• J.R. Ortega •
• Originally published January 12, 2012 at 5:03 p.m., updated January 13, 2012 at 8:02 a.m.

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A blown-up photo framed in the Banda home represents many words and feelings.

The portrait is about hope and love, and, for the Bandas, the chance of a lifetime.

The photo is of their son, a 1-day-old Devion Banda, covered in a pillowy white blanket - a child five years in the making.

For some, pregnancy comes easy; but for others, trying to become pregnant is about stress, arguments, finances and heartache.

The five-year struggle

Devion, now 13 months, sits plopped on the off-white carpet of the Banda home, watching as his toy train chugs its way along a yellow track.

His parents, Christina and Art Banda Jr., cannot help but smile as they watch their son babble and make typical gestures.

Without Devion, the Bandas said, they are not sure where they would be.

"It was a long road. We all waited for him all these years," his mother said.

They married when Christina was 18 and Art was 20.

The two knew they wanted to start a family, and tried many times but remained unsuccessful.

After almost two years, the two realized something was not right.

Both had their fertility tested, and results found that Art had a low sperm count.

The two felt like they had lost hope.

"I would cry," Christina said. "It was real emotional. I thought I'd never have a baby."

Seeing other parents with kids always made the Bandas ache a little more - until they decided to go to the Fertility Center of San Antonio.

They decided to give in vitro fertilization a try.

In vitro fertilization is done when couples are unable to conceive.

Fertilization doctors use the sperm and eggs outside of the reproductive organs to give parents a chance to conceive.

"It's really wonderful that it's an option," said Dr. Yvette Westford, a Victoria obstetrician/gynecologist. "If you really want to have a baby, there is no reason why you can't have a baby."

Westford said the exception is for a few women or men who may have had traumatic injuries to their reproductive organs.

Of course, a big obstacle is the cost. Fertility clinics costs thousands of dollars.

The Bandas spent at least $20,000 just in fertility clinic visits, travel and other expenses.

But in 2008, they managed to get pregnant and immediately became excited.

It had worked. They were finally going to have their baby.

But then something happened.

Christina was rushed to a hospital in Houston and ended up losing the baby in the sixth week of her pregnancy.

"It was horrible," Christina said.

"We backed down," Art added about wanting to wait to try for another baby.

The two became quiet.

One last chance

Devion lounged in his father's arms, his lids a bit heavy after just waking from his nap.

The gleam in Art's eyes said enough - this is a dream come true.

"It was just one big chance," he said.

After the two lost their first baby, they took a year off.

This wasn't doctor's orders; it was their orders. They fell somewhat into a depression.

Art felt guilty and Christina felt somewhat incomplete.

Of course, there were arguments, but the two said their families have always been a huge support.

Only two embryos were left for Christina, and the two decided they would try one last time.

One died, so little Devion was their only hope

"He was our last chance," Christina said, watching her son as he smiled, watching "SpongeBob Squarepants."

The Bandas fall into about a 15 percent bracket of the Victoria population who have this much trouble conceiving, Westford said.

The reasons for not being able to conceive have a wide range - from men having a low sperm count to a woman with injuries to her organs.

On average, it takes five to six months to get pregnant, she said.

Westford explains it simple: If you were to put 100 women in a room, about 25 women would get pregnant in the first month, another 25 in the second, and so on.

Anywhere from 10 to 15 people in that room would be in the same boat as the Bandas.

But before fertility clinics, other options should be considered to help getting pregnant, like timing or pill medications, Westford said.

Once with a fertility clinic, the medications involve so much more, including injections.

"In vitro fertilization was a horrible, painful process," Christina said.

The second time the two got pregnant was in early 2010, with Devion - but the couple held their breath - that was until Nov. 30, when he was finally born.

"Now my family is complete," Christina said.

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