Katie Thurston is putting her family-expanding plans on the back burner for now.
“The Bachelorette” alum has been open about delving into In Virtro Fertilization and surrogacy with her husband, Jeff Arcuri, as their best bet to have children. Taking the necessary steps, the pair began the process shortly before her cancer treatment commenced.
Katie Thurston was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, which later spread to her liver and progressed to stage IV. The TV personality has since documented her journey with the disease, including getting a double mastectomy this year.
The reality TV star’s husband, Arcuri, recently shared updates on their plans to grow their family amid her cancer battle. He disclosed that while they have made great progress in the early phase of their IVF journey, they have decided to hold off on their plans for a bit.
Arcuri shared that they already have two embryos, but right now, their focus is on their house construction. “We got a house that’s being renovated. It’s hit a lot of hiccups,” he revealed before going on to say that the timeline of the renovation had changed significantly.
“So our house was supposed to be renovated in maybe four months; that was our initial projection. Now it’s 18 months,” Arcuri told hosts on a July 21 episode of the “Off the Vine” podcast. Their decision to wait before pushing through with the IVF stemmed from them not wanting to welcome a child while still dealing with renovation issues.
Her Husband Said They Want To Wait For The Right Time
For the couple, certain things have to be in place before children come into the picture, hence their decision to take things slow. In Arcuri’s words, “I kind of want to have a home for my baby before a baby for my home.”
The lovebirds have received advice from families who went through a similar route to have their children. Their advice, “Just do it,” the comedian shared, adding that he’s been told the right time never comes. Despite this, he and Thurston are standing firm in their decision to cross off other things from their list before having a baby.
“We live in a hectic area,” he shared, stressing that since they do not have a home, bringing a child into the picture in addition to other hassles they have at hand did not seem like the right move.
Jeff Arcuri Has Been By Her Side Through The Cancer Battle
According to PEOPLE, Arcuri and Thurston connected via social media in 2024 and, after a number of over-the-phone conversations, decided to meet in person.
By June of that year, the reality TV star made their relationship Instagram official, and about three months later, Arcuri got down on one knee and popped the question.
Thurston received her breast cancer diagnosis after noticing a painful lump in her breast in February 2025, and her partner never left her side. The comedian had a show the night after getting the medical reports and had to put on a brave face to perform.
“I was crying in the green room thinking what our next steps would be,” the TV personality recalled, adding, “He eventually rescheduled his tour and was by my side for this next chapter.”
The pair moved up their original wedding date and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on March 22, 2025. It was later revealed that since the TV star was scheduled to begin treatment on March 27, Arcuri hastened the marriage plans, proving he was not going to stand by her through thick and thin.
‘The Bachelorette’ Alum’s Mom Also Faced A Breast Cancer Battle
Nearly a year after Thurston got her breast cancer diagnosis, her mom was faced with the same health battle. “The Bachelorette” alum shared on social media last January that her mom was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer thanks to her persistence on self-advocacy, especially in the medical space.
The media personality detailed that her mom had a mammogram and the results said: “negative and probably benign.” Even though the doctors noted her dense breast, they did not recommend further imaging or a breast ultrasound.
The Blast reported that Thurston urged her mom to ask for a breast ultrasound after the medical personnel had told her to come back in a year for her annual mammogram. Thanks to the ultrasound she suggested, they noticed suspicious masses, scheduled an MRI, and performed biopsies, which confirmed the diagnosis.
Her mom underwent a lumpectomy and completed 21 rounds of radiation therapy before walking out cancer-free last month.
Katie Thurston Previously Detailed Her Plans To Have Kids
Owing to her health challenges, Thurston and her husband decided that to have children, they would have to go through the unconventional route. She revealed that they decided to freeze their embryos prior to the start of her cancer treatment last year.
“I’m basically putting my ovaries into a temporary menopausal state (I like to say hibernation) to protect them from chemo,” she shared at the time. The reality TV star also explained that the process will reduce estrogen production, aiding her cancer treatment process, as “estrogen can fuel cancer growth.”
As regards pregnancy, The Blast shared that Arcuri and Thurston have thought it best to use a gestational carrier for their future babies. “Jeff and I discussed the importance of my health and that, when the time comes, surrogacy will likely be the best option for us,” she told fans.
Furthermore, Thurston warned her fans not to judge celebrities who go through surrogacy to expand their families.
What is next for Katie Thurston?