Maria, American Intended Parent in Manheim, Pennsylvania, USA

Explain your reasons for wanting a surrogate/donor:

My husband and I are very happily married, and we are ready to begin creating a family. Despite being healthy and stable, I was born with a very rare liver disease that unfortunately means that my body would be unable to carry a baby through pregnancy myself. It has been incredibly difficult to know that "it is my fault" that we cannot have biological children. However, I have dealt with this sense of loss, and I am ready to move forward. Everything happens for a reason, and we look forward to creating a relationship with you.

How would you best describe yourself(s):

My husband and I are both teachers, and we have a lot of experience with kids. We work full-time, but we have summers off and will be able to take time off when we have a child/children. We are definitely a memorable couple-- we are fun-loving and always laughing. Although we share many similarities, including our loves of teaching, animals (we have fostered dogs for a local rescue for over 3.5 years), and theater, we also balance each other with our differences. Whereas I am very active (I run and have completed numerous half marathons and was a certified Zumba instructor for a while), Mike is happier hanging out at home and relaxing. Together, we often end up taking our dogs on a nice long walk during the day, and then hanging out together or with friends in the evening. We love movies, and family movie nights are quite common. My parents will soon be moving nearby, and we are looking forward to having "Gammy and Poppy" close by as we eventually raise our child/children.

Use this space to communicate a letter to potential Surrogates/Donors:

We are interested in talking to potential gestational surrogates. Whether we end up connecting or not, thank you for your willingness to help anyone in a similar situation. The gift of being a parent is not to be taken lightly, and we respect you so much. Love to all, Maria & Mike