“Our baby will come to us at the right time in exactly the right way.”
These are the words Amy and her husband, Tim, read together every night before bed and first thing every morning. This simple but powerful affirmation brought them comfort throughout their infertility journey. Amy created a sign with the phrase and kept it on their dresser as a daily reminder to stay grounded in faith and hope—that the child they longed for would one day come into their lives.
That dream became a reality in January, when their beautiful daughter, Esther, was born.
“She is truly our miracle baby,” says Amy, who underwent three rounds of IVF and experienced two miscarriages before conceiving Esther with the help of an egg donor.
Before their third IVF attempt, Amy began researching egg donation, wanting to be prepared for the next step in case the cycle didn’t succeed. A known donor was at the top of her list.
“I can’t explain how or why I knew she was meant to be our donor; I just did,” Amy recalls. “I felt it as soon as I viewed her profile. We kept coming back to her, again and again, as our top choice. Her personality, hobbies, likes, and even her career aligned with mine. We both really admired that she had been a surrogate, was married, had a child, and still wanted to help another couple grow their family.
When I showed her profile to my close friends, they all chose her instantly too. They couldn’t explain it either—just that, ‘You can see kindness in her eyes and happiness in her smile,’ and ‘Yep, she is the one. She is perfect.’”
Amy recently took time to reflect on their journey and the life-changing impact of egg donation. Here’s what she shared:
Why was having a known donor important to you?
Amy: I chose a known donor because I wanted our child to always know her special and unique story—how she came to be. Egg donation is an incredible gift, and I believe it deserves to be honored. I began telling Esther about the beautiful, kind woman who helped create her while I was still pregnant, and we still talk about her today. We read children’s books on egg donation together regularly.
Esther will always know the role that egg donation played in her life. I want her to grow up with that knowledge as something normal and celebrated—not something to be discovered later or treated as a secret. Our family views egg donation as a gift of love.
Having a known donor gave me so much comfort throughout the process. We were able to communicate early on, and hearing her words of encouragement gave me a sense of calm and connection. We still stay in touch through the Donor Sibling Registry. I send her updates and, honestly, probably way too many photos—but I just love sharing our precious girl with her.
What is a typical day like for your family?
Amy: We live by Esther’s routine! Wake, feed, play, nap—then repeat. We especially love playtime. Esther is such a happy baby and is constantly discovering her voice. She has the sweetest gummy smile and charms everyone she meets. Several times a week, we visit with friends or go on mom-and-baby adventures while Tim is at work.
What is the best part about being a mom?
Amy: Baby snuggles. Smelling her little head. Kissing her chubby cheeks. Watching her sleep and wondering who she’ll grow up to be.
But beyond that, it’s the wonder in her eyes as she sees the world for the first time—with me by her side to guide her. It’s deeply fulfilling to help her experience and enjoy the world around her.
One of the most joyful parts of this journey is watching Tim with Esther. The love he has for her is written all over his face, and it fills me with such warmth. Sharing parenthood with him has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
What would you say to your egg donor if she were reading this?
Amy: The ability to carry Tim’s child despite my infertility feels like a miracle—and it’s all because of you. We are endlessly grateful for the gift you gave us.
Your generosity, your kindness, and your willingness to help complete our family will always be cherished. You’ve brought so much happiness and light into our lives. We are the happiest we’ve ever been, and our love for each other—and for our daughter—is stronger than we ever imagined.
We have hopes and dreams for Esther, and now we get to build a future together because of your selflessness. Please know that we will never take that for granted. What you’ve given us is beyond words. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Update: A Growing Family
Since welcoming Esther, Amy and Tim’s family has grown once more—with the arrival of a beautiful baby boy! Now a family of four, their hearts (and hands!) are even fuller.
“Our son has brought another layer of joy and completeness to our lives,” says Amy. “Watching Esther become a big sister has been one of the most precious experiences. We look at our children and know, without a doubt, that every step of our journey led us exactly where we were meant to be.”
