There were days when Cheryl couldn’t imagine ever saying these words: “Being a mother is a wonderful experience, a wonderful feeling—even when he cries.” But here she is, laughing as four-month-old Luca fusses in her arms, living a reality that once seemed impossible.
Navigating fertility challenges
Two failed attempts. Two rounds of hope building and then crashing. After the second failure, Cheryl couldn’t deny it anymore: her own eggs weren’t going to give her the baby she desperately wanted.
The realization hit both her and her partner hard—grief mixed with disbelief, hope colliding with reality. But even in their darkest moments, one thing remained clear: they weren’t ready to give up on becoming parents.
It was Cheryl’s doctor who offered them a lifeline. “There’s a clinic in Madrid,” he said. “Clínica Tambre. They specialize in cases like yours.” He encouraged them to visit, to explore possibilities they hadn’t yet considered. It felt like the smallest flicker of hope—but sometimes, that’s all you need to keep moving forward.
First impressions of the Clínica Tambre
From the moment Cheryl and her partner walked through the doors of Clínica Tambre, something felt different. “We immediately felt at home,” Cheryl recalls. “It wasn’t just professional—it was warm. Human. Like they actually saw us, not just another case file.”
“The medical team explained the options to us very clearly; resolved our doubts and answered our questions whilst giving us time to make our decision in a very measured way. We were extremely impressed with the way we were treated, respected and how we felt valued from day one.”
Exploring the treatment options
After reviewing Cheryl’s medical history and discussing their goals as a couple, the medical team at Clínica Tambre presented several options. Together, they explored each path carefully—the benefits, the challenges, the realistic expectations. By the end of the consultation, it became clear that the clinic’s egg donation programme offered the best chance of success for Cheryl and her partner.
It wasn’t a decision made lightly, but it was one they felt confident about.
Psychological & medical support: beyond medical expertise
Clínica Tambre’s commitment to personalized care showed up in unexpected ways. Every consultation was conducted bilingually—English for Cheryl, Spanish for her partner—ensuring both were equally informed and involved in every decision.
But the most profound support came when Cheryl voiced her deepest fear: that a baby conceived through egg donation wouldn’t truly be hers, wouldn’t carry the Anglo-Spanish genetic mixture she’d imagined.
The clinic’s medical and psychological team didn’t shy away from the question. They met it with both empathy and expertise. “The bond between parent and child,” they explained, “isn’t built on DNA. It’s built on love, care, presence, and commitment. Those are the things that shape a child’s development and happiness.”
One simple truth cut through all of Cheryl’s anxiety: “Genes are not what make a child happy. It was when we needed the most help that we received the most support.”
The treatment journey through the ups and downs
With their fears addressed and their path chosen, Cheryl and her partner began treatment at Clínica Tambre. What followed was, in Cheryl’s words, “an absolute rollercoaster”—moments of soaring hope followed by stretches of anxiety, good news punctuated by setbacks that tested their resilience.
Through it all, one thing kept them grounded: the way they were treated.
“It sounds simple,” Cheryl reflects, “but being treated like a person rather than just a patient made all the difference. I wasn’t a case number or a file. I was Cheryl—someone going through something incredibly difficult, someone who needed compassion as much as medical expertise.”
That compassion came especially from Drs. Marbán and Santiago, who Cheryl credits with carrying them through the darkest moments. “I honestly can’t put into words what they meant to us,” she says, emotion evident in her voice. “When things got hard—and they did get hard—these doctors didn’t just adjust protocols. They checked in. They reassured us. They reminded us why we were doing this when we couldn’t remember ourselves.”
It wasn’t just competent medical care. It was care delivered with humanity. And for Cheryl, that made all the difference between enduring the journey and actually being supported through it.
Success: baby Luca arrives
After months of hope and anxiety, treatments and waiting, setbacks and perseverance, Cheryl’s journey at Clínica Tambre reached the moment she’d been dreaming of: she was pregnant.
Nine months later, her son Luca was born.
Words for those on the journey
Now, four months into motherhood, Cheryl often thinks about other couples who are where she once was—sitting in consultation rooms, weighing options, wondering if they’ll ever hold their baby.
First, choose your clinic carefully. “This decision will affect the rest of your life,” she says plainly. “Don’t just look at success rates or reputation—though those matter. Ask yourself: Do I feel seen here? Do I feel like a person, not just a patient? Does this place feel right? Trust that feeling. You’ll need that connection when the journey gets hard.”
Second, don’t give up. “Even when you’re facing the most difficult challenges, even when you can’t see a way forward—don’t give up”.
