I believe that everyone is capable of doing something bigger than themselves, something that creates a ripple effect far beyond what they can see. For me, that “something” was surrogacy.
I became a mom young. I had three children between the ages of 21 and 24. My pregnancies were smooth, my babies were healthy, but after three babies in three years, I knew my hands and my heart were full.
And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling. I missed being pregnant. I missed the tiny kicks, the quiet connection, the feeling of growing a life inside me.
So, on a random Tuesday morning, I did what most people do when they’re curious about something life-changing. I Googled it.
“Surrogacy in Canada.”
That search led me to an agency website and a phone number. I told myself I would just call to ask a few questions and get a sense of what was involved. But by the end of that call, I had completed an intake form and created a profile.
I had not mentioned any of this to my husband.
So you can imagine his face later that night at dinner when I casually said, “So… I did something kind of crazy today.”
To his credit, he barely blinked. By that point, he was used to my impulsive ideas. He simply asked, “What do I need to do?”
And just like that, we were in.
Within a few days, the agency sent me a profile for a couple. I had mentioned that my only “wish” was to carry for a Canadian family, but the profile they shared was for a same-sex couple from the UK.
It did not check my one box, but something about it just felt right.
So I said yes to a meeting.
Early on a Saturday morning, we had our first video call and honestly, it felt like meeting old friends. The conversation was easy, natural, and full of laughter. I remember thinking this must be what online dating feels like when it actually works.
We clicked instantly.
The next few months were a whirlwind of appointments, paperwork, and getting to know each other. I flew to Las Vegas with my sister to meet the fertility doctor. It was a quick two-day trip that felt both surreal and exciting.
While waiting for medical clearance, we stayed in constant contact. Daily texts, video calls, and little check-ins helped us build a real connection. They got to know my kids and somehow, despite the distance, we became close.
But the journey was not without its bumps.
During my mock cycle, my uterine lining would not thicken the way it needed to. It is a small detail, but in IVF, it is a big deal. Without the right lining, the chances of a successful transfer drop significantly.
The clinic was not confident about moving forward.
It was heartbreaking.
But my agency advocated for me. They pushed for another attempt, this time with a natural cycle and acupuncture. Thankfully, that made all the difference. My lining was not perfect, but it was exactly what it needed to be.
I was cleared.
We were moving forward.
When it came time for the legal side of things, life aligned in the most unexpected way. My aunt connected me with a lawyer she knew, someone who specialized in fertility law.
That is how I met Michelle Flowerday.
From the very beginning, I felt supported. The process was smooth, thorough, and reassuring. Every detail was handled with care, ensuring not just my protection, but my family’s as well.
Soon enough, contracts were signed and we were ready for transfer.
I headed back to Las Vegas, this time with my best friend. The clinic required 48 hours of bed rest after the embryo transfer, which for a mom of three young kids felt like a luxury vacation.
Resting. Relaxing. Doing absolutely nothing. It was glorious.
Then came the hardest part, the two-week wait.
We decided to take a home pregnancy test the day before my bloodwork. I remember holding that test with my heart racing, then video calling the dads so we could all find out together.
Two bright pink lines.
It worked.
On the first try.
We were having a baby.
That pregnancy flew by, faster than any of my own. Around 16 weeks, we shared a fun gender reveal and the dads made their first trip to Toronto. Meeting them in person after months of calls and messages was surreal and emotional in the best way.
From there, we stayed closely connected. Updates, photos, and messages meant it never felt like I was doing this alone.
At 37 weeks, they arrived in Toronto, ready to meet their son.
And then we waited.
He kept us all on our toes for a few weeks, teasing his arrival. But on the morning of his due date, I just knew.
Today was the day.
After a quiet morning at home, we headed to the hospital expecting a long labour.
We were wrong.
Three hours later, he was here.
The midwives placed him in my arms and in that moment everything felt still. Then I had the incredible privilege of placing him into the arms of his dads.
That was the moment my job was done and theirs was just beginning.
What I did not fully understand at the beginning was the ripple effect.
I did not just help create a baby.
I made two men fathers.
I made siblings into uncles and aunts.
I created a grandchild, a cousin, a whole new branch of a family tree.
A life that would be loved by so many people.
And somehow, that was not the end of the story.
Two years later, I helped bring his little brother into the world.
Same love. Same magic. Same incredible feeling.
But after five pregnancies and one slightly more complicated delivery, I knew it was time.
Retiring my uterus was not an easy decision. A part of me was not ready to let go. But for my health and for my family, it was the right choice.
Still, that desire to help others never left.
A few months later, while scrolling Facebook, I came across a job posting for a law clerk.
I am a law clerk.
And the lawyer hiring was Michelle Flowerday, the same one who had guided me through both of my surrogacy journeys.
It felt like everything had come full circle.
I applied.
And in March 2020, I began a new chapter, supporting surrogates, donors, and intended parents as they build their families.
It has been six years.
And I can honestly say I cannot imagine doing anything else.
Surrogacy gave me the chance to be part of something bigger than myself, to create lasting impact in the most human way possible.
Through love, science, and a little bit of magic, families are made.
And I am so grateful that I get to be a small part of that every single day.