JEN ATKIN's video: Our Surrogacy Journey: Part One Jen Atkin

Our ability to share our story is such a blessing. It started in 2015, I was turning 36 and not ready to have children. We called Dr. Andy Huang and decided to do egg retrieval and freeze embryos. I wanted to talk openly about it bc it felt very lonely at the time. I also got upset at how costly it is, and I don’t understand how most employers don’t help cover this cost for women. Cut to 2020, with the help of Dr. Huang we decided surrogacy was our best option to start our family. I know a lot of people have been asking for details about miscarriages, failed IVFs, etc but I’m not sharing any of that bc I don’t think anyone has to explain why they chose surrogacy, period. Our society doesn’t normalize surrogacy, adoption, or fostering. Being adopted myself I have always known the importance of celebrating without judgement every family’s unique journey (you grow tired as a kid of saying “yes I know I look different but that is my mom”) We are beyond grateful to Stephanie Levich who helped us match with our incredible surrogate family. It has been a covid complicated journey but our families are forever bonded and we are so grateful to have experienced this alongside them. (If anyone knows of any non profits that provide grants for those struggling through infertility let us know below.) Our fav nurse Brianna said to us “The journey as a parent can be very lonely. I have seen people become parents through loss, surrogacy, adoption, and some of the most complicated and devastating circumstances. Thru posting you can help people find comfort in not being alone, one family in finding a connection with other families who have gone thru the same experiences, help them find a way to escape the isolation. It doesn’t matter how you decide to become a parent, or if being a parent to a little human lasted a million days shorter then it should have, you are still a parent and it deserves massive celebration.” Here is our celebration of River Julién Rosenthal. —————— Our doctor: Dr. Andy Huang, MD https://www.reproductivepartners.com/dr-andy-huang.html Music from: http://share.epidemicsound.com/sTmjw​​ --------------- Starting her career in Hollywood, Jen quickly began working with the most influential stars, including Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian, Katy Perry, Jessica Alba, and Jennifer Lopez. Today, with over 2.7mm followers on social media, she’s what the New York Times calls “The Most Influential Hairstylist in the World,” counting top models Chrissy Teigen, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, and Gigi and Bella Hadid as some of her most loyal clientele. Jen is also the founder of ManeAddicts.com and haircare brand OUAI. See more from Jen: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenatkinhair/​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenatkinhair​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenAtkinHair/​​ Web: http://jenatkin.com/