My Journey Into Natural Family Planning

I first heard about the Creighton Model of FertilityCare on Catholic radio during my own infertility journey. I had been told by my gynecologist that my infertility was “unexplained,” but I wanted to dig deeper. That’s when I reached out to Dr. Lynn Keenan, who became my NaPro doctor. Along with her, I worked with Angelica Valverde, a FertilityCare Practitioner, to learn the Creighton Model. Thanks to their guidance, I was blessed with a successful pregnancy and the birth of our son, Nathan. Unfortunately, we were never able to conceive again, but the experience of using the Creighton Model and NaProTechnology to identify and address the root causes of my infertility was transformative. It aligned with my Catholic convictions about fertility, and it was clear to me that this approach was truly different from anything I had tried before.

After Nathan’s birth I continued using the Creighton Model, and as he grew, my career in agricultural finance began to feel increasingly incompatible with my responsibilities as a mother to a child with autism. In the fall of 2017, I felt a calling to become a FertilityCare Practitioner. I began my training that November and started seeing clients in January of 2018. It was a life-changing decision. This work allowed me the flexibility to be there for my son while contributing to my family financially. It also felt like the culmination of my own journey with infertility—preparation for the calling God had planned for me all along.

I now teach 100% virtually, in both English and Spanish, to clients locally and across the country. The freedom of working from home allows me to balance my family life and business while helping others in their fertility journeys. One of my most rewarding experiences as a practitioner was when my very first NAPRO baby was born. This particular client had struggled with infertility for several years. After working together and undergoing surgery, she became pregnant with her first child. To this day, she and her husband have grown their family from two to five, and I’ve continued to support her through her fertility needs. It’s moments like this that bring me great joy and fulfillment, especially since I can relate so deeply to the struggles of infertility.

In my personal life, I am the wife of Jesus, married for 22 years. We are the proud parents of Nathan, with four babies awaiting us in heaven. When I’m not teaching NFP, I love spending time with my family, friends, and participating in a virtual Bible study. I’m also a small business owner, helping women age gracefully and confidently as a SeneGence distributor. The flexibility of my work has been a blessing, allowing me to care for my aging parents and be involved in their medical and personal decisions.

When I first started learning the Creighton Model, I never could have imagined that it would lead me here. What began as my own search for answers has become a beautiful vocation—one that allows me to serve others while living out my faith and my calling as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. I can now see that every struggle, every detour, and every season of waiting was part of God’s preparation. I’m deeply grateful for where that journey has led me and for the privilege of answering God’s call on my life and living out the purpose He had planned for me.

Mayra, Why Do You Support CANFP?

“I support CANFP because they supported me during my education, and their director, Sheila, has become a trusted mentor and friend. Through their directory, I’ve been able to connect with clients who need support, and as a member of the NFP community in California, I know how important it is to have organizations like CANFP that promote the truth about NFP in a positive light.”