We write on behalf of our incredible friends Amy and Jonathan, and their beautiful daughter, Sophie.
For twelve years Amy and Jonathan had been fighting to have a family, including through local and international adoption, IVF and finally overseas surrogacy. During this time they have faced immeasurable challenges, physically, emotionally, financially and mentally. They have sacrificed so much of themselves and were finally rewarded when their angel, Sophie, was born on 23rd of February 2025 in Buenos Aires.
This should have been the happiest time of their lives, but due to failures by people they placed their trust in, they have been caught up in a lengthy legal battle to get their daughter safely back home to Australia. They should of only been away from home for 8 weeks, but have now been isolated in Argentina for 7 months so far, with no hope of getting home soon due to the current evolving atmosphere around surrogacy in Argentina.
They have had to endure complete isolation in a foreign country where they don't speak the language, trying to navigate a foreign legal system while struggling on a daily basis to carve out something that resembles a life for their daughter. They live in constant fear of having their daughter removed from their care, as they fight to get legal guardianship of her. They have no fixed address as they are not Argentinian residents and so their accommodation resembles nothing of a home.
They have already missed their first Easter, Mother's Day and Father's day. They will now spend Sophie's first Christmas and first Birthday by themselves without the ability to share these events with family and friends. They have had to watch Sophie achieve milestones through their constant teary eyes, with no one to share them with, or worse, missing them as they battle anxiety and depression due to their situation.
On top of all this, due to being forced to be out of Australia for so long, Jonathan was unable to have his WA Health contract renewed and is now out of work and Amy’s applications for WA Health and government paid parental leave have bee denied.
Currently, it appears the family will be overseas for at least another 6 months. Their time overseas has already cost over $100,000 in lost income, plus $75,000 in lawyers' fees, medical bills, living expenses overseas and bills at home. This is on top of $400,00 over the last 12 years to have a family. They have already exhausted all their funds including re-mortgaging their home. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help towards their expenses, ongoing legal fees, accommodation and living expenses etc.
After spending their lives giving back, through their careers, Amy as a nurse and Jonathan as a Physiotherapist, along with volunteering locally with refugees, internationally in orphanages and schools, many fundraising events includings Amy shaving her head for cancer research, both completing two times the 100km Oxfam trail walker, sponsored swims etc. Along with Jonathan being a regular blood donor for 20 years, this family absolutely does not deserve this.
Amy and Jonathan are always there for everyone else. Let's repay that favour and help this family in need!