By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Elena Halbeisen of Finneytown holds her twins Ethan, left, and Ayla, 5.5 months, at a baby reunion at Kings Island. The party was thrown by the Institute for Reproductive Health. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

MASON - Dr. Michael Scheiber couldn't walk two feet Sunday without a happy mother giving him a hug. Nearby, a mother with a twin in each arm stood trying to get a moment with Dr. Sherif Awadalla.

"Come over, I want you to see the end result," Cathy Born said as she led Scheiber to her 11-month-old twins, Lexi and Nathan.

Born and thousands of other mothers credit the doctors at Institute for Reproductive Health in Norwood for making them parents. And they all wanted to thank the doctors Sunday at the 15th annual Baby Reunion.

Strollers, toddlers, twins and triplets flooded Paramount Kings Island's picnic area Sunday, all evidence of the institute's 2,800 in-vitro success stories. The institute is one of the top fertility centers in Ohio and attracts clients from across the country.

"This is part of their history and part of where they came from," said Born, of Madeira, who tried for two years to get pregnant before the twins were born through in-vitro fertilization. "How apropos we are at Kings Island, because it really is a roller coaster ride."

The reunion gave families who went through similar emotional journeys a chance to share their stories and catch up with the institute staff.

"It's like fraternity," said Cathy's husband, Ken Born. "We all go through a lot of the same trials."

Many families at the picnic had twins or triplets because in-vitro fertilization often results in two or three embryos implanted to increase the chance of success. Today, 50 percent of women get pregnant with in-vitro in just one try, Scheiber said.

For Melissa and Michael Waters, of Fort Thomas, in vitro was their only hope. Severe endometriosis and other problems prevented Melissa from becoming pregnant - but she could carry a baby.

"If it weren't for Drs. Scheiber and Awadalla, we wouldn't have her," Melissa Waters said, looking at 9-month-old Abigail.

For Elena and Noah Halbeisen of Finneytown, their twins, Ethan and Ayla, were a miracle. Noah Halbeisen was paralyzed in an accident 10 years ago. A new procedure called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), in which sperm is injected into the egg, helped the couple conceive.

In the midst of hundreds of babies, the doctors gave their patients the credit.

"It's really wonderful to see, because these couples worked so hard," Scheiber said.

After the picnic and a group photograph, many of the families spent the day at Kings Island.

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E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com