I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Tierney Chrusciel is a 9th grader who lives in Western Massachusetts. They are on the swim team and love to write in their free time.

Listen as Tierney shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Being a 14-year-old freshman and knowing more about conception than most of their peers.
• Always knowing they were donor-conceived.
• Knowing and regularly visiting their parents’ egg donor, mom’s second cousin. 
• Donor Marie feeling like an aunt, her kids like cousins. 
• Joking with other IVF kids at school that a petri dish was their first home.
• Their thoughts on embryo politics.
• Jenn and Ellen predict big things for Tierney’s future! 

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

Listen to Tierney’s mom’s episode: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/blog/2020/2/26/episode-75-a-10-year-journey-to-grow-our-family-erin-chrusciel

Check out Tierney’s mom’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Reg_xQL4Oc0

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

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

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

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

Jason Angel is a licensed Clinical Psychologist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He works with many individuals and families seeking assisted reproductive care and has been through the journey himself with his own family. Jason is committed to equal healthcare access and minimizing discrimination in the insurance marketplace.

Tim Blood is a co-founding partner and firm’s managing partner of Blood Hurst & O’Reardon. For almost thirty years, his practice has focused on complex litigation, including class action litigation. Mr. Blood has tried class action cases and is highly regarded in the field of consumer protection law, including California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act.

Before starting Blood Hurst & O’Reardon, Mr. Blood was a partner in Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach, LLP and a founding partner in the firm now known as Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, LLP.

Mr. Blood has represented millions of purchasers of food, food supplements and over-the-counter drugs arising out of various advertising claims made by manufacturers and retailers. He has also represented owners of motor vehicles in product liability cases and consumer credit and mortgage borrowers against a number of major lending institutions, including Bank of America, Washington Mutual, Countrywide, GMAC and Wells Fargo.

Mr. Blood has extensive experience litigating against life, auto and other insurance carriers on behalf of consumers. His experience litigating against life insurance companies includes representing owners, holders and beneficiaries of industrial life insurance in race discrimination cases (with class periods dating back to the late 1800’s).

Mr. Blood has testified before the California State Assembly and State Senate Judiciary Committees, as well as the Assembly and Senate Committees on Banking, Finance & Insurance. He has worked at both the state and federal level with lawmakers and government agencies to shape legislation to protect consumer rights, including lobbying on the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 and working to defeat a California state ballot initiative designed to weaken the class action device.

Kim Surratt began her legal career in 2002, founding her own practice in 2007, with a license in Nevada and California. Her journey in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) law began in 2004 with her first surrogacy case. Kim is a distinguished ART Fellow at the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, where she is serving her second term on the Board of Trustees. Since 2017, she has chaired the State of Nevada Child Support Commission and has been the chair of the State Bar of Nevada Family Law Section and president of the Nevada Justice Association.

Her pro bono efforts commenced in 2003 with the Nevada Justice Association, through which she has significantly impacted reproductive parentage law and LGBTQ+ family law. Her advocacy has facilitated numerous legislative achievements, including the Nevada Domestic Partnership law, numerous modifications to adoption law, comprehensive revisions to pro-LGBTQ+ family law statutes, establishment of the first voluntary acknowledgment of parentage (instead of just paternity) statute, and gender-neutral revisions across all Nevada statutes.

However, her shining moments at the Nevada legislature are the changes she made in the adoption of comprehensive pro-family statutes for surrogacy and egg/embryo/sperm donation that are marriage and gender neutral, and a surrogacy insurance mandate in Nevada. The surrogacy insurance law was the first of its kind in the United States and is the model for future advocacy.

Kimberly’s dedication to justice has been recognized with several awards, including the Nevada Legal Services Champion of Justice Award, the Washoe Legal Services Children’s Attorney Pro Bono Award, the Nevada Supreme Court Access to Justice Pro Bono Services Award, the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys prestigious President’s Award and the Unsung Hero Award. In addition, her law firm is her firm is a six-time recipient of the Nevada Legal Services Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year award,

Listen as Jason, Tim, and Kim share with Ellen and Jenn:

• Jason’s personal surrogacy journey, including the highs of matching with an amazing surrogate and finding out they were having twins!
• Jason’s less exciting surrogacy journey parts, including purchasing a health insurance policy for the surrogate, paying premiums and all uncovered expenses, and then still being subject to a five figure “lien”.
• The discriminatory nature of liens. Being double punished for not being able to carry a pregnancy on their own. 
• Tim explains the contractual and statutory legal bases insurance companies use to support liens, and why they are problematic.
• Kim’s experience in Nevada fighting for better laws, including surrogacy inclusion for all Nevada-governed health insurance policies, and no liens!
• Starting the Insurance Access and Equity Alliance to fight insurance discrimination in California and beyond. 

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

Learn more about the Insurance Access and Equity Alliance: www.IAEAlliance.org

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

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

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

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

Surrogacy Colombia has been a pioneer in international surrogacy in Colombia since 2018. They have clients from over 60 countries, and growing, and a team of highly qualified professionals to provide the best possible experience.

Camila Tobón is Program Lead at Surrogacy Colombia. Her personal experience led her to professionally providing the highest level of care to hopeful parents and those helping hopeful parents achieve their dreams. 

Listen as Camila shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Her journey from working in a fertility clinic, to becoming a donor, to continuing to help growing families as Program Lead at Surrogacy Colombia.
• Egg donation differences in Colombia, including legally required anonymity and the prohibition of compensation.
• How home DNA testing is not really a thing in Colombia at this time.
• Colombia’s draw for international parents -- legal recognition of the intended parents. 
• Colombia’s unique position of non-discrimination, supporting LGBTQ+ families. 99% of Camila clients are male-male couples!
• All Surrogacy Colombia surrogates are supported through a foundation providing economic and additional support. 
• Costs overall in Colombia are – surprise, surprise –way less than in the US.
• Other benefits of Colombia (the coffee, of course). 

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

Learn more about Surrogacy Colombia: https://surrogacycolombia.com/

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

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

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

AllPaths Family Building has a mission to create a caring community for all people struggling with fertility and family building. AllPaths provides the psychosocial support, resources, and advocacy that are critical to those trying to grow their families.

Kate Weldon LeBlanc (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of AllPaths Family Building. Kate became Executive Director in January 2015, leading the strategic vision of the organization and working collectively with the staff, Board of Directors and professional members to grow the services of AllPaths Family Building. Kate has a strong personal and professional commitment to AllPaths’ mission. Prior to her arrival at AllPaths, she worked for the Center for Early Relationship Support of JF&CS, the Child Advocacy and Government Relations departments at Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Massachusetts Legislature. Kate holds a BSW from Skidmore College and an MPA from UMass Boston. 

Emily Lindblad (she/her/hers) is the Operations Manager of AllPaths Family Building where she is responsible for the planning and implementation of programs and services, including AllPaths’ hallmark peer support groups. Prior to her current role, Emily worked with a variety of perinatal populations as a NICU Family Support Specialist, birth, postpartum, and bereavement doula, and parenting educator. Emily’s introduction to AllPaths came in the midst of her own family building struggles and she is honored to be able to continue the organization’s legacy of support for people who are experiencing challenging periods in their family’s evolution.  

Listen as Kate and Emily share with Ellen and Jenn:

• Kate’s return to the podcast -- check out episode 58!
• Emily finding AllPaths while sitting in a fertility clinic waiting room during her own complicated fertility journey and discovering a whole community of people who understood what she was going through. 
• AllPaths has over 20 peer-lead support groups, including ones focused on secondary infertility, cancer, military families, and adoption.
• AllPaths celebrating its 50th anniversary! Including parties in each New England state!
• Changing its name (formerly Resolve New England) to better reflect the organization.
• Big annual Footsteps for Families walk coming up October 6, 2024! 
• You join in person or walk virtually from anywhere across the country or the world.  

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

Learn more about AllPaths Family Building: https://allpathsfb.org/

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

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

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

With over 30 years of dedication to pilates and dance, Leslie Lopez teaches privately to clients as well as to toddlers with creative holiday themed movement classes. She is an advocate for the arts and has served as a Board member for The Wallis Performing Arts Center and the California State Summer School for the Arts.

In addition she worked for 20 years in hospitality and customer relations, working front of house for 3 star Michelin Chefs such as Daniel Boulud and Thomas Keller.

She is launching her podcast Mother's in Arms this Summer 2024 which focuses on her experience as an intended parent who went through a surrogacy journey independently.

Her podcast description: An independent parent by choice, Leslie went through an isolated surrogate journey in 2020. This episode is a conversation between surrogate mother Melissa and Leslie as to the ups and downs the journey of bringing Elyse to the world.

Listen as Leslie and Melissa share with Ellen and Jenn:

• Leslie growing up being taught never to even look at a boy, trying to avoid pregnancy; then struggling with fertility in her 30s
• Getting pregnant, but then being diagnosed with a “dysfunctional” cervix and losing and burying their daughter. The first of their losses.
• Leslie’s doctor recommending the surrogacy route
• Finding infertility being especially hard in light of her family and culture, her mom was one of 11 and herself on of 5
• Struggling with grief and the unhelpful words of well-intentioned friends
• At least shopping for sperm was fun!
• Melissa having two kids of her own and feeling her family was complete, was inspired by a story she heard at a party. 
• Looking for more information and diving in. She carried healthy twins for her first surrogacy, and then deciding to keep going!
•  Leslie being married and matched with Melissa, but then facing a divorce 
• Together facing obstacle after obstacle – ridiculous insurance issues and… COVID!
• Finding that happy ending, plus a bonus happy ending shared in the outro!

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

Learn more about Leslie and Melissa’s Podcast on IG and TikTok: @MothersinArms.pod

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

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

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

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

Rachele’ Davis, a former crime analyst for her local police department, founded New Hope Investigations in 2016. After seven years in civil service and seven years prior to that as an educator, Rachele’ found herself drawn to the private sector of investigations and the challenge of building her own business. Her master’s degree in criminal justice, resourcefulness, productivity level, and innovation have already served her well in this capacity.

Rachele’ obtained her private investigator license through Missouri in 2016. Rachele’s specialty areas include connection biological families and adoptive children, diligent adoption searches, and people searches. Rachele' also provides some general investigative services on a case-by-case basis. She works in various capacities for individuals, attorneys, and businesses. Rachele' regularly stays up-to-date with current trends and changes in the industry.

To enhance her unknown parentage investigations, Rachele’ continues to learn more and more about the complex and fascinating field of genealogy. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists, International Society of Genetic Genealogy, and National Genealogical Society.

Listen as Rachele’ discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

• Adopting her son and wanting to continue in criminal justice, but with more flexibility to parent.
• The adoption was not an easy path and included the need to hire a private investigator.
• Starting out wanting to help adoptees who wanted to identify biological family members, and expending to other genetic searches.  
• Making those first contact calls. 
• The law in the birth state making a significant difference as to original birth certificate access.
• Sometimes timing is everything
• Advice to those considering a search.

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

Learn more about New Hope Investigations:  https://newhopeinvestigations.com/services/

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

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

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

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

Sarah Paige has been a professional in the ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) insurance field since 2010. As Chief Operating Officer of ART Risk Financial and Insurance Solutions, Inc., and a licensed insurance agent, she remains current on all insurance issues pertinent to the ART field and works to find the best solutions for the ART Risk Solutions clients embarking on surrogacy journeys. With her extensive breadth of knowledge and expertise in the ART community, Sarah is a frequently sought after speaker. One of Ms. Paige’s professional accomplishments was serving as an expert witness for Nevada State Assembly Bill AB472 alongside its Author, Kimberly Surratt, in the 2019 legislature with Nevada accepting and placing into law inclusive insurance language for surrogacy coverage. She has written/co-written several articles for the quarterly SEEDS newsletter, served as the SEEDS Co-Chair for Membership 2020-2021, and currently serves on the Men Having Babies Advisory Circle. Sarah’s focus is always to offer clients the knowledge to help them better understand their liability exposures and the best available financial risk management solutions with her emphasis in enabling the ART community to make the soundest insurance choices for a surrogacy journey

Listen as Sarah discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

• Who loves insurance the most – Sarah or Jenn?!
• What liens are, how terrible they are, and how they vary between states.  
• Consequences of limited choices, such as loss of established care providers.
• Lack of equal access to insurance coverage, not just related to liens, but across the board with fertility care. 
• Helping start a non-profit to fight for better, and more fair, insurance access. 
• Playing a critical party changing the law in Nevada. 

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

Learn more about the Insurance Access and Equity Alliance: https://www.iaealliance.org/

Learn more about ART Risk Financial & Insurance Solutions: https://artrisksolutions.com/

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

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

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

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

Tirza Jova, the founder of Milk by Mom in Phoenix, AZ, empowers breastfeeding mothers through her innovative breast milk freeze drying service available nationwide. With an MBA and 17 years in international business, she’s modernizing breastfeeding practices. Tirza's mission extends beyond local borders, educating nationwide on the advantages of freeze dried breast milk and the freedom and flexibility freeze-drying provides while maintaining the benefits and security of breast milk. 

Listen as Tirza discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

• Her background working in corporate American with medical device companies.
• Starting her family and navigating the obstacles of breastfeeding and pumping while traveling. 
• Learning about this technology – freeze drying breast milk – a true gamechanger.  
• Digging into the science and research, including the superior nutritional benefits over traditional freezing. 
• Starting Milk by Mom and enjoying bringing this innovation to other moms. 
• The logistics of Milk by Mom’s convenient shipping process, and customers receiving back a shelf-stable powdered form of mom’s breast milk. 
• Other benefits, including improved taste for high lipase breast milk and lasting for three years! 

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

Learn more about Milk by Mom: https://www.milkbymom.com/

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

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

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

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

Rachel is the owner of Adi Shakti Yoga; Therapy located in Longmont, Colorado. She has been practicing psychotherapy since 2014 and has 10 years of experience offering compassionate supportive counseling. She is a registered yoga & meditation teacher and has led women's groups and retreats.

Having been a single parent, as well as raised children in a blended family, she is now the mother of a young son born in the country of Georgia thanks to a surrogate mother and an egg donor. Through her psychotherapy practice called Nurture Yourself, Nurture Your Child, she is available to work with mothers, intended mothers, aspiring mothers, grandmothers, and any woman wishing to heal their inner child. She uses somatic practices, parenting approaches, attachment theory, and many other tools to help you find perspective on the broad spectrum of parenting possibilities as you learn to heal your own childhood and nurture yourself, your children, your relationships, and your work in the world. She is especially interested in helping other intended parents on the challenging and exciting journey of surrogacy.

Listen as Rachel discusses with Ellen and Jenn:

• Entering a second marriage in her mid-40s and very much wanting a child together.
• Struggling with monthly disappointments.
• Receiving an inheritance that allowed for the discussion of surrogacy.
• Having reconnected with a half-sister, exploring the possibility of her donating her eggs.
• Her husband having a long-time interest in Georgia, they were intrigued to learn that
• surrogacy was legal and supported in the country.
• Facing fears related to war in the region; but increasing her resolve after connecting and
• raising money for a non-profit.
• Enduring the ups and downs of an international surrogacy journey.

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

Check out Rachel’s Substack: https://rachelrwilson.substack.com/

Learn more about Kundalini Yoga for Recovery: https://www.ky12step.com/nurture

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

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

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

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

During the height of Covid, Melissa had the opportunity to take care of a baby born through surrogacy to a Chinese Intended Father. What was supposed to be a five week role turned into a nearly six month adventure of a lifetime and led to a deeply meaningful relationship between two families across the globe. It's a beautiful story of how the gift of surrogacy makes THE most amazing families and changes (so many) lives for the better.

With over 20 years of experience in marketing & business development, across the US and internationally, Melissa began her professional journey in Assisted Reproductive Technology as Events & Operations Director for Men Having Babies, the international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing its members and prospective parents with education and financial support throughout their surrogacy journeys. While at MHB, she had the extraordinary honor to produce conferences all over the world, inviting thousands of intended parents and leading service providers in the field to gather for educational forums and community building, concentrated on surrogacy and ART opportunities.

Melissa has also served as Director of Marketing and Business Development for several international surrogacy programs, focusing on growing the outreach program for qualified surrogates and donors by developing broad-scale events and marketing programs, as well as building strong relationships with partnering fertility clinics and ART professionals around the world.

Four years ago, Melissa founded a full-service creative agency helping businesses develop and deliver their brand promises. [

https://compasscreativeconsultants.com/]

She feels so fortunate to work with many thriving small businesses, and in particular to collaborate with those in the ART space and is immensely grateful for the meaningful work she is privileged to do on behalf of building families and to be a part of this beautiful, collaborative community of professionals.