A couple who became parents to triplets with the help of IVF have shared the playful photos they took with the package containing their embryos.
Samantha and Mick Clark, from Portland, Oregon, drove across the state to collect their embryos from a fertility clinic to ensure their safe delivery to another centre closer to their new home.
But after being told the embryos would be safe in their sealed container for at least two days, the couple decided to take a couple of detours on the way home – and used each pit-stop as an opportunity to take a photo with their precious cargo.
The couple captured themselves strapping the box into the backseat, pushing it down the road in a stroller and even taking it to the supermarket.
Months later Samantha, 29, conceived and she and Mickey, 32, welcomed triplets Shepherd Thomas, Eleni Lynn, and Ayla Sue, in August 2017.
Samantha and Mick Clark, from Portland, Oregon, posed with the package containing their embryos after driving to collect them from a clinic across the state. Pictured, Samantha pushes the sealed box in a stroller. She welcomed triplets just months later
The couple welcomed triplets Shepherd Thomas, Eleni Lynn, and Ayla Sue in August 2017
Samantha, now a full time mother, and husband of two years Mickey with their triplets (L-R Shepherd Thomas, Ayla Sue and Eleni Lynn, born in Aug 2017)
Full-time mother Samantha said: ‘We had been looking at pursuing all different avenues of a starting a family.
‘We moved across state and they were going to mail our embryos to a clinic closer to us. I had seen viral videos of drivers throwing packages over fences and decided that wasn’t for us.’
So instead of getting the box couriered to their door the couple decided to make the eight-hour round trip to collect it themselves.
On the way back – assured that the embryos would be safe in the tank – the pair decided to make a few stops along the way.
Mickey and Samanthaictured, drove across the state to collect their embryos from a fertility clinic to ensure their safe delivery to a new centre closer to home.
After being told the embryos would be safe in their sealed container for at least two days, the couple decided to take a couple of detours on the way home, including at a store (pictured)
Samantha explained the joke started when they took pictures of the box in the car, pictured
Mickey, now a father of three, pretends to teach his future children how to hold a bat
Samantha said: ‘We started talking about taking pictures with the box in the car. We were laughing so hard I had tears.
‘We posted the first one online and then our friends and family started to comment giving us more ideas.
‘We had no idea whether these embryos were going to be a success or a failure. We were just celebrating the fact we had six viable embryos.’
Making the most of their trip, they posed in a children’s playground, at a McDonald’s and with an abandoned pushchair they found.
Mickey, then a father to be, gave the box a big hug as they prepared for the journey home
Three of the embryos grew into triplets (left-right) Shepherd Thomas, Eleni Lynn, and Ayla Sue
They even took the embryos on a slide, on a swing and for a stroll around a Christmas tree park.
The couple welcomed their three children in August 2017.
Samantha added: ‘I look back now at those pictures and cannot believe I am now looking at my three babies.
‘I am so glad we did it. It is mind-blowing that our three babies were in that box.’
‘I am so glad we did it. It is mind-blowing that our three babies were in that box,’ Samantha said of the impromptu photoshoo