Desiree’s Surrogacy Story

Hope

Desiree brought not only hope to two couples, but proof that with enough faith and perseverance dreams do come true. In August 2001, Desiree delivered twin girls with record breaking birth weights of 8lb 1oz and 7lb 10oz to a Couple who were on their last try to have a baby.

If that wasn’t enough pressure, I then matched her with a Couple whom came to us from another program. Not only had they experienced more unsuccessful attempts than they care to count or remember their hearts were broken and their faith was weak. So, Desiree gave her heart and offered her faith to get them through the next attempt. Their baby boy arrived 9 months later on February, 25, 2003 weighing 7lb 10oz.

Samantha’s Surrogacy Story

Three’s Company

Chase arrived December 26, 2000 after a fun-filled and exciting 9 months…plus a week! His parents, like many of our other new parents, knew he would not be an only child. Their eagerness to start again overshadowed any doubt that sooner rather than later was what they wanted.

So as Chase was rapidly approaching his ?Terrible Twos?, so was the due date of their twins! November 12, 2002 marked the end of Chase’s only child syndrome, and soon thereafter changed his life forever. He was curious and intrigued at first, but after a while, he was ready for them to go away! Fortunately, he now has taken nicely to his baby brother, Kyle and baby sister, Ella. They weighed in at 6lb 1oz and 6lb 6oz, respectively.

This second pregnancy was quite the media event. I had to call Sam’s ?people? in order to get an appointment to speak with her! No, it wasn’t like that, but we sure enjoyed pretending it was. CNN participated in an embryo transfer and a cameraman followed Samantha for months. That was totally tolerable because he also brought along a hair and makeup person! The day after the delivery, CNN and the local television news in San Diego came by the hospital for more interviews. Then we wrapped up with a story for Ladies Home Journal that will be the feature story in their May 2003 issue. Wow, do these kids have agents yet??

Chris’ Surrogacy Story

A Riddle

What do you get when you combine the birth weights of this Mom, Dad and their dog?

Still less weight than their baby girl who weighed in at 8lb 4oz!!

Chris, John and their girls Brooke and Nicole came through once again, bringing yet another baby girl into this world. You?ll recall from her last birth story that Brooke & Nicole believe that their Mom only knows how to make girls. They were proven right again on November 5, 2002 when Emma arrived.

Sylvia’s Surrogacy Story

Perseverance Prevails

Perseverance. I can’t think of a better way to describe Sylvia and Luis in their trials through surrogacy. They only wanted to help bring a child into the hearts and lives of their Couple, but success would elude them. After two years, we all knew we had to stop.

It would have been understandable if Sylvia decided to stop her participation in the program as surrogacy had consumed their lives for so long. But the desire to help someone in this way didn’t diminish. So Sylvia made up for lost time and delivered twins!! The baby girls were born on October 31, 2002 with Carson weighing in at 5lb 4oz and Harper weighing in at 4lb 9oz, making Madison a very, very happy big sister.

December 21, 2002 is also a special date as Jackson Evan was born weighing in at 7lb 3oz. Sylvia’s first couple had stopped all medical treatment and one day discovered that they were pregnant!! Congratulations to all of these families!!

Jackie’s Surrogacy Story

Jackie’s Journey Part 2

In our October 2001 newsletter issue, you can read in Jackie’s own words about her beautiful experience that brought Baby Angel into the world on June 17, 2001. Although it was no big surprise that Jackie wanted to help again in this special way, it just surprised me that she mentioned it within hours after delivering!!

As soon as she recovered, Jackie was back in the program and was looking forward to helping Max become a big brother. So, on October 14, 2002, Max’s baby brother was born and the proud family named him Luke. Luke was quite a big boy, weighing 8lb 14oz. Congratulations to Jackie and her family for their truly wonderful contributions to these two families and our program.

 

Ericka’s Surrogacy Story

Girls x 3

Girls, girls, girls. Three to be exact. Ericka’s first surrogacy experience blessed her Couple with a beautiful, baby girl named Irene. Ericka & Keith were so moved by this experience, they knew they wanted to help another special Couple before adding to their own family.

So, on September 17, 2002, two new parents were thrilled to be holding their new baby girls, Marissa and Elena, who arrived weighing 4lb 13oz and 5lb 3oz!! So the question remains…..Will the girl trend continue for Ericka? Will their son have a baby sister or two?? We’ll know in 2004. Stay tuned!

Melissa D.’s Surrogacy Story

No Longer Little

Baby Justin was born on December 1, 2000, answering his parent’s prayers of 18 years. These new parents didn’t want too much time to pass before adding to their family, so they eagerly waited the time they could start again.

Well, they were surprised when the news came that they were to be blessed with not one more child, but two! Melissa delivered Justin’s brother, Jason, and his little sister, Catherine, on March 24, 2002. Now this family is not so little any longer, but truly happy and definitely complete!

Melissa’s Surrogacy Story

What to do??

Melissa delivered Marta on June 12, 2000. These very happy new parents knew they wanted another child, but would have to wait about 3 years. Melissa wondered what to do in the meanwhile. Hmmmm? Well, be a surrogate mom for another special couple, of course!! So, that’s what she did.

On January 31, 2002 she delivered a gorgeous little guy named Joshua Busby and he weighed in at 7lb 8oz. And guess what?? Marta’s sibling is due to arrive in August 2003!

2001 Carol’s Corner

I had some difficult moments when writing this newsletter issue. At a time when we as a nation, no, we as a people, have suffered greatly at the hands of terrorists, I was sitting at my computer attempting to write about my beautiful experiences with my Surrogate Moms and their Couples. It felt inappropriate to write about things that fill my heart with joy and bring tears of happiness to my eyes. But then I decided that sharing our stories with you would be a healing mechanism not only for me, but for many of you too. So, I hope you enjoy the many stories in this issue as I enjoyed writing them very much.

Our experiences this past year includes exposure to media with Tara’s surrogacy experience beautifully told in the October 2001 issue of Chicago Magazine. And in June, a television program from Spain came to interview several surrogate moms and they also followed Jackie around until the birth of her Couple’s son. I thank all of the Couples in Spain, the surrogate moms, their husbands and children for their participation and for taking the time to show the world what surrogacy is truly about.

September 11, 2001 will certainly be a day that the world will remember for the senseless tragedies we suffered in New York and Washington, D.C. For many it will also be an event that triggered unity for mankind. The support that I felt when I received calls from all over the United States and many other countries were tremendous. I will forever cherish every e-mail and fax and the memories of every phone call I received that day and the weeks following. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your thoughtfulness in these difficult times.

We, at Building Families, offer our condolences to those who lost a loved one, we offer our support to the many military families affected at this time and we continue to pray for our nation, our world and it’s leaders. May God continue to bless us all and God Bless America.

Rachel’s Surrogacy Story

Happy Thanksgiving

Michael & Jayson were too impatient to wait for their due dates the following year, so they made their appearance in time for Thanksgiving.  Rachel and their parents were surprised by their arrival on November 17, 2001 but thankful they were so healthy.