When Tania was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2008, the dream of becoming a mother seemed to slip away forever. She and her husband Mariano faced not only a fight for her health but also the heartbreaking reality that parenthood might never be possible for them.
But sometimes, life has other plans. A chance conversation led them to Clínica Tambre in Madrid, where everything changed.
Today, Tania and Mariano are proud parents of two sons—Leonardo and Oliver—proof that hope, the right medical team, and unwavering determination can turn even the most impossible dreams into reality.
The shadow of illness and infertility
In 2008, Tania’s lymphoma diagnosis cast a long shadow over her future. At that time, she and Mariano believed they would never become parents. The focus was simply on survival, on getting through treatment, on holding onto hope for Tania’s health.
As the years passed and Tania was eventually discharged from oncology, her perspective completely changed. Feeling well again, she desperately wanted a family of their own. But the path forward would prove more difficult than they imagined.
Based on recommendations from friends and acquaintances, the couple chose a fertility clinic and began treatment. Cycle after cycle failed, and with each disappointment, their hope dimmed further. “It slightly confirmed what we suspected: we were not going to have a family,” Tania thought at the time.
The emotional toll was devastating. The couple needed a two-year break just to recover from the hardship and disappointment of their failed attempts.
A life-changing discovery
Shortly after their break, a chance conversation changed everything. Someone mentioned Clínica Tambre to them—a clinic with an excellent track record in treating patients with histories similar to Tania’s. This revelation was potentially life-changing.
The couple immediately set about researching Tambre, investigating the treatment options offered and the specialists who might finally be able to turn their dreams into reality. Despite their previous disappointments, a spark of hope reignited.
Walking through the door at Tambre
Tania and Mariano arrived at Clínica Tambre filled with excitement but also foreboding. Their fertility journey had been nothing but unsuccessful up to that point, and both were consumed with anxiety and uncertainty.
Looking back, the couple now recognizes that this was the turning point in their journey. As Tania explains:
“Everyone at Tambre exuded warmth and professionalism; we knew immediately that this was something we had not experienced before. We had been to different clinics and this experience felt different from the first moment we walked through the door. Tambre was different, we knew Tambre would be the one.”
This feeling was cemented after their first meeting with Dr. Esther Marbán. Tania immediately felt supported, and the physician took time to fully discuss the range of treatment options available to them very early on. It was a positive experience unlike anything they’d encountered before.
Finding the right treatment approach
Working closely with Dr. Marbán, Tania and Mariano explored various treatment options tailored to Tania’s unique medical history as a cancer survivor. The doctor’s thorough approach and willingness to discuss all possibilities gave the couple confidence that they were finally in the right hands.
The comprehensive treatment plan took into account not just the medical aspects of their case, but also the emotional journey they had already endured.
More than medicine: the power of psychological support
Unfortunately, the first cycle at Tambre was unsuccessful—another blow for a couple who had already endured so much disappointment. But what set Tambre apart was their response.
In the face of adversity, anguish, and fear, the Tambre team remained empathetic throughout, providing much-needed practical, emotional, and psychological support. For Tania, this support was invaluable and became a cornerstone of her treatment:
“The psychological factor is a factor that must be taken into account. For me it counts a lot, just as much or even more than the medical matter.”
This holistic approach—addressing both the medical and emotional aspects of fertility treatment—made all the difference in helping the couple continue despite setbacks.
Turning the dream of a complete family into reality
Working with Dr. Marbán, the couple persevered. Their persistence paid off in the most beautiful way possible.
The first positive beta test came while Tania and Mariano were traveling in Florence, Italy—a moment so special that it would influence the naming of their first son, Leonardo. The joy was overwhelming for a couple who had nearly given up hope.
But the story doesn’t end there. Some time later, they welcomed their second son, Oliver, further completing their family. Tania was over the moon: “We didn’t have much hope that this was going to happen, but it happened, and it happened twice.”
The couple still has a vitrified embryo at Clínica Tambre and haven’t ruled out the possibility of trying for a daughter in the future.
Looking back with gratitude
Today, Tania looks back on her journey with a perspective only possible after reaching the happy ending she once thought impossible. She acknowledges that there were very tough moments during the process, but they’re the moments you forget when you’re fortunate enough to hold your children in your arms.
“In life, when you have to make a choice, it’s usually about what career should I choose; what car to buy or where am I going to live? You don’t usually ask yourself: what kind of assisted reproductive technique do I require? But there are many cases, like mine, in which you will need to make this decision. In the end, there are always options and by personal consideration and professional advice you can address these and accomplish your goal.”
Don’t delay your dreams and treatments
Tania’s advice to others facing reproductive difficulties is clear and urgent: don’t delay the start of treatment. Time is always your enemy in fertility matters.
“If you try, you won’t regret it, but if you don’t, you probably will,” she emphasizes.
Her story creates a wave of optimism that encourages other women and couples to begin their own journeys toward parenthood. Even after cancer, even after multiple failed attempts, even when all hope seems lost—with the right clinic, the right support, and the courage to keep trying, miracles can happen.
For Tania and Mariano, those miracles have names: Leonardo and Oliver. And perhaps, one day, a little sister too.
