What begins as a simple thought can become something truly life changing. 

In this episode of Bringing Dreams & Miracles Together, Cara Maple, Chief Client & Business Officer, sits down with Family Source surrogate Lauren to share the story of her surrogacy journey, from first discovering surrogacy and choosing Family Source Consultants to finding the intended parents she immediately knew were the right match. 

Lauren opens up about the importance of mutual matching, the relationship she built with her intended parents, navigating an unsuccessful first embryo transfer, and the emotional moment when their next transfer finally resulted in a positive pregnancy. She also shares her delivery story, the unforgettable experience of watching the intended parents meet their baby boy for the first time, and how their connection has continued beyond birth. 

Lauren also speaks candidly about what prospective surrogates should understand before beginning a journey, including the commitment involved, the importance of having a strong support system, and why surrogacy is about so much more than compensation. 

It is an honest and heartfelt look at surrogacy through the eyes of someone who lived it, and the incredible impact one journey can have on so many lives. 

Thinking about becoming a surrogate? 

If Lauren’s story has inspired you to learn more, the Family Source Consultants team is here to answer your questions, help you understand what to expect, and support you every step of the way. 

Visit Family Source Consultants to learn more, contact our team, or apply to become a surrogate and take the first step toward helping another family’s dream become a reality.

Florida's surrogacy landscape recently changed with the passage of the FIRE Act, leaving many intended parents with questions about how the new law may affect their family-building journey.

In this episode of Bringing Dreams and Miracles Together, Chris Gao is joined by respected reproductive attorney Marla Neufeld to break down what the FIRE Act actually says, who it applies to, and the misconceptions surrounding the legislation. Together, they discuss residency versus citizenship, why communication between intended parents, surrogates, and legal professionals remains essential, and what international intended parents should know when considering Florida as their surrogacy destination.

Whether you're just beginning your journey or looking for clarity on recent legal updates, this conversation provides practical guidance, reassurance, and expert insight into the evolving world of surrogacy.

Connect With Family Source Consultants

Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation programs, educational resources, and family-building services at Family Source Consultants.

Follow Family Source Consultants:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/familysourceconsultants
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/familysourceconsultants
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/family-source-consultants
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familysourceconsultants

Connect With Greenspoon Marder

Learn more about Marla Neufeld and the reproductive law team at Greenspoon Marder LLP.

Follow Greenspoon Marder:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenspoon-marder-llp
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenspoonmarder
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenspoonmarder

In this educational and transparent conversation, Chris Gao, Chief Experience Officer of Family Source Consultants, sits down with Dr. Fabiola Balmir of CCRM Fertility Naperville to discuss the medical side of surrogacy and egg donation.

Together, they walk through the questions many intended parents and potential surrogates have but may hesitate to ask. What does the medical screening process involve? How are surrogates and egg donors evaluated? What should intended parents expect during embryo creation and transfer? And how do fertility clinics and agencies work together to create a safe, coordinated experience?

Dr. Balmir shares insight into how fertility specialists approach safety, medical readiness, and patient care, while Chris highlights how agencies provide emotional support, matching guidance, and continuity throughout the journey.

This episode is designed for:
• Intended parents exploring surrogacy or egg donation
• Women considering becoming surrogates or egg donors
• Families who want clarity on how medical and agency teams collaborate

If you are navigating family building and want a clear, ethical, and compassionate overview of what to expect, this conversation provides both medical expertise and practical guidance.

Learn more about Family Source Consultants and your family-building options at:
https://www.familysourceconsultants.com

To learn more about CCRM Fertility Naperville, visit:
https://www.ccrmivf.com/locations/naperville/

Family building is a journey. With the right medical team and experienced agency support, you do not have to walk it alone.

In this special anniversary episode, Chris Gao, Chief Experience Officer, sits down with Staci Swiderski, Founder and CEO of Family Source Consultants, to celebrate 19 years of bringing dreams and miracles together. Staci reflects on the early days of FSC, the evolution of surrogacy and egg donation, and the heart that has guided the agency through nearly two decades of growth. She also shares how FSC’s mission reaches far beyond matching, highlighting the agency’s commitment to ethical family building through its New York licensure, national and global presence, and long-standing support of nonprofit organizations.The episode closes with gratitude, honoring the surrogates, egg donors, their families and support systems, and the trusted partners who make this work possible, offering a heartfelt thank you to a community built on compassion, trust, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to build a family.www.familysourceconsultants.com

In this heartfelt conversation with Niki Renslow, Senior Program Director, proud parent Janelle opens up about her extraordinary path to motherhood, a journey marked by resilience, faith, and love. She shares how her first daughter was conceived through IVF after years of fertility challenges,and the gratitude she felt when her dream of becoming a mother finally came true.

When Janelle and her husband hoped to expand their family,new heartbreak led them to explore surrogacy. She reflects on the emotional toll of infertility, the courage to let go of control, and the beauty of trusting another woman to carry their child.

Today, with the arrival of their sweet miracle baby a year ago, Janelle’s story reminds us that the journey to parenthood may not be easy, but it is always worth it.

In this episode of the Bringing Dreams & Miracles Together podcast, Niki Renslow, Senior Program Director, Family Source Consultants, and Dr. Brooke Friedman, San Diego Fertility Center, discuss the journey of intended parents in selecting a fertility clinic and navigating the surrogacy process. The conversation covers essential topics such as the importance of experience and success rates in clinics, common misconceptions about fertility services, the involvement of intended parents in decision-making, and the collaboration between fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies.

Dr. Friedman emphasizes the need for clear communication and outlines the steps involved in preparing surrogates for their journey. The episode also touches on innovations in fertility treatments and offers advice for new intended parents feeling overwhelmed by their choices.

Takeaways 

• Experience matters when choosing a fertility clinic. 
• Success rates should be clearly defined and understood. 
• Not all fertility clinics are the same; research is essential. 
• Intended parents can be involved as much as they want. 
• Communication between clinics and agencies is crucial. 
• Surrogates must be thoroughly screened both physically and mentally. 
• The shift to single embryo transfers has improved outcomes. 
• Innovations in fertility treatments are on the rise. 
• Intended parents should take the process one step at a time. 
• Building a family is a personal journey that requires patience. 

In the powerful Season 3 finale of Bringing Dreams and Miracles Together, Chief Business Officer Cara Maple interviews Family Source Consultants’ Founder & CEO Staci Swiderski. Together, they reflect on a transformative season of episodes, revisiting highlights that centered on the legal, psychological, and emotional facets of surrogacy, egg donation, and third-party family building. This wide-ranging conversation celebrates the successes of intended parents, surrogates, donors, and the dedicated experts who support them—while exploring how Family Source’s mission has grown and deepened. Join us for this heartfelt conclusion to a season that’s brought dreams to life and created lasting communities of care. 

In this compassionate and informative episode of Bringing Dreams & Miracles Together, host Cara Maple, Chief Business Officer at Family Source Consultants, sits down with Kate LeBlanc from AllPaths Family Building to talk about something that’s often overlooked but absolutely essential: support. 

Whether you're just starting your fertility journey, exploring third-party reproduction, or navigating the emotional highs and lows of family building, having the right support can make all the difference. Kate shares how AllPaths provides inclusive, expert-led guidance, resources, and community for individuals and couples facing fertility challenges. Together, Cara and Katie explore the emotional toll of infertility, the value of finding your voice, and the many ways AllPaths helps people feel seen, heard, and supported every step of the way. 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking connection, clarity, and confidence on their path to parenthood. 

📩 Learn more or connect with AllPaths Family Building:
🌐 www.allpathsfamilybuilding.org
📧 [email protected]

In this special episode of Bringing Dreams and Miracles Together, host Chris Gao, Client Development Advisor at Family Source Consultants, reflects on his own experience as a Third-Party Coordinator at an IVF clinic and sits down with Rebecca Lyons, fellow Third-Party Coordinator at a surrogacy and egg donation agency. Together, they share a behind-the-scenes look at this essential role and how Third-Party Coordinators serve as a guiding force for intended parents, egg donors, surrogates, and clinics alike. From navigating timelines to offering emotional support, they discuss the nuances of building families through third-party reproduction and why empathy and organization are everything. 

In this informative episode of Bringing Dreams and Miracles Together, host Chris Gao, Client Development Advisor at Family Source Consultants, is joined by renowned reproductive and family law attorney Andrew Vorzimer of Vorzimer Masserman. With decades of experience guiding international intended parents through the complex legal landscape of surrogacy in the U.S., Andrew provides critical insights into why the United States remains the most legally secure destination for family building through third-party reproduction. 

From understanding parentage orders to navigating U.S. birthright citizenship, this episode sheds light on the legal processes, protections, and potential challenges international intended parents should be aware of. Whether you're just starting your journey or preparing to welcome your baby home, this conversation offers the legal clarity and confidence needed to move forward.