Olympic medalist Novlene Williams-Mills, of Winter Garden, came to Brown Fertility after she and her husband Jameel had tried unsuccessfully for a year to get pregnant. A Jamaica native, Novlene shares her love for track and field started at a very young age. “Back in Jamaica my mom would send me to the store” she says. “And I was always running, I remember she told us to get back quick!” Fast forward, Novlene has won multiple World Championships and Olympic medals and competed until 2017.
Remarkably, Novlene had competed in track for a period of time even while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Now a breast cancer survivor, Novlene works with Livestrong at the YMCA, a program to promote the importance of physical activity after a cancer diagnosis.
In 2018 Novlene was referred to Brown Fertility from a referral from her OBGYN. Novlene and Jameel decided to start their IVF journey with Novlene in her late 30s, knowing they were “racing against the clock.” Her treatment, including removing fibroids, proved successful in 2019 and she gave birth to twin boys, Jameir and Jamari. Novlene says she is lucky and blessed to have her boys as a breast cancer survivor, especially since others in similar situations aren’t so lucky.
The Mills family commends the Brown Fertility team for their outstanding communication during each visit and the relationships they built during the treatment process. “I think the biggest thing is having that great staff to let you know, they are there with you on your journey” she says. “I don’t feel like I’m a number, you value me.” Her and husband praise the providers and team for all having the same goal as them – walking out with a family that you came in there to start.