Jeff and Maria Lancaster's Embryo Adoption Story
My hope is that my story will encourage families that still want children not to give up hope!
Like millions of American families, my husband and I struggled with the pain of infertility. I did manage to get pregnant with out the help of doctors twice but both pregnancies ended in miscarriages. Our doctor told us we were "done", mostly because I have crossed over into the "40's". Then by a miracle at 46, I got pregnant. A few weeks later, we lost that child too. We were deeply disappointed, now all hope of ever having children evaporated.
Then one day not long after, my husband heard a radio interview on Doctor James Dobson's show with a woman, Marlene Strege that gave birth to a child, Hannah, by adopting another couples embryos. Jeff came home and told me about it and I called the adoption agency, Nightlight Christian Adoptions, in Fullerton, CA. The embryo adoption program is called the "Snowflake" Program.
We anxiously waited for the information to come in the mail. We filled out all the forms, wrote letters, sent pictures of our family, prayed, and waited to be matched with a family that wished for us to carry their son's sibling. It took some time and we learned patience.
We were matched with a family of very similar background and values. We knew right away that they were the family that would be part of our lives. They sent us pictures, and wrote us letters, so we could know more about them and the reasons they made the decision to donate their excess embryos to our family.
Finally, the day arrived, the frozen embryos were shipped fed ex across the nation to my doctor's office. Soon after that, 2, 8 cell embryos were transferred to my womb under the care of a fertility specialist. We waited for several days and to our great joy found out, I was pregnant! Nine moths later, I delivered a beautiful baby girl, Elisha. My hope is that my story will encourage famliies that still want children not to give up hope! I especially want to be an encouragement to older women who have been told they were "too old."
Every frozen embryo is a human life! Every one has a destiny! Our hope and prayers are that more couples will learn of this wonderful gift, made possible by wonderful couples willing to share their joy and life with another family. It is one of the greatest gifts of love that there is. We are so grateful to the family that helped us bring Elisha into this world.
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