Beverley Verney could not imagine a life without children. She worked as the nanny of a little boy and had always wanted her own. For years, she had tried to get pregnant. Then in 1992 she found out that she would never be able to conceive naturally. Her fallopian tubes were blocked and the damage was too bad for an operation to clear them.

There was no choice for her or her partner Dean. They would have to undergo fertility treatment. But it was clear from the start that it was going to cost them a lot - and not just in emotional trauma. "The GP told us the waiting list for NHS treatment was phenomenal and probably not worth going on."

The couple, who live in Nottingham, were faced with finding about £2,500 for each IVF attempt at a private clinic. Few are successful first time. Beverley and Dean took out a loan and in June 1993, the treatment began. It was unsuccessful. "They told us you have a chance of about 24% or less, but I still convinced myself it would work," she said. "I was devastated when it didn't, but immediately began looking for a way to find more money."

The clinic advised a break before the next attempt. The couple arranged their wedding, even though the uncertainties over fertility treatment "took the shine off it". They borrowed money for the wedding - and a bit more for the second attempt.

The second attempt took place in August 1994. It failed. "You are informed by phone whether it has worked." said Beverley. "That is general. But when you are paying all that money, you at least expect someone to comfort you."

She and Dean were distressed and ever deeper in debt. It became too much, and they split up. "I pushed my husband away and went back to my mum's. But we realised we wanted children of our own and we would have to be strong. We took out money for a third attempt."

Beverley was unhappy with the clinic, so they changed to one recommended by a friend. She felt the new consultant was more positive. "He said: 'I'm going to get you pregnant.' Him being so positive made me feel much stronger."

The treatment began in September 1997 and was successful. Beverley was told she was carrying triplets, but at 20 weeks, one baby died in the womb. The couple were sad, but decided it was meant to be. She gave birth to twin girls, Tara and Rosie, nine weeks prematurely. The twins, now two and a half, are thriving.

Beverley and Dean were delighted, but had a huge debt, which she puts at £18,000. While she was still pregnant, they sold their home to pay it off and went to live with Dean's parents two months before the twins were born. Eventually the council housed the family in a two-bedroom flat. Two years later, with both working, they managed to buy another house, but she felt she was losing out through not seeing enough of her babies. Now Dean is doing two jobs so she can spend time with the children she desperately wanted.

Money is still tight. She understands that the NHS cannot pay for all fertility treatment, "but just one attempt would have helped".