Be the Match... {a new meaning}

When Kellie (IM) and Chris (IF) and I all discussed the possibility of me being their gestational carrier, I knew that this would be the perfect family to carry for.  They have tender hearts and are genuine people that everyone falls in love with as soon as they meet them.  That's how I felt when I first met them a year ago.  In the type of industry that Kellie and I are in, you would think we would be competitors.  That we would be jealous of eachothers successes and strive to one-up the other.  But, truly, with ItWorks Global, that could not be further than the truth.  This is the only company I've seen that genuinely cares for each person & wants them to do well.  This is the only company that I've seen women come together in every aspect of the business and root eachother on.  It's such a rare company.  In the best of ways.  And Kellie and I have really seen that come full circle, especially with this journey we are on.
In July of this year Kellie and I happened to have a layover at the same airport when we were flying with our husbands to a conference in Florida.  We were walking to our gate and we shared our pregnancy stories with eachother.  I remember her telling me that she so badly wants another baby, but unless they were to find a surrogate, that wouldn't be possible.  Of course, I had to mention my desire to be a surrogate 2 years ago and explained how it fell thru and how devastated I was.  In the middle of this conversation we were interrupted and we never finished.  But, a month later Kellie and I were at a leadership retreat at the Biltmore Estates in North Carolina with 12 other women.  It was a very intimate experience and each of us got to know eachother very well.  One evening we all did an activity where we would share pieces of our lives that have shaped us into who we are and then also share a few dreams that we see in our future.  This is when again, Kellie brought up how badly she wanted a baby.  I remember seeing the tears stream down her face and my heart ached.  Seeing her emotions is the exact reason why I feel so passionately about being a surrogate for someone.  I can't imagine having the desire to have another baby & not being able to.  I can't fathom how hurtful it must be to feel that your family isn't quite complete but not sure how to make that feeling go away.
While Kellie was talking, I couldn't help but wonder... 'could I carry a child for her and Chris? Would it work this time?  Could I be a surrogate like I've always wanted?  Could I be their match?'
The Biltmore trip was over the next morning and Kellie and I never spoke again about that night until the following month we were at an all expense paid leadership trip in Florida with our company for the top 100 of the company.  Kellie and I are so blessed to both be apart of that!  But, during that trip, Kellie and I would be silly and joke about me carrying her baby.  I didn't think it was anything more than just silliness, kidding around.  But, just a few days after that trip is where this whole story begins.  September 11, if you remember my first blog post.  Kellie called me and I will never forget her shaky voice asking if I was 'serious' about possibly being their surrogate so they can complete their family. Here is a few photos of those trips.  These photos now have such a more powerful meaning than they did when we first took them!

Fast forward a few months... if you've been following along on the blog then you are familiar with what all happened in September, October and November.  However, I've left out a very big detail.  Since we were keeping Kellie & Chris' identities a secret until we were cleared to go forward, I couldn't let you know something that Kellie is doing because it would have given away her identity to all who know us.  In May of this year Kellie was at a vendor event for ItWorks and she was next to the Be The Match Bone Marrow donation booth.  They asked if she would want to be a registered bone marrow donor and all they would need to do is swab her mouth.  The chances of being called would be like 3% (this is what I remember, that could be the wrong number.. but it's very low).  Well, just 2 months later Kellie got a phone call.  She was a potential match for a man who is fighting cancer.  They asked to do some more testing and they would call her back if she was THE match, but the chances were slim that that would happen.  Well, she got the call.  Just after her and I started discussing our plans for the surrogacy, she was called.  She wasn't among a list of donors, but she was the only match for this man.
Originally Kellie's egg retrieval for the surrogacy was set for the first week in December.  However, when the bone marrow donation called, this man needed this donation in December also.  Wow.  Talk about crazy timing.  Kellie is such a giving person, I know it was a no brainer for her.  She decided that her dream of having a baby would be put on hold for a few more months while she donates bone marrow to potentially save this strangers life.  How amazing.
Tomorrow is the big day.  Kellie will go in and give bone marrow.  I know this past week hasn't been easy or comfortable for her.  She's had a lot of side effects from the injections shes had to do, but she's a trooper and dealing with it all with such grace and optimism.  Here she is.  Send her some prayers to continue to {BE BRAVE}.  Go Kel!  :)

So, I just have to end this post saying how ironic all of this really is.  Kellie is giving life all the while she is waiting for a new life to complete her family in 2015.  And, while Christmas is all about giving, I think this all holds true to that tradition.
Our timeline right now is:
January 18: I will start on all meds to prepare for the transfer
End of January : Kellie will begin meds for her egg retrieval
Beginning of Feb: Kellie will do her egg retrieval
February 25: TRANSFER DAY (if all goes as planned)!!!!

So, there ya have it!  Lots of info. Lots of giving.  And.  BE THE MATCH.