AshLeigh Meyer Dunham is a distinguished legal professional with a career rooted in service to Alabama families. She serves as a Referee in Jefferson County’s Juvenile Court, where she adjudicates sensitive family and juvenile matters with fairness, clarity, and compassion. Her work creates stability for children and families facing crisis, drawing on years of experience handling complex legal issues with a steady, principled approach.

AshLeigh is also a practicing Fertility Attorney at Magic City Fertility Law. Her expertise in this area is deeply personal: AshLeigh and her husband welcomed their daughter through IVF, but had to leave Alabama to access the care they needed to start their family. As an attorney, AshLeigh helps individuals and couples navigate the legal complexities of assisted reproduction so they can start and grow their families too. That experience fuels her public advocacy for legal protections for families seeking fertility treatment. She believes no Alabamian should have to leave home to start a family.

AshLeigh is running for a seat on the Alabama Supreme Court to bring a grounded, family-centered perspective to the state’s highest court. With experience across family and juvenile law, she is uniquely prepared to ensure that the court serves all Alabamians with integrity and empathy.

www.ashleighforalabama.com

Listen as AshLeigh shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Juggling being a practicing attorney, juvenile referee, hip hop fitness enthusiast, and Alabama Supreme Court candidate!
• Struggling to build a family herself and seeking fertility treatment, unsuccessfully, in state.
• Traveling to Oregon to see a fertility doctor based on Instagram advice. 
• Successful getting to her daughter.
• Having two more embryos stored in Oregon, with no intention on moving them to Alabama. 
• The terribleness of the LaPage case – the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that a clinic could be held liable for manslaughter as a result of embryo destruction – and it’s aftermath in Alabama. 
• Fertility clinics shut down. 
• 19 days later the Alabama legislature passed a bill to protect IVF clinics from criminal actions.
• But bill also prevents legal responsibility for clinics acting negligently. 
• Alabamians seeking care out of state for family buildng.
• AshLeigh fighting for better care and family rights for Alabamians. 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about AshLeigh Dunham: www.ashleighforalabama.com 

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Andrea Zorida Ali-Panzarella is a proud mom of three beautiful boys, who was inspired to write this book – Every Family Is A Tree -- after a long journey with infertility and loss. She is also a pediatrician, specializing in child abuse, who has cared for children from all walks of life.

Andrea and her husband welcomed their sons with the help of compassionate physicians and caring gestational carriers. As they read to their children each night, she noticed the limited number of books that represented their unique family story and realized the missed opportunities to empower her children to know their worth. Her hope with this book is that all people, especially children, will feel seen and accepted in this world no matter what their story is.

Listen as Andrea shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• In her medical training, seeing lots of children born by IVF, but never thinking it was something she would need to turn to. 
• After experiencing pregnancy loss, rethinking the mindset that everything happens for a reason. 
• Finding various diagnoses, including male factor fertility issues and polyps. 
• Turning to IVF and getting pregnant with twins. Only to lose one heartbeat and then the next. 
• Going through more transfers that either failed or ended in miscarriage.
• The conversation eventually turning to surrogacy.
• Working with an agency recommended by a friend; being matched with a surrogate they loved. 
• The surrogate becoming pregnant with twins! 
• Finally being able to breath when the babies arrived safely at 35 weeks. 
• Wanting to give the rest of their embryos a chance. 
• Being matched with a more local surrogate this time and getting to drive to attend appointments. 
• From day one with her babies, wanting to explain their story to them, but not finding many fitting children’s books. 
• Taking matters into her own hands to write something where everyone could feel seen – not just her own family, but all the different families she sees in her day-to-day practice as a pediatrician.  

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Dr. Andrea Ali-Panzarella and her book Every Family is a Tree: https://www.andreaali-panzarella.com/ 

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Stephanie Witte was born and raised in South Dakota. She has always had a passion for helping others and giving of herself has given her a wealth of experiences that have shaped her into the

person she is today. 

From a young age, Stephanie harbored ambitions of becoming a forensic scientist, driven by a desire to contribute to justice and help society by apprehending wrongdoers. This aspiration led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a specialization in Forensic Science from Colorado Technical University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Life took an unexpected turn when Stephanie embarked on the journey of motherhood. 

Balancing her career aspirations with the responsibilities of raising a family became a challenge, especially when faced with the daunting task of finding suitable daycare for her children. This challenge inspired her to open her own state-certified, in-home daycare in July 2010. Over the course of 12 years, she nurtured and cared for numerous children. Through this experience, Stephanie gained a profound understanding of the importance of providing children with a safe, supportive environment where they could thrive and grow. 

In 2018, Stephanie’s passion for helping others was reignited when she felt compelled to become a gestational surrogate. Driven by a desire to assist individuals or couples struggling with infertility, she embarked on a remarkable journey, delivering babies for intended parents across the globe. Despite facing challenges along the way, Stephanie’s commitment to helping others build their families remained unshaken. 

Throughout her surrogacy journeys, Stephanie’s own family stood by her side, experiencing a range of emotions and challenges unique to their situation. Recognizing the importance of open communication and inclusion, Stephanie aims to spread awareness about alternative paths to parenthood and foster understanding among families.

Stephanie is the author of Surrogacy: A Journey of Love. 

Book Description: All families are different. There are different numbers of sisters and brothers, or sometimes just one child, but all families are beautiful and precious. Sometimes, people need to ask for help to grow their family. One way is through adoption and another way is through surrogacy.

Brian Junior shares about his family and his mommy’s decision to help other families grow by being a gestational surrogate. He helps us understand these big words and shares what it's like when mommy has a baby that isn't your sister or brother.

Stepmom, mom, surrogacy case manager and gestational surrogate, Stephanie shares the story of surrogacy using her son, Brian Junior, as the narrator. Brian helps kids of all ages understand this very special gift.

The Spanish, French, and Chinese translations are available or coming soon.

Listen as Stephanie shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Having three girls (one as a step-mom) and a boy and not feeling done. 
• Hearing of surrogacy before she had kids. Offering to be a surrogate for her aunt, not knowing that she needed to have a child of her own first. 
• Reconnecting with a friend who was a surrogate and hearing the good, bad, and ugly (the shots!). 
• Feeling it was truly something on her heart. 
• Saying yes to the first profile presented – a single Brazilian man.
• Going through a double embryo transfer, but losing one of the twins around 15 weeks
• The difficulties of continuing to carry a healthy pregnancy, while also carrying the lost twin. 
• After her husband’s deployment and return, going forward with a second journey. 
• Carrying one little girl for a couple in California. Delivering on the same day – 3 years later – as her first surro-baby!
• Nothing more beautiful than seeing new parents holding their baby. 
• Determined to do it again. Matching with a 3rd couple, but finding no heartbeat at 15 weeks. Parting ways when realizing their termination stances were not aligned.
• Matching with a Missouri family and delivering their little boy.
• Fighting anti-surrogacy legislation in South Dakota. Meeting her agency through the process, knowing she wanted to work in this area. 
• Understanding how important reading together with kids is. But not finding what she was looking for to explain surrogacy to kids. Writing Surrogacy: A Journey of Love.   

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Find the book Surrogacy: A Journey of Love on Amazon

Follow Stephanie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniewittesurrogacybook/

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Shannon is a certified genetic counselor with nearly 25 years of experience, mostly in the reproductive space. Previous roles have included Network Lead at Genome Medical, Team Lead at Mayo Clinic, and Prenatal and Preconception Genetic Counselor at CooperGenomics. She is currently the Director of Genetic Counseling at Fairfax Cryobank along with the Founder and Owner of Stork Genetics. She contributes additional work in medical affairs, scientific communication, and patient education and advocacy. 

Listen as Shannon shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• What a genetic counselor is -- a translator of sorts, an intermediary between doctors and genetic labs and patients, explaining what genetic test results mean.
• A key to the genetic testing puzzle is what you plan to do with the information. 
• Discussing Jenn’s genetic testing for her child and how choosing the test type makes an important difference. 
• Some tests/results are just “genertainment” – fun to talk about at parties, but not medically actionable. 
• For donors, most are young and provide medical information from a snapshot in time. It is important to keep in touch as conditions develop over time.
• Sometimes too much information can be unhelpful.
• But targeted, actionable information can help with important decisions, such as determining and choosing an embryo without a certain condition, or prophylactic surgery.  

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Stork Genetics: www.storkgenetics.com 

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Slaughter Law Group’s founding partner, Lesa Slaughter, has an international reputation for her strategic, supportive, and forward-thinking legal advice when counseling clients creating their family through gestational surrogacy, egg, sperm, and embryo donation. Lesa’s own personal journey of having children through gestational surrogacy, combined with her 15 years of practice in the field of third-party reproduction and prior experience in the transactional and litigation arenas ensures her clients are educated on the legal, practical, and emotional issues raised when forging a pathway to parentage involving surrogacy, egg donation, embryo donation and sperm donation. 

Since 2009, Lesa and her team at Slaughter Law Group have helped tens of thousands of intended parents from all over the globe become mothers and fathers through third party reproduction. Lesa provides legal expertise, compassion and a unique insight and understanding of the clients she serves that few other attorneys in the field of third-party reproduction offer. 

Receiving her undergraduate degree from New York University, Lesa received her juris doctorate degree from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California in 1999, where she received a number of academic awards. Lesa’s practice began with the international firm of Skadden, Arps, and Slate & Meagher LLP where her litigation and transactional skills were honed in representing large private and Fortune 500 companies on a number of international and domestic matters. In 2009, Lesa left large firm life and opened her own law firm, known today as Slaughter Law Group, a boutique firm advising clients on gestational surrogacy, egg, embryo, and sperm donation matters.

Lesa has also been an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Law School, and has served three former Los Angeles Mayors. She was Chief of Staff to former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, served as a City of Los Angeles Commissioner for multiple terms under Los Angeles Mayors Hahn and Villagarosa. Lesa has worked on a number of state-wide campaigns and received several civic awards. 

The go to expert in the rapidly changing landscape of assisted reproductive technology, Lesa has been quoted in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and been a featured speaker on the issue of gestational surrogacy in the United States and abroad, including Australia, Canada, Italy, and Sweden. Licensed in California, she is a member of the California State Bar, the American Bar Association’s Assisted Reproductive Technologies sub-section, and the Legal Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Listen as Lesa shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Having 15 year old surrogate-born twins. 
• Starting out with a few agency and attorney names and having to take it from there.
• Being matched with a unicorn of a surrogate: previous experience as a surrogate, surrogate-friendly insurance, not working, and great supportive spouse
• Surrogate relocating from across the country to California for delivery. 
• Writing a book to share what she learned from her own experience and decades of representing clients going through surrogacy. 
• A majority of her clients being from other countries and facing the uncertainty of getting their babies home in the midst of the level battle over birth right citizenship.
• International shifts in surrogacy from Italian criminalization to Latin American countries becoming the new go-to hot spots.
• Some of the key issues when starting out: choosing a good agency, birth preferences, coping mechanisms for stress, etc. 
• Great progress in big name companies offering surrogacy benefits for employees
• The need for licensure of agencies (in all states, not just New York). 
• Her book, "The Ultimate Guide for Intended Parents to Gestational Surrogacy, by an Attorney and Intended Parent Who Went Through It!" due to be published fall of 2025

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Lesa’s law firm: www.slaughterlawgroup.com 

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Ashley. Ashley was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She is the mother to two beautiful children and a decade deep into marriage with her high school sweetheart. They live on a small “farmette” with all kinds of furry creatures! She loves to garden, sew clothing, cook, and bake! Surrogacy is something that was on her heart for years after a close family member battled infertility. In 2021, she completed a successful journey and delivered a healthy baby to a set of Intended Parents that became an extended part of her family. Ashley says that standing witness to a set of parents seeing their child’s face for the first time was an experience she will never forget. Now being a case manager, she has the opportunity to help so many more couples become parents!

In 2023, feeling the pull to give back in another big way – Ashley applied for a Uterus Transplant clinical trial at Penn Medicine. In December of 2023, she became the 3rd living donor at Penn to donate her uterus to another woman in hopes that she would be able to carry her own baby!

Justyna. After a long journey, time, and determination, Justyna was the successful recipient of a donated uterus. Specifically, she received Ashley’s donated uterus! Justyna carried a pregnancy and gave birth to a daughter with the help of Ashley’s “beast” of a uterus. 

Listen as Ashley and Justyna shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Check out episode 208 where Ashley tells the story of her decision to become a uterus donor.
• Justyna facing loss, struggling to get pregnant.
• Getting pregnant, but at 35 weeks, as Justyna was being rushed into emergency surgery, her husband was told he might need to choose whose life to save, that of his wife or their baby daughter. Justyna begged him to choose their baby. 
• Justyna and her baby survived the surgery, but they had to take Justyna’s uterus. 
• Longing for a big family, researching options, and coming across Penn’s uterus donation program. Signing up in 2018. 
• Years of delay due to COVID. Then in 2022 Justyna’s biggest supporter, her mom, passed away. A week later, Justyna got the call from Penn that they were restarting the program. Like a gift from her mom. 
• After surgery, receiving a basket of gifts from the donor (Ashley) – with a uterus-printed blanket, uterus pillow, and uterus earrings. Laughing hurt, but she couldn’t help it. 
• The first embryo transfer working and Justyna declaring “this uterus is a beast!”
• Announcing the pregnancy through her daughter’s birthday gift. So many cheers of excitement!
• Ashley and Justyna meeting through letters at first, then in person, and becoming family. 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Follow 

Learn more about Family Makers Surrogacy: familymakers.com

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Alyssa Schnell has been an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) since 2009. She works in private practice serving clients both locally and worldwide. She is the author of Breastfeeding Without Birthing: A Breastfeeding Guide for Mothers Through Adoption, Surrogacy, and Other Special Circumstances and a professional supplement to the book, The Breastfeeding Without Birthing Professional Pack online training. She is also the creator of DomHub, an extensive online resource for domperidone. Alyssa has authored articles for The Journal of Human Lactation, La Leche League’s Leader Today and Breastfeeding Today magazines, and Adoptive Families magazine and developer of The Three Step Framework for Inducing Lactation. She is an international speaker on the topics of inducing lactation, relactation, co-lactation, and other related topics. Alyssa is the proud mother of three breastfed children, two by birth and one by adoption. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Alyssa offers a wide variety of free and paid resources for parents, including a free online support group, free mini consultations, and consultation packages to support parents every step of the way. Her evidence-based online resource for domperidone, DomHub, is a much need guide to the safe and effective use of domperidone for lactation and is appropriate for parents or professionals. She works with parents from all over the world who are interested in inducing lactation, relactating, and co-lactating. Her practice is inclusive and accepts some insurance.

Listen as Alyssa shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Birthing and breastfeeding two children and then adopting and wanting to bring the nutritional and bonding experience to her adopted baby.
• Knowing it was possible from her volunteer work with La Leche League and voracious research on inducing lactation.
• Her experience was 20 years ago, but the basics are the same, with some advancements since that time. 
• She works to customize the steps with her clients; lifestyles, circumstances, and goals can significantly affect the plan. 
• Answering the question, “Can a person assigned male at birth induce lactation?” (Yes!)
• Dealing with tricky timing issues, such as in adoption. 
• Vocab review, what is re-lactation versus co-lactation.
• Supporting parents by surrogacy who wish to induce lactation. 
• Medication access challenges and side effects (especially when not taken appropriately). 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Follow:

Learn more about Alyssa Schnell and her services: https://www.alyssaschnellibclc.com/

Get Alyssa’s book, Breastfeeding Without Birthing: https://www.alyssaschnellibclc.com/book

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

JOANNA PARGA-BELINKIE, MD, FAAP, IBCLC, is an associate professor of pediatrics and clinical neonatologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP). She is a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics and co-host of their flagship podcast Pediatrics On Call. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and three children.

Listen as Dr. Parga-Belinkie shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Finding there is a lot of noise and mixed messages for new parents. 
• Parents-to-be putting lots of effort into a birth plan but then feeling lost with baby.
• Addressing a common concern of parents not feeling an immediate bond.
• Is a peepee teepee an essential baby item? What about nose snot sucker?
• Reframing sleep expectations for a newborn. 
• Identifying different cries for different needs.
• An extra special guest joins the interview!
• Misinformation in the vaccine realm and great resources for reliable information.
• Human interaction is key for brain-boosting activity. The right baby gear, not so important.  

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Follow Dr. Parga-Belinkie: https://www.instagram.com/jopargalinkiemd/

Get The Baby Bonding Book: Connecting with your Newborn: https://www.aap.org/The-Baby-Bonding-Book-Connecting-With-Your-Newborn-Paperback

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Stephanie Jones is the Founder of the Michigan Fertility Alliance and Co-Founder of State Strong.

After experiencing secondary infertility due to life-threatening pregnancy complications, Stephanie Jones and her husband were stunned to learn that Michigan banned surrogacy contracts—their only option to grow their family. Stephanie channeled her business expertise and personal perseverance into founding the Michigan Fertility Alliance and changing Michigan’s surrogacy and parentage laws. Under her leadership, MFA is driving pro-family advocacy and policy reform to support Michiganders who need assisted reproduction or surrogacy to build their families.

In 2024, Stephanie received the RESOLVE Hope Award for Advocacy in recognition of her impactful work. She also shared her personal story of reproductive health and abortion to support the successful election of Senator Slotkin to the U.S. Senate.

Ginanne Brownell is an award-winning writer and journalist. Raised in Michigan and based in London, she has covered stories on six continents and in over forty-five countries. Her work has been published in outlets including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Washington Post, Foreign Policy, and Scientific American. She has worked on staff for CNN, Newsweek, and UNICEF. Ginanne is the author of two books: "Elusive Mommyhood: An investigative reporter’s personal journey into IVF and surrogacy" and "Ghetto Classics: How a Youth Orchestra Changed a Nairobi Slum." She has a BA in history from Albion College and a MA in history from the London School of Economics.

Listen as Stephanie and Ginanne share with Ellen and Jenn:

• Stephanie’s journey with secondary infertility leading her to surrogacy and the shocking discovery, from her hospital bed, of Michigan’s terrible laws -- check out Episode 74 for more!
• When Stephanie’s ability to carry her own child died, Michigan Fertility Alliance was born. 
• Your humble podcast hosts connecting Stephanie and Ginanne, both Flint, Michiganders.
• In parallel, Ginanne struggling with infertility and being advised to turn to surrogacy. She had hoped her kids could be born in her home state of Michigan -- hear more of Ginanne’s story on Episode 108!
• Writing a book on her journey and extensive research. 
• A little history, including the fun fact that the first birth of a child through gestational surrogacy was in Michigan!
• Organizing two advocacy days, with over 100 advocates meeting with more than 50 legislators. 
• Building a strong coalition of leaders and experts to put together what ultimately was a nine bill package to comprehensively and inclusively change the parentage laws in Michigan for everyone.
• The bills were officially signed April 1, 2024 -- a historic date for multiple reasons.
• Taking their advocacy efforts to the next level with the formation of State Strong. 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about State Strong: https://www.statestrong.org/

Buy Elusive Mommyhood: An investigative reporter’s personal journey into IVF and surrogacy: https://ginannebrownell.com/elusive-mommyhood/

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Ashley Christman is a born and raised Pennsylvania girl. She is the mother to two beautiful children and a decade deep into marriage with her high school sweetheart. They live on a small “farmette” with all kinds of furry creatures! She loves to garden, sew clothing, cook and bake!

Surrogacy is something that was on her heart for years after a close family member battled infertility. In 2021, she completed a successful journey and delivered a healthy baby to a set of Intended Parents that became an extended part of her family. Ashley says that standing witness to a set of parents seeing their child’s face for the first time was an experience she will never forget. Now being a case manager, she has the opportunity to help so many more couples become parents!

In 2023, feeling the pull to give back in another big way - Ashley applied for a Uterus Transplant clinical trial at Penn Medicine. In December of 2023, she became the 3rd living donor at Penn to donate her uterus to another woman in hopes that she would be able to carry her own baby!

Listen as Ashley shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• A comparison with Jenn as to who has more chickens (Ashley wins!)
• Being an only child, but with a large extended family. 
• Marrying her high school sweetheart.
• Always wanting to be a mom and pregnancy coming easy for her. 
• Watching her like-a-sister cousin struggle and endure a hysterectomy, and her best friend become a surrogate. Being inspiring to become a surrogate herself.
• Loving the intended parents she was matched with. 
• After some health drama, delivering a perfect baby girl. 
• Starting work for the surrogacy agency.
• Being inspired by a podcast (this podcast!) to look into uterus donation.
• Applying and being accepted into Penn’s uterus donation clinical trial, subject to a whole battery of tests.  
• Undergoing the ten-and-a-half-hour surgery
• Not knowing anything about the recipient, but being permitted to write a letter to the recipient a year after surgery. (Get the tissues ready as we read from the letter!)

 Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Family Makers: https://familymakers.com/ 

Learn more about Penn’s uterus transplant program: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/penn-fertility-care/uterus-transplant

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/