Please Help Chris & Shelby on Surrogacy Journey!

Hi, I’m Juanita (Mom) and I am raising funds for Chris & Shelby’s journey to becoming parents and bringing Baby Daniels into this world through a Surrogate/Gestational Carrier. When Chris and Shelby got married, they knew it would take a miracle to have a family. Many late night conversations regarding the financial burden, the unknown aspects of having your baby growing elsewhere, the trust of another person unknown to them… it all felt too overwhelming to pursue. They quietly wished for something to make it possible, but were resigned that it likely would not be in the cards for them. In September of 2022, two sister-in-laws were chatting about life and their children when MAGIC happened. Their moms (Wendy and I) realized Shelby’s cousin Rachel had been looking into becoming a surrogate while Shelby was seeking a surrogate! The cousins chatted and instantly knew it was a perfect match. Many will wonder how they wound up here. It all started nearly 10 years ago…..Hysterectomy ……when talking about my 20 year old daughter?….wait what…you can’t….she is my baby. NO!!!! Unfortunately….. it did have to happen. Total Hysterectomy. But this is not my story to tell. Shelby’s Story: My journey of infertility began at a young age. From onset, my menstrual cycles were extremely painful (which most people find hard to understand). At age 18 while living in New Mexico, the pain that would usually come and go, had become constant and unbearable. A trip to urgent care turned into overnight in the ER, being poked and scared over everything from apendicitis to cancer. At the end, they knew was there was something abnormal with my ovaries and uterus, visible on an ultrasound, needing a closer look. I moved home and had laparoscopic surgery to confirm I had the most severe case of Endometriosis my doctor had ever seen, especially in an 18 year old. The next two years were spent battling that pain with the help of many medical providers, countless medications, and various treatment attempts. Unfortunately this culminated in my uterus fusing to my other abdominal organs and bleeding uncontrollably, which led me to a total hysterectomy at age 20. The physical recovery from the cauterization of my internal organs was excruciating but unfortunately not the end of my surgical battle with Endometriosis. I have been surgery free since 2018 and the pain has become much more manageable since! To say I was fully unprepared for the mental battle being completely infertile/sterile would bring…. would be a massive understatement! Once I physically healed and reality settled back in, the weight of the future that was ripped away from me was very heavy to bear. I felt selfish in my pain, but found it hard not to think ‘but why didn’t I deserve this happiness’ when trying to enjoy the journeys of others. It still happens here or there: this deep hollow cramp where my uterus should be when I think about the loss. Over time and many forms of healing, I found my peace with the way my life is unfolding. It wouldn’t have been the specific path I chose, but I found determination in the fact that I would eventually know exactly why I had gone through every second of that pain. I absolutely know this journey is that reason! The day I meet Baby Daniels will bring it all full circle. We want to Wholeheartedly Thank each and every one of you for your support and love. ANY donations will be appreciated more than words can say. THANK YOU! The donated funds will go towards the cost of the egg donation and surrogacy journeys. This is an extremely expensive journey and any help they receive will all go towards creating Baby Daniels.