About Komal

I never imagined I would become an expert in failing. But after 14 years of heartbreak, loss, and relentless determination to become a mother, I know this journey inside and out.

I’m Komal Appleby, founder of Blossom, based in Auckland, New Zealand. My husband John and I began trying for a baby when I was 23, full of hope and naivety, believing we would be parents within a year. Instead, we faced years of unexplained infertility, five rounds of IVF (four in New Zealand and one internationally), multiple miscarriages, and the unimaginable grief of losing our son Kaden at 24 weeks.

While I was climbing the corporate ladder in banking and developing successful training and coaching programs, I felt like I was failing at the one thing I wanted most. My world grew smaller as friends moved forward with their families and I remained behind, navigating appointment after appointment, endless tests, and constant heartbreak. I wasn’t used to losing. I researched day and night, desperate for answers that never came.

Even when I finally became pregnant, I couldn’t relax. Every scan was laced with anxiety. The fear of loss was my constant companion. At times, I felt like I was losing my mind. The weight of grief, guilt, and shame was suffocating. But I couldn’t give up. Not for myself. Not for John. He was made to be a dad, and I was determined to make that happen.

Eventually, after years of devastation, research, and sheer grit, our family did blossom. We now have two beautiful children. But I carry the scars of that journey with me. And it’s those scars that fuel my work today.

Through Blossom, I bring together my lived experience and my professional coaching background to support others walking this incredibly difficult path. I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I do know how it feels to be lost, overwhelmed, and exhausted by fertility treatment. I listen deeply. I ask the questions you may not know how to ask. I walk beside you with empathy, honesty, and care.

Blossom exists so you don’t have to navigate this alone. This is not just my work, it’s deeply personal. Together, we can explore new options, find clarity in the complexity, and help you move forward with hope.

Over time, I’ve had the privilege of walking beside many others who have faced similar heartbreaks. Some now hold their children. Some are still navigating their paths. Each story is deeply personal, and a reminder that no one should walk this road alone.