There are different reasons why individuals may choose the surrogacy process to grow their families. Nowadays, surrogacy is a popular option for couples and intended parents who are finding it difficult to conceive on their own.
Surrogates have the potential to give the best gift of all – the gift of life. A lot of hopeful parents consider the surrogacy process when they require medical assistance to have children. Surrogates can give the best gift of all, they can make an otherwise hopeless couple become parents. It is a gift like no other, and the feeling of altruism is a perk all on its own.
Chris and Sandra’s Story
Chris and Sandra first met when they were undergrads at the University of California, San Diego. Chris was studying mathematics, while Sandra was an art major. Sandra, a beautiful, caring woman, was head over heels in love with Chris, who was also thankful for having this wonderful woman in his life.
Every time Sandra thinks about those days, she remembers how she and Chris both had high hopes. Both of them liked children and wanted to have plenty of them. They had even planned how they were going to raise their children, the kind of house they would reside in, the jobs they would be doing, and so on. Sandra wanted four kids, while Chris was more interested in having two.
They began a beautiful romantic relationship that resulted in their getting married in 2017. Following a wonderful honeymoon in Sanibel Island, they returned home and started trying to get pregnant right away, but they faced some obstacles.
READ MORE: Infertility: 5 Things I Wish I Would’ve Known
A Temporary Setback
Chris and Sandra were diagnosed with infertility in 2019 after two years of trying to conceive without success. (At the time, the thought of embarking on the surrogacy process had not even crossed their minds.) In 2020, the couple had three intrauterine insemination – also known as IUI – cycles and conceived on the third one. Sadly, the pregnancy was lost after sixteen weeks.
Not long after, Sandra began experiencing some health problems, which had affected her cardiac function. After several unsuccessful heart procedures, the couple was told that it would be unsafe for Sandra to carry a pregnancy.
She was devastated, and in a sad, confused state for weeks after the diagnosis. The tears that filled her eyes, the pain that tugged at her heart, as well as the soul-crushing hopelessness – it was almost too much to bear. In the end, Chris and Sandra decided not to let the diagnosis stop them from having children and began exploring the surrogacy process, looking for a surrogate to help carry their baby.
READ MORE: Tracking and Improving Male Infertility
Meet Catherine
Catherine was a high-school teacher who had lived in the suburbs for years. She was raised in a large extended family with a lot of cousins, nieces, and nephews playing around the house. Catherine had been longing to be a part of the surrogacy process after seeing her childhood best friend struggle to conceive for years and knowing how much she wanted a baby. She was thrilled about the prospect of helping other people complete their families through the surrogacy process.
But like many prospective surrogates, Catherine did not know where or how to begin the process. One day, her sister-in-law (a former surrogate) shared a story about her surrogacy process at a family dinner. She talked about what it meant for her to carry another person’s child, the smile she brought to the intended parents’ lips, and the compassionate care she received from her family and other people involved.
Catherine’s husband, George, was in total support of her decision to be an important part of the surrogacy process, although neither knew what to expect. Finding the right agency probably took the longest amount of time. Like her sister-in-law, she decided she wanted to work with an agency managed by physicians. Days turned into weeks, then months. The months ticked by during the application and screening process.
The Start of Something Very Special
From Chris and Sandra’s side, the application was quick and they immediately started working with a coordinator who walked them through the entire surrogacy process. They were relieved that the physicians reviewed all medical records to ensure that the surrogacy process was safe.
After passing all of the screenings, it was on to matching with prospective parents. That’s when they learned about Catherine, who thought that Chris and Sandra sounded like sweet, wonderful people. Little did they know, Catherine was about to choose to fulfill her great desire to help them.
READ MORE: 6 Things You May Not Know About Secondary Infertility
Helping Complete Families through the Surrogacy Process
Sandra completely loved Catherine. She saw her as an ally, a confidant, and someone who understood what she wanted the most. Not only that, but she was willing to commit the next year to helping Sandra become a mother. Although they were two different people, the unity of purpose united them.
The two families bonded over text and email while preparing for the embryo transfer in the upcoming months, when they would see each other in person for the very first time. Catherine went on to have a healthy pregnancy and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy nine months after, helping Chris and Sandra realize their dream of having a family.
After several years of perseverance, Sandra finally has a baby to call her own. From that moment onward, her life became more meaningful. She would no longer look jealously at families with kids and feel sad for herself. That is the power of the surrogacy process.
Surrogates and their intended parents build a unique relationship during the surrogacy process. Most times, this relationship still continues even after the surrogacy process has ended.
When you agree to become a surrogate, you are embarking on a special, intimate journey that only a few people have the chance to experience. This is a journey that will connect both of you together forever. You will have the opportunity to know each other more than any other person does, and both of you will carry evidence of this amazing partnership for the rest of your life.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Once the surrogacy process is complete and it’s time to take that adorable newborn baby home, learn more about Maternity Leave Pay.
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