Katie & Rachel’s Journey
When you talk to women like Katie and Rachel, you quickly understand that the path to building a family doesn’t always start in your own home—it sometimes begins with the decision to help someone else build theirs.
The First Yes: Becoming an Egg Donor
For both Katie and Rachel, their journeys began with a simple but powerful realization: someone out there was waiting for a family, and they could help make that dream come true.
Katie, in college at the time, made the decision to become an egg donor. She didn’t know then how deeply that choice would shape the rest of her life. “I simply knew that a family out there was waiting—and that I could be part of their story. And that was enough,” she recalls.
Rachel’s decision was inspired by someone close to her heart. “I have someone near & dear to me who conceived her children with egg donation. I get to witness the PURE MAGIC of her being the most amazing mom to them! It tugged on my heartstrings and inspired me to become an egg donor and help another family in that same way.”
What followed for Rachel was what she describes as a “one in a million” experience—traveling to Colorado, exploring the mountains, and forming a deep bond with her intended mother. “It was warm and fuzzy from the get-go. The support, the connection—it made the experience a million times better.”
A New Chapter: Becoming a Surrogate
For both women, egg donation lit a spark. But it wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning.
In her late 20s, married and a mom of three, Katie couldn’t stop thinking about all the families still waiting. One day, she turned to her husband and said, “What if I was a surrogate for someone?”
He smiled and asked, “You want to be pregnant again?”
And she replied, “Someone needs to help these families. I can.”
For Rachel, surrogacy wasn’t initially on her radar either—until she worked with a woman who had a child through surrogacy. The way her colleague spoke about her surrogate planted a seed. Soon after, Rachel met with a coordinator who walked her through the process. “She was realistic, educational, and kind,” Rachel says. “I knew it was going to be a great experience.”
The Impact on Family and Heart
Both women agree: being a surrogate is one of the most meaningful decisions they’ve ever made.
Katie was matched with a family full of hope and shared values. “Our kids were young—too little to really understand—but one day they’ll look back and see what our family chose to do. Not just the physical sacrifice, but the kindness, the compassion, the decision to show up for someone else in the most life-giving way possible.”
For Rachel, the journey was filled with unforgettable moments: sobbing with her intended mom during embryo transfer, the joy of the gender reveal, and the moment the parents held their long-awaited babies for the first time. “They got to see, hold, kiss, and love on their precious babies. It was everything.”
Bonds That Last a Lifetime
One of the most powerful outcomes of these journeys is the deep and lasting relationships forged along the way.
“I am the MOST blessed/luckiest surrogate and egg donor who was matched with two sets of INCREDIBLE intended parents,” Rachel shares. “We, as coordinators, refer to relationships like I had as ‘total love fests.’” Those bonds, built on trust and shared dreams, continue long after the deliveries.
A Journey of Purpose
Once you’ve been part of someone’s family story in such a profound way, it’s hard not to feel called to do more. “Surrogacy felt like a natural continuation after egg donation,” Rachel explains. “It gives such a deeper level of empathy.”
Katie echoes the sentiment: “Even in the bumps and hiccups, I never doubted the journey. My kids learned empathy by watching us live it. And I carry the honor of knowing I helped someone else become a parent.”
Thinking About Becoming a Donor or Surrogate?
Both women encourage others who are even slightly curious to explore the idea.
“Talk to someone who’s done it. Ask the questions. Hear the stories,” Katie says.
Rachel adds, “Take the plunge! Apply! It is life-changing in the BEST way and gives you such a sense of purpose while giving intended parents a sense of HOPE!”
Behind every child born through egg donation or surrogacy is someone like Katie or Rachel—someone who gave a piece of their heart to help someone else’s dream come true.
Curious about what it means to become a surrogate or egg donor?
Learn more today, we’re here to talk, share, and walk with you—every step of the way.
If you want to dive deeper into the world of egg donation, surrogacy and fertility, please check out our podcast: Me, You, & Who? Creating happy families via egg donation and surrogacy.