After Nearly A Decade Of Trying, Mom Has First Baby At 50: ‘It’s Surreal’

Susie and Tony Troxler’s protracted search for a child resulted in a “miracle.”

Susie Troxler, a certified psychologist in High Point, North Carolina, became a mother for the first time at the age of 50, after almost a decade of trying.

Susie and her husband, Tony Troxler, 61, welcomed Lily Troxler, their first child and girl, on Sept. 29, 2021, weighing 5 lbs and 12.8 oz. The couple’s journey to that happy moment was long and winding, beginning long before they realized they were having trouble conceiving.

Since their marriage 13 years ago, the Troxlers have tried unsuccessfully to conceive naturally.

Susie Troxler explained that neither she nor her husband had contemplated seeking fertility treatment since they didn’t know what choices were available.

“We simply expected we’d become pregnant when we were married, and then it didn’t happen,” she explained. “However, we’re both old-school, and nobody ever talked about or discussed IVF [in-vitro fertilization] while we were growing up.” It didn’t even exist.”

Susie Troxler walked in for her yearly test three years ago, and that changed everything.

Susie Troxler was diagnosed with fibroids by a reproductive endocrinologist, which are benign muscle tumors that form in the uterine wall.

Susie Troxler had fibroids removed during surgery in January 2019, but was informed she and her husband would still be unable to conceive naturally due to her age and health concerns on her husband’s side.

The Troxlers tried IVF many times but were unable to generate a viable embryo, so they turned to egg donation.

Susie Troxler had her first embryo transfer in late 2019, but it failed. The coronavirus pandemic broke out in the United States a few months later, in spring 2020, putting their plans for a family on wait for about a year owing to pandemic regulations.

The Troxlers chose to attempt their final viable embryo, a frozen embryo, in February, believing it was their only hope.

They found out Susie Troxler was expecting a few weeks later.

The Troxlers are now in the midst of the sleep-deprived early months of parenthood, which they said they wouldn’t trade for anything.