K and J’s (our) love story began on Saturday, July 16, 2016, when we defied the odds and found each other on a dating website. From that very first meeting, it was clear we were in the same place in our lives; neither of us had been married, divorced, or had children. Both of us were successful in our careers, content with our lives, and looking for our person. We quickly recognized two genuine people within each other, who shared the same values and held the same dreams of starting a family.

Since that day, our journey to parenthood has been filled with more challenges than we ever could have anticipated. Like many couples, we dreamed of starting a family and envisioned the joys of watching our children grow and thrive. However, despite our hopes and efforts, we faced significant challenges along the way.

For the first few years, we tried to conceive naturally, and unfortunately, suffered three miscarriages. Despite the heartache, we always held onto the hope that we would one day become parents. That is when we began the complex and often painful world of fertility treatments.

We began our IVF journey with the hopes of using J’s eggs and K’s sperm, but unfortunately, genetic testing revealed that none of the embryos were viable. Undeterred, we agreed to use donor eggs and were prepared to begin the next cycle when J’s sister M surprised us both and offered her own eggs. Despite M’s selfless gift, the process proved unsuccessful with two more cycles and only one embryo, which proved to be non-viable after implantation in J.

From there, we decided to try using eggs from anonymous donors. From the first set of six eggs, none resulted in viable embryos. We tried again with another set of seven eggs, and again, none were deemed viable. It was at this point that we were informed K’s sperm was likely the cause of the unsuccessful outcomes. We then considered donor sperm and donor eggs, but having paid for all services out of pocket without any insurance, we could no longer afford to start over yet again, and we realized there were no further options available to us.

When people ask us why we haven’t adopted, it’s a question that touches our hearts deeply. Adoption is something we would have absolutely considered had we known it was an option. Yet when we began this fertility journey, we believed that science would offer us a way to grow our family, so we put all our resources into that choice.

As the days passed and we grieved the life we had envisioned, J recalled a news story from years ago about donor embryos. With renewed hope, we began to feel a sense of possibility again. The opportunity of donor embryos was still available to us, offering not only the chance to fulfill our dream but also to honor the selfless and incredible family who chose to donate these embryos.

Through it all, we have learned the true meaning of resilience and the depth of our own love. Our journey has tested us in ways we could never have imagined, but it has also strengthened our bond and deepened our appreciation for the profound gift of life. We have come to understand that while our path to parenthood may not have unfolded as we originally envisioned, it has prepared us to embrace the next chapter with even greater gratitude and determination.

When we learned about the possibility of adopting embryos, we felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps this could be the answer we have been searching for. The opportunity to give life to the embryos you have created and to nurture them as our own is a profound and humbling one. We understand that this is a decision that requires immense trust, and we want you to know that we are committed to honoring that trust with all our hearts.

We are a couple who believes in the power of love, perseverance, and the beauty of family. We have a home filled with warmth, joy, and a deep desire to share our lives with a child. Our commitment to parenting is unwavering, and we are ready to provide a nurturing, supportive, and loving environment for a child to grow and thrive. We promise to approach this journey with the utmost respect for the unique circumstances that have brought us to this point.

If you choose to entrust us with the incredible gift of your embryos, we will hold that gift close to our hearts and dedicate ourselves to being the loving, devoted parents that your precious embryos deserve. We are committed to creating a life filled with love, laughter, and endless support, and we are honored by the possibility of making that dream a reality.

Thank you for considering us as potential parents for your embryos. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for the chance to be a part of this beautiful journey. We hope to have the opportunity to learn more about you and to share our story in greater detail.

J

I was raised in a loving home with my mom, dad, and two sisters. Education was highly valued in our family, and I continue to carry that with me today. I attended Catholic school through high school and went out of state for college. Growing up, we had our sweet beagle named Curious, and I adored my pet parakeet, Perky. I was very active in sports, participating in dance, gymnastics, softball, and basketball before high school, and continuing with volleyball, basketball, and track throughout high school. I also joined community theater, and though my attempt at Swing Choir in high school was a disaster (since I can’t dance or sing, haha!) it never deterred me from trying anyway. I was an extrovert in high school, and genuinely had a positive experience and great memories from that time.

While our family didn’t have a lot of traditions, my mom always made holidays really exceptional. She spoiled us in the best way, while my dad kept us grounded with lessons in charity and always doing the right thing, even when no one was watching. My relationship with my sisters evolved over time. N, my older sister, is four years ahead of me, so we didn’t become close until after high school. My younger sister, M, is ten years younger than me, and N and I like to say we helped raise her in those early years, taking turns with late-night feedings and babysitting.

After college, I moved to a city known for its television and film industry to pursue my dream of making movies (behind the camera). I built a career there that I’m proud of and, along the way, began working toward my future goal of owning a hobby farm... though just indoors, lol, with two dogs and two cats.

Unfortunately, during my time away in television and film production, my mom became ill with cancer, and I decided to move back home to be closer to my family. My mom passed away in 2009 after a hard-fought battle, and although she never had the chance to see her children get married or her grandchildren grow up, I know she would be incredibly proud of the amazing mother my sister M has become and the kind, genuine women her daughters are growing into. Today, my sisters ae my best friends, and K and I take great pride in being the best aunt and uncle we can be to M’s children.

My career path since returning home has been varied, to say the least. I’ve always believed in being happy in my job, which has led me on many adventures—from Cognitive Brain Training to Wedding Planning, working with a Motivational Speaker, to currently serving as a Parent Mentor. As a Parent Mentor, I work at a Wellness Center, providing parent education and training for families involved in Child Protection cases. The work can be challenging, but it’s deeply rewarding when I’m able to help change the course of a family’s life for the better.

My current dream is to be a stay-at-home mom, with a little hobby farm filled with goats, ducks, geese, and a couple of horses. These days, I consider myself an ‘introverted extrovert’. I love spending time at home with a good book or enjoying a movie with my pets. While I still enjoy entertaining, with occasional outings to sports games, concerts, musicals, or the occasional thrill-seeking adventure like skydiving or amusement parks, I value my time at home.

Our family currently includes our puppy, two cats, parakeets and Koi fish. K and I are currently engaged, and will be married before the birth of our child/ren. K and I have so much love to give, and while our life is full, we deeply hope to one day share it with a child. Thank you for your consideration.

K

When I think about my childhood, it brings a smile to my face. It was filled with playing sports with my two brothers nearly every day. If we weren’t playing, we were watching sports together as a family. My mom and dad were very social people, so all the birthday parties and holidays were hosted at our home. I was surrounded by friends and family throughout my entire childhood.

My parents were very hard-working blue-collar folk who always treated people with the love and respect they deserved. They instilled strong values in my brothers and me; respect your elders, always say “please” and “thank you,” be grateful for what you have, and never judge a book by its cover.

I’m incredibly grateful for the way we were raised because it shaped who I am today: hardworking, honest, and committed to doing my best every day. I believe in keeping my word, treating everyone with love and respect, and when I mess up, making amends and trying not to repeat the same mistake.

For the past 28 years, I’ve been a carpenter, and my passion for the craft shows in my work. I’m lucky to love what I do. When I have free time, my other passion is golf. It’s the sport that is a common thread throughout our family and because of it, we have lots of great memories together. To sum it all up, I’m a hardworking, blue-collar guy who feels blessed in life, and I hope that one day I’ll have the honor of being called "Dad."