Mom Says IVF Saved Her Life After First Child Died at 3 from Rare Disease: ‘A Second Chance’ (Exclusive)

Lindzi Scharf’s daughter Evan died from a rare mitochondrial disease at 3 years old just months after she welcomed her son Reid, now 2½, through IVF

Lindzi Scharf is the founder of The Retaility, and a writer and journalist known for her work covering entertainment, lifestyle and fashion. Scharf is also known for sharing intimate details of her personal life

She welcomed her late daughter Evan almost six years ago with her photographer husband Michael Buckner. In personal essays shared with outlets including Variety, Today, Expedia, and LA Times,
the proud mom has previously opened up about Evan’s journey with a rare and fatal mitochondrial disease, and how the eventual death of her daughter in April 2022 transformed her and her family’s life.
Four months before Evan’s death, Scharf welcomed her son Reid, now 2½, through in vitro fertilization (IVF). In honor of what would have been Evan’s 6th birthday on July 31st, Scharf shares, in her own words, how IVF helped her family heal and ultimately saved her life.

“It’s the crystal,” my mom squealed when she learned I was pregnant.

I thought it was the result of my husband tracking my menstrual cycle on an app that calculated when I was ovulating

SKIP TO CONTENT

PEOPLE
SUBSCRIBE
3 Things to Know About Michael Strahan’s 4 Kids

HUMAN INTEREST
REAL PEOPLE
REAL PEOPLE PARENTING
Mom Says IVF Saved Her Life After First Child Died at 3 from Rare Disease: ‘A Second Chance’ (Exclusive)
Lindzi Scharf’s daughter Evan died from a rare mitochondrial disease at 3 years old just months after she welcomed her son Reid, now 2½, through IVF

By Lindzi Scharf Published on July 18, 2024 02:44PM EDT
Lindzi Scharf with her children
Lindzi Scharf with her children. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LINDZI SCHARF
Lindzi Scharf is the founder of The Retaility, and a writer and journalist known for her work covering entertainment, lifestyle and fashion. Scharf is also known for sharing intimate details of her personal life.

She welcomed her late daughter Evan almost six years ago with her photographer husband Michael Buckner. In personal essays shared with outlets including Variety, Today, Expedia, and LA Times, the proud mom has previously opened up about Evan’s journey with a rare and fatal mitochondrial disease, and how the eventual death of her daughter in April 2022 transformed her and her family’s life.

Four months before Evan’s death, Scharf welcomed her son Reid, now 2½, through in vitro fertilization (IVF). In honor of what would have been Evan’s 6th birthday on July 31st, Scharf shares, in her own words, how IVF helped her family heal and ultimately saved her life.

“It’s the crystal,” my mom squealed when she learned I was pregnant.

I thought it was the result of my husband tracking my menstrual cycle on an app that calculated when I was ovulating.

Lindzi Scharf with her family. COURTESY OF LINDZI SCHARF
Celebrities Who’ve Opened Up About Their Emotional IVF Journeys
But sure. maybe crystals had something to do with it?

Unbeknownst to me, my mom had purchased an “angel wing calcite crystal” hoping its “spiritual power” might nudge the universe to deliver her first

grandchild. I’d been reluctant to have kids since I was a kid. But once I hit 34, I decided it was time to see what all the fuss was about.

“The moment this stops being fun, I don’t want to do it anymore,” I told my husband, fearful of becoming the type of cliché, nagging wife I’d seen in Alexander Payne movies.

I thought I was edgy and different. Turns out I was young and naive. But I didn’t know that then. Turns out there was so much I didn’t know. Who knew?

One month after we began trying – I was pregnant.

Adding to my disbelief, I became one of those weirdos who actually liked pregnancy. Morning sickness and exhaustion aside, I loved my basketball belly. I wasn’t used to curves. But mostly, I appreciated having an immediate connection with other human beings. I’ve never been a fan of small talk, but this was the type of intimate chit-chat I could get behind because it came from such a genuine place. Perfect strangers would approach me to discuss our impending bundle of joy.