Once Upon a Surrogate: The Stork's Helpers

For most of us, when we're sick or when something unexpected comes up, we can take a personal day from work. But what happens when the Stork gets sick? I mean, babies still need to be delivered, right?

That's why he inlisted special helpers, called Surrogates! Although surrogates can't carry babies in their mouths, they can still carry them in their bellies!

One special surrogate is Jill Hancock Reeder, who received that very important call back in 2005. Jill grew up in Utah, where she currently resides with her Navy hubby and high school sweatheart, along with their three beautiful young children.

Her husband was an avid blood donor, but Jill wanted to do something more. After contemplating egg donation, she came across the idea of surrogacy. With extensive research and help from another online surrogacy community, Jill was able to make her dreams come true, and help other families who weren't able to have children. In fact, not only is she surrogate mom to a little girl, but also to twin boys! To read more about Jill and her decision to become a surrogate, please visit her blog, at http://mormonsurrogate.blogspot.com

Jill was inspired to share her experiences as a surrogate in her new book, Once Upon a Surrogate: The Stork's Helpers. I received a copy, and thought it was a great story to be told, even though I have never been involved in surrogacy. It is told from the perspective of her children, from how they handled the experience to how they were involved. Jill even involved her children as her illustrators for the book and her father as her printer and consultant!

Jill has even designed merchandise for surrogates and intended parents, using unique phrases and sayings. My personal favorite is "I'm not the mom, I'm just the stork"---I think it would be a whole lot easier when talking to inquisitive passerbys that always want to talk about your pregnancy! You can see her entire collection at http://surrogacybooks.blogspot.com

So if you've ever wondered what it would be like to be a surrogate mother, or to teach your children that there is more than one way to have a baby, this book would make a great addition to your bookshelf!

-Mary Ann O'Shea
Director of Operations, CityMommy of NEPA