About Us

Our founder, Carrie Christensen, was diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma at age 24. A cancer diagnosis is a lot for anyone to deal with, let alone a young adult learning to navigate life. The severity didn’t fully hit Carrie until her oncologist told her, “If you for sure want to have your own biological children, you should freeze your eggs.” Growing up as the youngest of six kids, Carrie always knew she wanted to be a mom, so this was a nonnegotiable for her.

Our Why

Black and white photo strip of children playing outdoors, including two boys and one girl, with some children sitting and some standing, in an outdoor park or playground setting.

We believe every woman deserves the chance to choose motherhood, no matter their diagnosis

A smiling woman sitting in a medical chair with an IV in her arm in a hospital or clinic setting.
Circle of text reading 'Preserving Every Woman's Right to Choose Motherhood' in red font
A pink flower with black and peach center details.
A beige silhouette of a flower with three buds on a black background.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Future Blooms came from the surprising lack of resources available for cancer patients wanting to preserve their fertility. Insurance didn’t cover the fertility treatments, nonprofits were unavailable for her circumstances, and there were few women her age that understood her specific challenges.

Three women in floral crowns smiling outdoors during twilight, standing on grass with houses in the background.
A woman with red hair and a blue dress giving a bath to a newborn baby in a kitchen sink, smiling at the camera.
Three young girls holding hands outdoors, wearing matching floral pajamas, with green trees and hills in the background.
Group of women and girls in vintage dresses posing outdoors.
Line drawing of a bouquet of flowers including a large open bloom and two smaller buds on a black background.
A woman with light skin and long blonde hair tied in a pink scrunchie, standing sideways and holding a large bouquet of pink and white peonies, wearing a floral blouse and white pants, standing against a plain wall.
Young girl with curly hair in a white dress standing among yellow flowers in a garden.
A young girl in a white dress with ruffled sleeves and a full, layered skirt, standing outdoors on grass in front of a brick building and green shrubbery, smiling.
Three young girls sitting on a brick ledge outside a brick building, smiling and playing, with a wooden railing in front.
Two women sitting on rocks by a stream, smiling and talking, surrounded by trees and foliage.

our mission

The mission of Future Blooms is to alleviate some of the heartache, loneliness, and burden women face as they wrestle with both a cancer diagnosis and how that impacts their chance to become a mom. As a patient is undergoing both the physical and emotional pains associated with a cancer diagnosis, we want them to know that there is still so much beauty to come in their future. We want Future Blooms to remind every woman that the hope of motherhood and future dreams will still be here on the other side of cancer.

A smiling woman sitting in a medical chair with an IV in her arm in a hospital or clinic setting.
Circle of text reading 'Preserving Every Woman's Right to Choose Motherhood' in red font
A pink flower with black and peach center details.
A beige silhouette of a flower with three buds on a black background.

Inspiration

The inspiration for Future Blooms came from the surprising lack of resources available for cancer patients wanting to preserve their fertility. Insurance didn’t cover the fertility treatments, nonprofits were unavailable for her circumstances, and there were few women her age that understood her specific challenges.

Three women in floral crowns smiling outdoors during twilight, standing on grass with houses in the background.
Three young girls sitting on a brick ledge outside a brick building, smiling and playing, with a wooden railing in front.
A young girl in a white dress with ruffled sleeves and a full, layered skirt, standing outdoors on grass in front of a brick building and green shrubbery, smiling.

our mission

The mission of Future Blooms is to alleviate some of the heartache, loneliness, and burden women face as they wrestle with both a cancer diagnosis and how that impacts their chance to become a mom. As a patient is undergoing both the physical and emotional pains associated with a cancer diagnosis, we want them to know that there is still so much beauty to come in their future. We want Future Blooms to remind every woman that the hope of motherhood and future dreams will still be here on the other side of cancer.

THE TEAM

THE TEAM

Portrait of a smiling blonde woman with long wavy hair wearing a black sleeveless top against a plain background.

Carrie Christensen

Carrie Christensen is a BYU business graduate with a background in entrepreneurship and product management. She has started her own floral business, worked on innovation teams, and now serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Intermountain Health Oncology. After being diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma, Carrie felt firsthand the gap in resources for young women facing both cancer and fertility decisions, an experience that inspired her to launch Future Blooms.

Portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a black blazer and dark striped shirt, in a cozy indoor setting with string lights in the background.

Dawn Ritzwoller, MPH

Dawn Ritzwoller is a pediatric ovarian germ cell cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 13 and now 13 years into survivorship. Her experience navigating treatment and life after cancer drives her passion for advocating equitable access to fertility preservation and long-term care for young people with cancer. As a patient advocate, she brings the survivor voice to national and international initiatives, ensuring patient perspectives guide cancer research and fertility preservation efforts.

A woman with long, wavy black hair smiling, wearing a light-colored blouse with a floral pattern and a gold necklace, standing against a plain light gray wall.

Lacey Mickelsen, BSN, RN

Lacey Mickelsen is a dedicated fertility nurse with over 9 years of experience supporting individuals and couples on their reproductive journeys, specializing in patient education, care coordination, and emotional support. Lacey brings a compassionate and holistic approach to fertility care. Lacey's passion for oncofertility is deeply personal, shaped by a strong family history of cancer and a firsthand understanding of how critical fertility preservation can be for young patients facing a diagnosis. She is dedicated to ensuring that no one has to choose between life-saving treatment and the possibility of building a family in the future.

Emily Wheatley

Emily Driggs Wheatley earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in tax accounting from Brigham Young University and now works as a full-time tax accountant at Ernst & Young. Deeply committed to service, she spent 18 months in Brazil as a volunteer representative for her church, where she developed a lifelong passion for helping others. Raised by strong women and the oldest of a large family, Emily is deeply inspired by the influence of mothers and female role models in her life. This fuels her dedication to empowering both women and families.

A smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, wearing a light-colored scarf and brown outer garment, standing outdoors in front of a building with a textured wall and decorative metal window grill.

Melanie Colton

Melanie Farrell Colton was born in Fullerton, California.  She graduated with a BA in the Humanities from BYU in 1985.  Melanie married Brad Colton and raised their 4 children in the suburbs of Maryland.  She has served as a PTA president, and many church leadership roles and non-profits.  Her favorite positions were as the Co-Chair and Vice President of the American Heart Association Women's Board.  Since her move to Midway, Utah she has served as a missionary managing the human resources for the 700 volunteers in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

THE TEAM

Portrait of a smiling blonde woman with long wavy hair wearing a black sleeveless top against a plain background.

Carrie Christensen

Carrie Christensen is a BYU business graduate with a background in entrepreneurship and product management. She has started her own floral business, worked on innovation teams, and now serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Intermountain Health Oncology. After being diagnosed with Stage 3 Melanoma, Carrie felt firsthand the gap in resources for young women facing both cancer and fertility decisions, an experience that inspired her to launch Future Blooms.

Portrait of a smiling woman with blonde hair, wearing a black blazer and dark striped shirt, in a cozy indoor setting with string lights in the background.

Dawn Ritzwoller, MPH

Dawn Ritzwoller is a pediatric ovarian germ cell cancer survivor, diagnosed at age 13 and now 13 years into survivorship. Her experience navigating treatment and life after cancer drives her passion for advocating equitable access to fertility preservation and long-term care for young people with cancer. As a patient advocate, she brings the survivor voice to national and international initiatives, ensuring patient perspectives guide cancer research and fertility preservation efforts.

A woman with long, wavy black hair smiling, wearing a light-colored blouse with a floral pattern and a gold necklace, standing against a plain light gray wall.

Lacey Mickelsen, BSN, RN

Lacey Mickelsen is a dedicated fertility nurse with over 9 years of experience supporting individuals and couples on their reproductive journeys, specializing in patient education, care coordination, and emotional support. Lacey brings a compassionate and holistic approach to fertility care. Lacey's passion for oncofertility is deeply personal, shaped by a strong family history of cancer and a firsthand understanding of how critical fertility preservation can be for young patients facing a diagnosis. She is dedicated to ensuring that no one has to choose between life-saving treatment and the possibility of building a family in the future.

A smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, wearing a light-colored scarf and brown outer garment, standing outdoors in front of a building with a textured wall and decorative metal window grill.

Melanie Colton

Melanie Farrell Colton was born in Fullerton, California.  She graduated with a BA in the Humanities from BYU in 1985.  Melanie married Brad Colton and raised their 4 children in the suburbs of Maryland.  She has served as a PTA president, and many church leadership roles and non-profits.  Her favorite positions were as the Co-Chair and Vice President of the American Heart Association Women's Board.  Since her move to Midway, Utah she has served as a missionary managing the human resources for the 700 volunteers in the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.

Emily Wheatley

Emily Driggs Wheatley earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in tax accounting from Brigham Young University and now works as a full-time tax accountant at Ernst & Young. Deeply committed to service, she spent 18 months in Brazil as a volunteer representative for her church, where she developed a lifelong passion for helping others. Raised by strong women and the oldest of a large family, Emily is deeply inspired by the influence of mothers and female role models in her life. This fuels her dedication to empowering both women and families.

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