My name is Rachel, and I have Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a birth defect that affects my spinal cord. It’s a condition that comes with many challenges. I’m thankful that I have been able to live a beautiful, independent life. I’m especially thankful to my parents, who not only adopted me but also were able to provide me the tools and resources to do so.

I met my husband in 2020. We were wed on September 15th, 2024, and now we are trying to start a family. He has been my rock since we met—I know he’ll be an amazing father.

Throughout the course of my life, I have had many abdominal surgeries dealing with the complications and hardships that come with having Spina Bifida. When consulting with my doctors, they advised against carrying my own child because of the high amount of scar tissue I’ve accumulated from my surgeries over the last 30 years of my life. The risks were so drastic that the path we now must take is one of surrogacy.

We are asking for the assistance of our friends, family, and peers to help us with our fertility organization, surrogacy, and legal fees. Any contribution, big or small, means the world to us as we start this journey together.