Q&A with fertility advocate Samantha Busch

Samantha Busch is used to moving fast, just like her husband, NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch. When she’s not chasing after her four-year-old son Brexton, she’s updating her lifestyle blog, managing her online store Murph Boutique, making decisions about the professional race team she co-owns, starring in CMT’s Racing Wives, and awarding grants to couples who need helping paying for in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.

We sat down recently with this very busy working mom to learn more about her efforts as a fertility advocate and how her experience as a patient with Encompass Fertility helped make her life easier.

Can you tell us about your fertility journey?

Kyle and I went through a really frustrating and overwhelming time trying to start a family. Like many couples dealing with infertility, we tried everything. I tracked my ovulation and researched what kinds of food to eat. I even took fertility medication to try and stimulate egg production. I was told everything was fine and that it would just take time, but I kept pushing for answers. Eventually, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which meant I was unable to make mature eggs. We also learned that Kyle had a low sperm count.

So, we went through IVF to conceive our son, Brexton, who was born in May, 2015. Since then, we’ve been raising awareness about infertility education and helping to remove financial barriers for couples who need IVF to have their own bundle of joy.

What inspired you to create the Kyle & Samantha Busch Bundle of Joy Fund?

We realized we were fortunate that we could afford IVF, which can be expensive. So, halfway through my pregnancy, we launched the Bundle of Joy Fund and we made our first round of grants when Brexton was just three months old. We focus on helping residents of North and South Carolina through the REACH Clinic of Charlotte. I’m excited to share that we’ve awarded 44 grants — totaling almost $600,000 — to families who’ve gone on to welcome 21 little bundles of joy into the world. And we have six more babies on the way this year!

What made you choose Encompass Fertility as your pharmacy?

I was a patient at another fertility pharmacy when I was trying to conceive in 2014. It was an hour away from my home, and there was a lot of traffic getting there, it was hard to find parking and the lines at the pharmacy were always long. It was a really stressful experience. When we decided to try for a second child, I knew I had to find a different fertility pharmacy that would make everything easier.  

What were some of the ways Encompass Fertility supported you?

The fact that I could manage everything by phone was so helpful to me, since I travel a lot with Kyle’s schedule. Every time I called Encompass Fertility, the pharmacists were really friendly and knowledgeable. They always made sure I had my questions answered and had everything I needed, whether that was more lidocaine patches or the right size needles. Everything was always easy and seamless.

I remember, one time, I had to call and change the date of my medication delivery and they took care of it right away. Everything arrived right to my door, on time, and it was all neatly packaged. The whole IVF process is so overwhelming, and if you can make even one step in that process easier, it helps a lot. It’s one less thing to think about.

What would you say to someone going through fertility treatment?

Before you even get started, I’d ask for an ultrasound, a blood test and a sperm sample. Because then you’ll know right away what you’re dealing with and you’ll save yourself so much heartache, tears and frustration.

Also, be open and honest about what you’re going through. One out of eight couples struggles with infertility, so it’s not something to be ashamed about. When you share your experience, you can help others. 

And just remember that you can’t stress and carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You have to trust in God, trust in your doctor, trust in the medications and the process. And really hope and pray for the best. And if it doesn’t work out, just know that it wasn’t your fault.

What are your plans for the future?

We lost our baby girl in a miscarriage last year, and it was incredibly devastating. All of this certainly tests your faith, but we’re committed to continuing our work. And, we want to try to conceive again. My doctor found calcification spots in my uterus, so we’re trying to figure that out. Kyle and I have two embryos left and we want to make sure everything seems 100 percent so we have the best chance, before we try again.

For the Bundle of Joy Fund, we’re hoping to award grants every quarter instead of just twice a year and we’re really excited about that.

To learn more about Samantha Busch and the Bundle of Joy Fund, visit: samanthabusch.com

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