While researching and saving for the process, Ashlee and her husband pursued adoption as a path to parenthood as well. While the first attempt failed almost immediately, the second adoption attempt seemed promising. The prospect of bringing home the baby ended abruptly however, when the birth mother unexpectedly miscarried a baby boy at 25 weeks.
It was immediately apparent that there was a lot of money, time and risk involved in both adoption and surrogacy. They persisted. After significant time, tears and expense, Ashlee and her husband finally matched with a special woman who safely delivered their twins. They remain friends to this day, and they even get a Facetime call each year on the twin’s birthday to watch them blow out their candles – if she can’t join them in person.
Five years later, a good friend approached them offering to carry their last baby. At the time, they had two embryos left. On transfer day, they nervously waited to hear how the embryo chosen had thawed. Their physician came out to let them know that it had indeed not survived the thawing process. They put all their hopes into the one little embryo they had left, which thankfully did survive thaw. That embryo thrived, and nine months later a perfect baby boy was born. Ashlee and their surrogate remain very close friends and visit each other a couple of times a year.
After navigating her own path to become a parent, Ashlee understood the importance of education, financial responsibility, empathy, and ethics for everyone involved. Although her own journey was a successful experience, she realized how risky the process could be, and how much better it could have been with the right agency guiding them.
By combining best practices from agencies and fertility practices throughout the United States, Family Makers Surrogacy has quickly become an agency known for working with incredible Gestational Surrogates, following ethical practices, and maintaining a personalized approach to each and every individual we support. Ashlee serves as Agency Director and is our Intended Parents’ primary contact with Family Makers from beginning to end. She collaborates daily with our experienced Surrogacy Coordinators to ensure each journey is a smooth and happy one. She is also a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and a member of the Society of Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy Grievance Committee.
