Josh & Ashley

Medical Information:

General Health:

We're both healthy with no medical conditions.

Fertility Information:

We currently have 6 embryos. 3 from approximately 6 years ago which weren't tested and are day 3. We also have 3 from last year which are all 5 day tested embryos and graded highly. Our embryos were made using our own genetic material. If necessary we're open to discussing the creation of more embryos, at this time we're comfortable with the embryos we have frozen.

Fertility Clinic:

Currently with OVO Fertility Clinic in Montreal, however depending on the Surrogate we're open to transferring them to a different clinic.

Why are you looking for a Surrogate?

I was diagnosed with MRKH as a teenager, meaning I was born without a uterus but can produce eggs. Working with a Surrogate is our only option to have a biologically related child. Initially, the diagnosis had little impact on me, as my teenage life was focused on friends, social activities, and school. However, as I grew older and my desire to be a mother deepened, the struggles associated with MRKH became more profound. The diagnosis also had an immediate and intense effect on my parents, who often cried in private and questioned themselves. My mother, in particular, took it hard, constantly seeking reassurance from doctors.

When Josh and I first married, we set out to create a family with the help of surrogacy, aware of the long and emotional journey ahead. Unfortunately even with the help of 2 Surrogates and four separate transfers, success eluded us, taking an emotional toll on everyone involved. The challenges led us to move on, acknowledging the significant physical and mental strain on both us and our Surrogates.

Tell us about your family & loved ones.

Our parents can't wait to be grandparents, they're very excited and are willing to help in any way possible with our journey. Our siblings want to be aunts and uncles already. We have a nephew who just turned 1 year old, and they keep saying we need to have a child soon so they could be close in age and grow up together. All our friends and co-workers are very supportive and know this is something we've always wanted in order to complete our family.

Would you like to attend appointments with your Surrogate?

Yes certainly, we plan on being a part of the journey every step of the way. It's important to both of us to be there in person for appointments.

What are your thoughts on termination of a pregnancy due to genetic abnormalities or complications related to the pregnancy?

While this would be the most unfortunate set of circumstances we would think very strongly to terminate if there's evidence of Down Syndrome or major heart defects.

If the Surrogate becomes pregnant with multiples, how would you feel? How do you feel about the possibility of selective reduction being recommended due to a multiple pregnancy?

We would be ecstatic to welcome twins to the world, having at least 2 children would be a dream come true. If there's a risk to either our child(ren) or the Surrogate and a reduction is the only way possible based on the doctor's recommendation, of course this is something we would be open to.

Are you vaccinated for Covid-19? Do you have a preference for a Surrogate to have been vaccinated for Covid-19?

Ashley and I have each been vaccinated three times. Regarding our Surrogate, we are neutral on whether or not they have been vaccinated. We understand why some people choose not to get vaccinated. Given the limited research and time since COVID began, we don't have a strong opinion on the matter either way.

What kind of relationship do you want to have with your Surrogate during the pregnancy?

We are hoping to have an open, honest and friendship based relationship with our Surrogate. We want you to know that we’re always available to support you throughout the entire pregnancy. We completely understand that you have your own life and family, with other priorities. We don't want to be overbearing. Talking to each other can be as often as everyday if you need us available to just a quick hello check in once a week. For important appointments we would love to be there. In the past with our previous surrogates, we've learned that being transparent and communicating what works best for everyone's daily life is crucial.
Establishing these guidelines from the beginning will help us maintain a healthy relationship and navigate the emotions of this journey.

Do you want to be in the delivery room when your child is born?

Yes, we both want to be there when our child is born.

What kind of relationship do you hope to have with your Surrogate after the birth of your child?

We want our Surrogate to remain in our lives and our child's life as a very special friend. We can never say thank you enough for what you've done for us. Ideally, we’d like to keep in touch weekly, even if it’s just a quick text to say hello. It’s important to us to include you in special days like birthdays, graduations, and eventually weddings. As our child grows older and matures, we’ll explain the process we all went through and how you helped bring them into the world. Your role in our lives and in our child's life will always be cherished and celebrated.

Would you be open to a home birth?

No, we prefer the birth to take place in a clinic or hospital.

Are you open to midwifery care?

Yes this is something we're very open to.

Would you like your Surrogate to provide breastmilk?

This is something we would like to talk to our Surrogate about at the right time. There's a lot of amazing benefits and if possible it would be very helpful.

What will you tell the child about the Surrogate, and the circumstances of their birth? If your child asks to meet the Surrogate, how will you feel?

That mommy and daddy wanted a child very badly and we had to look far and wide for a special friend that will help bring them into the world. That she's a very special friend who we're very thankful for. We hope the child will ask to meet the Surrogate, and our hope is that our Surrogate will remain a part of our lives. Visits, seeing each other on special occasions would be wonderful.

If the transfer is unsuccessful, will you want to try again? If so, how soon after?

Yes, we definitely would like to. That will depend on the Surrogate and their condition and desire to rest, approximately 2 cycles later at a minimum makes sense to us.

If this surrogacy journey is successful, would you want to complete a sibling journey? What do you envision that looking like? (timeline, same Surrogate etc.)

Yes, this is something we're very open to since having at least 2 children would be a dream come true. A period of 2-3 years between makes the most sense to us.

What are your plans for childcare once the child is born?

Josh will take parental leave for the first 5 weeks after the baby is born and Ashley will take a full year for maternity. Afterwards we slowly plan on implementing daycare and preschool into their lives as this is what we feel is best for their social development.

What does a typical weekend look like for you?

Weekdays are always hectic between work and different appointments, so a large part of our weekend is family time and time with the doggies! It's always important for us to see our parents, brothers and sisters. Additionally, different outings like hikes, sporting events, trying new restaurants, weekend getaways.

What are some of your interests/ activities?

We love cooking, travelling, reading, yoga, sports, walking, taking hikes.

Other fun facts:

We currently have 2 dogs. There's Melvin our Portuguese Water Dog whose 8 years old and Zoe our 7 year old Shuh Tzu. We're definitely foodies! Love all sorts of cuisines and when we travel experiencing the different foods are a big part of the adventure. Sushi, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Chinese are a few favorites. We're huge Montreal Canadian hockey fans! Additionally, we love other sports like baseball, football and basketball. Travelling is a big part of our lives, we have started to visit Asia and Europe and are hoping to see more. We also love the beach and the water, the doggies love it to!

“We've built a beautiful life together and have started making memories to last a lifetime! However, the most important piece of our puzzle is still not inserted and we're hoping you choose to help us so we can enter the final piece together.”