francisco to have access to the specialized process.

Lindsey had a fertility issue that wasn't even detected at a clinic where she and Chris first started treatments. When they went to the Women's Specialty and Fertility Center in Clovis, that issue was not only identified, it was addressed with a tailor-made treatment plan.

"When they called to tell me I was pregnant, they were jumping up and down, screaming, they were excited they like, couldn't wait," said Lindsey.

That support is just as important, as the science.

"They need to know that their staff and physician is behind them, supporting them and on their side in this journey," said Dr. Synn.

That journey has spanned over three decades for the fertility center, which just celebrated its past while embracing future medical advancements.

"We celebrated 30 years of our program and in doing so we invited all our little babies back and it was an amazing event," said Dr. Synn.

Nolan will be one of those babies at a future party, to celebrate the start of a life-in-lab to a lifetime of love.