Leone, Irish Intended Parent in Wexford, Ireland

Explain your reasons for wanting a surrogate/donor:

Many years ago I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. I am lucky that it was discovered early however I now cannot have children. I have five embryos stored ready for the right lady to come along to make my dreams come true.

How would you best describe yourself(s):

I am a fun loving person who knows that God put me on this earth to be a mother.

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

Many years ago at the age of thirty-three I was diagnosed with cervical cancer. To say I was shocked was an understatement. However, in order to save my life I had to make the decision to have radiation treatment. This meant that I would never have the opportunity to have children. Devastation doesn’t come close to how I felt. Cancer was hard enough to hear but now here I was listening to the doctor saying I would never have children. Here I was a young woman about to be married and now no children in my future. I have a great life, a loving husband and good education but I live a lie. Behind my smile is a girl who is heartbroken. I am ashamed that I cannot have children and so sad that there is no children in my life. I feel so much love for my husband and I often wonder why he stays with me knowing I will never carry his children. I find myself isolating myself from friends and family who have children as sometimes I am so tired of pretending to be happy. I suppose I am jealous of them and their ability to have a family. I find most people around me cannot even comprehend what infertility is like and take it for granted that they can have children. Before I started treatment for cancer I completed a round of IVF and have stored embryos. Our only hope is to go through a process of surrogacy in order to have our own biological child. I am aware of the ethical issues and would only proceed if it is done under strict guidelines. I dream of holding my own child, of what my life would be like and although I am thankful for being cancer free the price I had to pay makes me so sad. Infertility is an issue not many people are comfortable talking about. Certainly surrogacy is a topic that is so far removed from so many people’s thoughts. I think it takes a special person to be able to be a surrogate mother, to give that gift of life, not many people could do it. The void in my life is huge and I know I’ll never be complete without a child to fulfill my dreams of a family with my husband.