Our Journey to Parenthood: From a Dream to Reality

Growing up, I always imagined myself as a father—envisioning the joy of raising a child, sharing in their milestones, and creating a family. But as life unfolded, it seemed that dream was always just out of reach. I had three long-term relationships where we talked about building a family, but it never reached the point of actually happening. Time moved on, and so did I.

It wasn’t until I met Chris, in my late thirties, that those dreams reawakened. He shared my desire to be a parent, and together, we reignited the hope of building a family. Chris had a deep yearning to become a dad, and it brought back all the feelings I thought I had put away for good.

We started exploring surrogacy, determined to make our dream come true. But as we delved into the options available in the U.S., we were struck by the daunting costs and extended timelines. For a same-sex couple, those barriers felt even steeper. We considered countries like Ukraine, but surrogacy wasn’t legally available for same-sex couples there, leaving us at another dead end.

Our search continued, with some friends suggesting Mexico, where they had gone through surrogacy themselves. However, we were concerned about the legal complexities. Surrogacy was only permitted in certain states in Mexico, and while many had found success, the lack of a unified legal framework left us uneasy. We wanted the peace of mind that comes with clear, consistent legal protections.

Throughout this process, Colombia, my home country, never crossed my mind as an option. I had lived in the U.S. for over a decade, and Colombia simply wasn’t on our radar. But one day, as we kept searching, we stumbled across information that surprised us—surrogacy in Colombia was not only legal but also had one of the best legal frameworks in the world, including for same-sex couples.

With my sister Carolina’s help—an experienced lawyer in Colombia—we began digging deeper. What we discovered filled us with hope. Colombia had a compassionate approach to surrogacy, backed by laws that protected both intended parents and surrogates. The legal process was clear, straightforward, and in our case, getting the CRBA (Consular Report of Birth Abroad) and U.S. passport for our daughter Mila was smooth and hassle-free.

But our journey didn’t stop there. After going through the process ourselves, we saw opportunities to improve the experience for others. I had just completed my MBA at Kellogg, and Carolina, who finds deep meaning in helping others and cherishes being a mother to her own children, shared a passion for making a difference. Together, we decided to create something better—a service that not only guides intended parents but also enhances their experience.

We focused on improving key areas that we felt could transform the journey: providing more opportunities for engagement with the surrogate mother, fostering stronger bonds with the baby before birth, and offering clearer, more consistent updates on the status of the process. We also streamlined the experience by ensuring that all necessary tests could be conducted at the clinic, eliminating the frustration of repeating tests that had already been done elsewhere.

Our aim was simple: to make surrogacy smoother, more connected, and more supportive for every intended parent. We wanted others to feel fully engaged in every step, with better communication and fewer obstacles.

Today, as we hold our daughter Mila, we’re grateful for the journey that led us to her. The experience was not without its challenges, but those challenges brought us closer together and made the end result all the sweeter. Mila is now the heart of our family, and we’re thrilled to be starting the process for our second child.

Our story is one of persistence, love, and finding the right path—a path that others may be walking as well. Surrogacy can be daunting, especially when you face barriers as a same-sex couple, but our experience shows that with the right support and determination, dreams do come true.

For anyone considering this journey, know that there’s hope, there are options, and there’s a community ready to support you every step of the way. Surrogacy brought our family to life, and we’re excited to help others do the same.

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