For years, I couldn’t even speak about this.

I was born with a rare condition called MRKH, which means I was born without a uterus. I learned this as a teenager, in a moment that permanently changed how I understood my future. I remember the doctor explaining it clinically, and then the silence that followed. The disbelief. The grief. I was told I would never be able to carry a child. I was also told that having a biological child might still be possible through IVF and surrogacy. That small possibility became something I quietly held onto.

Becoming a mother has always lived deep in my heart. Long before I understood the complexity of adulthood, I imagined building a loving home, holding my child, and creating a family rooted in warmth and care. Learning that I could never carry a pregnancy was devastating, and for a long time I carried that pain privately.

Then I met Tanner.

Tanner lives with cystic fibrosis, a lifelong condition he manages with strength, humor, and resilience. Because of his condition, he also cannot have children naturally. When we shared our stories with one another, something shifted. For the first time, I felt understood in a way that words don’t fully capture. We didn’t have to explain our grief. We simply held space for each other.

Tanner is my rock. He is kind, patient, and deeply loving. I have always dreamed of seeing him as a father, and I know he would be an incredible one.

For years, the path forward felt impossible. IVF and surrogacy costs were overwhelming, and we quietly watched others build families while we tried to make peace with uncertainty. But today, we are standing in something we never thought we would feel again: hope.

That is why we are asking for help.

How funds raised will be used

IVF-related medical expenses not fully covered by insurance (including medications, procedures, and required testing)

Licensed surrogacy agency fees

Legal contracts and compliance costs

Medical and insurance expenses related to the gestational carrier

Required escrow and administrative expenses

All funds raised will be used exclusively for legally contracted, medically supervised surrogacy-related expenses through licensed clinics, agencies, attorneys, and medical providers.

This is not easy to share. We come to this space humbled, vulnerable, and deeply grateful for any support—whether through a donation or simply sharing our story. Every act of kindness brings us one step closer to building the family we have dreamed of for so long.

We have so much love to give. We just need help turning that love into a reality.

With sincere gratitude,

Karen & Tanner Galloway

We are fundraising solely to cover legally compliant IVF surrogacy-related medical and administrative expenses. We are not seeking private arrangements or informal agreements.