From the Netherlands to Spain: Dorien found her miracle at Tambre after 18 treatments

‘After 18 disappointments, I never gave up hope… and then suddenly, seeing the ultrasound scan confirming that it was happening… it was truly fantastic.’

These words by Dorien Waanders sum up the emotional rollercoaster that many couples experience on their way to parenthood. But her story is not only extraordinary because of the 18 unsuccessful fertility treatments she underwent, but also because on her 19th attempt, in her first and only treatment at Tambre, she succeeded.

When perseverance meets experience

The morning that Dorien and Tambre CEO Inge Kormelink sat down for coffee in the garden of the house where Inge’s mother was born, there was much more than just a conversation between a patient and a professional. There was a genuine connection between two women who deeply understand what it means to long to be a mother. At the time, she was already 33 weeks pregnant.

‘Dorien’s story touched me deeply,’ said Inge. ‘I was especially touched because I was a patient myself, but above all because of the number of treatments she had undergone, and I knew that at Tambre we could help her’.

That intuition materialised months later. Today, Dorien is the mother of Cas, a baby boy born in October.

‘Seeing her now, so happy, was really touching,’ recalls Inge. ‘Having been a patient myself, I am thrilled to know that we were able to accompany her on this journey’.

This feeling sums up something essential about Tambre’s work: the combination of clinical experience, sensitivity and commitment that accompanies each patient, especially in complex cases.

When perseverance meets despair

Eighteen treatments. Eighteen cycles of hope, preparation, excitement and, finally, disappointment. This figure, which for many might mean total surrender, was simply the road towards her dream for Dorien. It was three and a half years of searching, of disappointments, of getting her hopes up again. Her problem was immunological, and thanks to Tambre’s expertise, her pregnancy was possible.

‘I could hardly believe it,’ Dorien recalls the moment she found out she was pregnant. ‘It was amazing.’

Her experience reflects a reality that many couples know all too well: the feeling of being trapped in an endless cycle of treatments that, despite following established protocols, do not deliver the expected results.

The move abroad: more than a journey, a leap of faith

For a Dutch woman, making the decision to cross borders for treatment is not easy. It involves stepping out of the comfort zone, relying on professionals in another country and taking on complex logistics. But for Dorien, as for many Benelux patients who choose Tambre, it was worth it.

‘Well, for me it was a very personal step,’ Dorien explained. ‘Above all because I found the attention at Tambre to be very personalised, very warm. There was excellent communication and from the beginning we had a very positive feeling. This is unfortunately not always possible in the Netherlands.’

These words sum up one of the keys to Tambre’s success with international patients: the combination of medical excellence, diagnostic precision, high technology and a deeply human approach.

At Tambre, science meets humanity

What Dorien found at Tambre was not just another fertility clinic. She found a team that understood that behind each case there is a unique story, a personal struggle and a longing that transcends the medical aspect.

‘The protocol was completely adapted to me,’ Dorien emphasised.

This personalisation of treatment is one of the hallmarks of Tambre, where each patient receives a plan specifically designed for their particular circumstances.

‘In Spain, it certainly was, and from the outset I felt very confident in the treatment, the team and the doctors. The care was truly fantastic and, in the end, the result was very good.’

A multilingual team that breaks down barriers

One of the most valued aspects by international patients at Tambre is the ability to feel understood, literally. With teams speaking Dutch, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish, the language barrier disappears.

‘We accompany our patients: we pick them up at the airport, take them to the clinic…’, explained Inge, aware that the process is stressful enough without adding the logistical complexity of moving around in a foreign country.

Dorien, a nurse by profession, decided to transform her experience into active accompaniment for other women. Today she is a fertility coach, and receives messages from women who, knowing her story, feel understood and accompanied.

‘I think it is important, because it is a very sensitive issue. I would like people to feel support, recognition or even a little bit of hope,’ she shared.

‘Despite so many disappointments, I want them to know that there are still good possibilities and that there are many more options than they imagine’.

Inge sums it up: ‘Dorien is an example of how the impact of our work goes far beyond treatment. Today, she accompanies other women, and that is tremendously inspiring’.

A story with a name of its own: Cas

Today, Dorien looks at her son Cas, her Spanish miracle, and knows that every step—the trips, the doubts, the 18 failed attempts—led her to the place where she finally found a team that believed in her as much as she believed in herself.

Cas’s arrival is not just a happy ending: it is the beginning of a new phase. For Dorien, a wonderful time. For Tambre, a confirmation that a job well done transforms lives. And for those who are starting out on their own journey, a reminder that hope, when nurtured and accompanied, finds its place.