Dear prospective donor:

Fertility Background

I am happily looking forward to having children. However, the process has not been as straightforward as I anticipated. I am thirty-eight years old, older but healthy. Since I was a little girl, I happily looked forward to the time when I could be a “mommy.” I read parenting books and magazines when I was a teenager, babysat whenever I could, and picked out names of future children. I never found “the one”, the individual I would share my future with. It took me a while to bounce back from this disappointment and realize that I could still have a family. When I did renew my active desire to have a family, I tried sperm donors. It for whatever reason did not work out as smoothly and easily as I anticipated. It turns out that my egg count was very low, that of a 50-year-old! Doctors told me that there was very little chance that I would be able to conceive without intensive measures. I realized that I desperately still wanted a family but was going to need to reconsider biological children. I considered adoption but really wanted to experience pregnancy myself, be able to breastfeed, and experience all the milestones and experiences that come with pregnancy and infancy. I thought I had found an agency that was going to help me achieve this dream. I had even picked out the embryos I wanted! However, I found out that they suddenly shut down in April 2024, seemingly taking my dream with them. I am relieved to have found Embryo Solution and am optimistic that my dream of having a family is back on track.

Personal Background

I was born and raised in the midwest and continue to live in [state]. I am the oldest of two daughters and have two much older, adopted half brothers as infertility was an issue in my father’s first marriage too. I had a happy childhood, full of love, books, and imagination. I went to parochial school for the first eleven years of schooling before switching to a public school when my family relocated to a rural town. I loved school and did well academically. My father started off his career as an electrical engineer and ended his career as a pastor. My mother started her career as a case worker in the mental health field and ended her career as a children’s librarian. Therefore, I was raised to love books, God, and learning.

I am a special education teacher in a different rural town than I grew up in. I love my job and the children I serve. I have taught grades PK through adults, particularly loving the younger children. Just like becoming a parent was a goal since I was young, so was becoming a special education teacher. I love the challenge of making school accessible for all children and finding a way to create innovative curriculum and learning activities that brings learning to life for students who may have thought that they were not smart enough for school. I currently teach 7th and 8thgrade special education and plan to stay at this school for the remainder of my career. This school encourages their staff to put their families first, recognizing that a teacher cannot be their best if they are burned out, neglecting the needs of their families, or unhappy. As a result, the staff are very happy and supportive of each other. I have a Bachelors in Secondary (grades 6-12) Science Education, a master’s in special education, and a master’s in Trauma-Informed Education.

I own my home, a 4-bedroom split level, in a different rural town than which I work. I really love rural living because the communities are so cohesive. It has its downsides living in a small town, primarily having to drive half an hour for groceries, but it’s worth the inconvenience. I have a nice fenced in the backyard with plenty of room for a playset or swing set. I share my house with three dogs, Riley (a Great Dane mix), Harper (a red coonhound mix), and Disney (a border collie/husky mix). All three dogs are rescued as rescued pets are the best! The dogs are incredibly affectionate, loyal, and special to me. I believe they will be great with children. In fact, Disney used to be my “class dog” when I taught at a behavioral school. The children would never be left unattended with the dogs as that would not be fair to either the children or the dogs. I have already started reading up on introducing dogs to babies and practicing some of the strategies suggested. I will not get any more pets until the child can be a part of the selection process; I believe that this is crucial as pets are a part of the family and should fit in well.

Hobbies and Interests

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, who keep me on my toes, reading, listening to audiobooks, watching crime dramas and Hallmark movies (odd combination, I know!), and spending time with my family. I see my mom and sister regularly, as well as my father