logo
Pennsylvania couple welcomes baby boy after struggling with fertility

Pennsylvania couple welcomes baby boy after struggling with fertility

Yahoo05-02-2025

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) – One Lewistown couple can now call themselves parents after they were once told they couldn't do so.
Brittany Longwell & Michael Erhart wished to become parents but were struggling. They took a trip to Geisinger in Danville and Brittany was told she was not ovulating and would need assistance to become pregnant.
'It was heartbreaking because being told that you can't have a child on your own is devastating,' Longwell said.
She immediately began testing, taking medication, and seeking treatment to assist but kept finding no results. The two then moved from Danville to the Geisinger Healthplex State College. They were referred to Lydia Shively, PA-C, who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Longwell and Erhart spent two years attempting with no results but after working with tests, medications, and an eventual intrauterine insemination treatment, the couple had a successful pregnancy.
State College police officer given Life-Saving Award for efforts
'I cried, I can't put into words like it was mind-blowing going through two years, I've gone through fertility and knowing that I'm a mom, all the hard work and now I have a baby,' Longwell said.
On November 21, 2024, their son Zaiden was born in the Lewistown hospital, weighing 6 pounds 11 oz and 20.5 inches.
'It's hard seeing her going through what she did. And I was always telling her it's always positive, don't think negative,' Erhart said.
The struggles and frustration the family faced are more common and more difficult than many may realize.
'Normal chances of conceiving each month with a healthy couple with no issues is about 15 to 20%. So it's much lower than what most people expect,' Physician Assistant Lydia Shively said.
Shively says any couple struggling should get examined as Geisinger has the tools and technology to diagnose and recommend treatment.
'People think it's easier than it should be, and it isn't always the case. And if it's not, then it's okay. We have the tools to evaluate what could potentially be impacting chances of success. And then we also have the tools to kind of improve those chances and help people reach that kind of life goal of having a family,' Shively said.
And if the results are not what you are looking for, Longwell says to keep trying no matter how stressful times can get in the end every second and penny is worth it.
Longwell said the bill for the pregnancy was a steep one, she added that in total the bill came out to over $30,000.
'In the future, I will tell my baby that he was an expensive one but sitting here now it doesn't matter because no amount of money can change the life that we brought into this world,' Longwell said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

New Legislation aims to clarify workplace rules for medical marijuana use in PA
New Legislation aims to clarify workplace rules for medical marijuana use in PA

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

New Legislation aims to clarify workplace rules for medical marijuana use in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking steps to eliminate confusion over medical marijuana use in the workplace with new legislation aimed at protecting both employees and employers. In a co-sponsorship memo released this week, Rep. Napoleon Nelson and another House member announced plans to introduce a bill that would provide clearer rules for how employers handle medical marijuana under state law. The bill is a companion to Senate Bill 1290 from a previous session, which was supported by a bipartisan group of state senators. Though medical marijuana has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2016 under Act 16, it remains illegal at the federal level. That disconnect has left employers without federal guidance on how to treat workers who are certified medical marijuana patients. The proposed legislation would define key terms related to medical marijuana use and provide consistent guidelines for workplace drug testing. It would also clarify when job applicants or employees must disclose medical marijuana use, particularly for safety-sensitive positions, and how such use affects unemployment and workers' compensation eligibility. Importantly, the bill does not change the current legal protection that prevents employers from firing or refusing to hire someone solely for being a medical marijuana patient. Instead, lawmakers say the goal is to remove ambiguity and ensure fair treatment on both sides. Supporters hope the legislation will give Pennsylvania businesses and workers confidence and structure as they navigate medical marijuana policy in the workplace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Cat declawing could be outlawed in Pennsylvania with new legislation
Cat declawing could be outlawed in Pennsylvania with new legislation

Yahoo

time16 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Cat declawing could be outlawed in Pennsylvania with new legislation

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Many cat owners turn to declawing to stop their pets from scratching up furniture and carpets — but the 'inhumane' act could soon be outlawed in Pennsylvania. Pa. Senators Carolyn T. Commita (D-Chester) and Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks/Montgomery) introduced Senate Bill 846, which will make it illegal to declaw cats unless it is medically necessary and performed by a licensed veterinarian. 'Declawing (onychectomy) is an elective procedure that amputates most or all of the last bone of each of the cat's toes,' the Senators said in a joint memo. 'The procedure is commonly performed to prevent unwanted scratching. Animal advocates, veterinarians, and others acknowledge that this procedure is inhumane, unnecessary, and traumatic.' Taxes on tips and overtime pay could be abolished in Pennsylvania According to Commita and Pennycuick, numerous agencies won't support declawing cats as an elective procedure, including the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. In 2020, the nation's largest veterinary chains, VCA, Banfield, and Blue Pearl, with their 10,000-plus veterinarians nationwide, banned declawing. Necessary cat declawing noted in the joint memo includes tumors, persistent infections, injuries, and congenital bill is co-sponsored by nine Senators from both sides of the aisle, including Doug Mastriano and Wayne Fontana. Committa added that the bill was co-sponsored in the last Senate session by Fontana, Cappelletti, Robinson, Costa, Mastriano, and Muth. The bill was introduced and is currently with the Judiciary Committee, which Republican Lisa Baker leads as Chair, while Democrat Amanda M. Cappelletti leads as Minority Chair. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PA bills will expand access to opioid overdose reversal agents
PA bills will expand access to opioid overdose reversal agents

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Yahoo

PA bills will expand access to opioid overdose reversal agents

PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Two bills will soon be introduced to help provide more resources to first responders and law enforcement to fight opioid overdoses. Representatives Chris Pielli and Brian Munroe, in a memo to lawmakers, wrote that the current practice in Pennsylvania is 'outdated.' Noting that the Department of Health only allows the use of naloxone despite other options being available. The CDC reported that deaths involving opioids were estimated to be over 54,000. However, from December 2023 to December 2024, drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania dropped by 29.94%. Two states, Nevada and South Dakota, were the only ones with increases. Both saw increases of over 4%. Pennsylvania lawmakers advance bill expanding no-cost breast cancer diagnostics Naloxone is used by law enforcement and other first responders to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone works by attaching itself to opioid receptors and then reversing and blocking the effects of opioids. In the CDC's most recent report, they also listed synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, as being the cause of the largest number of overdose deaths. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to the representatives. They argue that fentanyl is so strong that it can outlast the effects of naloxone and cause people to 're-overdose.' That's why they feel that first responders should have access to things like nalmefene, which is a longer-lasting opioid antagonist. Currently, nalmefene is only available by prescription. 'While naloxone is a crucial tool for first responders and law enforcement, it cannot be our only option,' The representatives said. The two bills that they will be introducing would do the following: Amend the Controlled Substance Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act to allow nalmefene as an approved opioid antagonist for use over the counter. Direct the Pennsylvania Department of Health to change their current standing order to include nalmefene as an approved opioid reversal agent for over the counter use. 'We cannot continue to discount the ability of other opioid antagonists to save lives. While our policy continues to stagnate, the illicit drug market evolves, adapts, and finds new ways to draw Pennsylvanians into the throes of addiction or, in an unfortunate number of cases, death,' the representatives added. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store