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Helping people expand their families is more than a job to me, it is my calling. My work is infused with personal connections, from the loss of my son, which motivated me to begin my program, to my six years of infertility treatments, to my wonderful resolution with the birth of my twins through ovum donation. There is not a moment in my many years of facilitating when I haven’t felt privileged to be able to help people at such a defining moment in their lives. Choosing a donor is one of the most important and deeply emotional experiences one can face. My superior staff and I understand the nuances, stresses, and blessings people experience at this pivotal time. As I look back at the faces of the lovely couples we have helped, the darling babies who have been born, and finally the tremendous women who have given such gifts, I know that I have spent my career in the company of angels and witnessed miracles of science and the human heart.
I have a master’s degree in psychology from Antioch University and am licensed as a Marriage Family Therapist in California since 1993. In my former careers I was a model and an actress.
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I grew up in Louisiana and studied Radio/TV/and Film at Northeast LA University. I then went on to graduate from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. I have always loved reading (especially crime novels), writing and adventure sports: hiking, repelling, white water rafting, kickboxing, etc. I have the most wonderful dog in the world, Max, who recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his back leg. He’s less one appendage now, but as healthy, happy and spoiled (even more so playing the “handicapped dog” card) as he has ever been! This career path has allowed me to meet the most amazing people. Our surrogates and their husbands are some of the most selfless and incredible people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Sometimes this job can be heartbreaking, but when a couple holds their baby for the first time it more than makes up for the setbacks. I love being a part of a process that realizes a dream for people who had almost given up hope. |
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I am originally from Northern California, and I moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduating college with a Degree in Film & Television. In early 2007, I was given the wonderful opportunity to begin working with Shelley Smith. Being a part of such an amazing staff and seeing couples achieve their dreams as parents is very satisfying. Last year I was able to successfully donate stem cells for my ailing brother. Having been able to help him, and knowing I have the chance to work in an environment where I can help others is incredible. It is wonderful to witness the complete journey people experience through our Surrogacy Program, and work with the most selfless donors and recipients in The Egg Donor Program. There is something truly amazing when for us as the journey ends with the birth of a beautiful child, and we know the couple is just beginning their experience. |
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I grew up in a small town in the Panhandle of Florida. I went to a small college that awarded me with scholarships in the Fine Arts where I was a part of the Show Choir. Although I was very thankful for the opportunity, I decided, at the age of 20, to pack my car and make the journey across the country to San Diego, CA. Once there, I heard about egg donation through my roommate. I immediately began researching different agencies and that's when I found Shelley Smith and her wonderful staff. Her agency was the first agency I called and after our conversation, it was the only one I called. Everything about her and the women who represent her, made me feel right at home. I was so nervous, donating for the first time but Shelley and the rest of the ladies were with me every step of the way. After being able to donate, I felt the most incredible sense of love and accomplishment. Being able to donate has truly been the most rewarding and gratifying experience and I am so blessed that I was able to provide couples with a means of making their dream a reality.I have worked with wonderful couples and each one was so special and ended up very much pregnant! Yay! J I felt to grateful to be given the opportunity to do something that I felt was so important and that I was passionate about. I enjoyed every part of the process and really yearned to work full time with couples in need. Then the opportunity of a lifetime came when there was an opening here at the Egg Donor Program. I was so excited, knowing that I would be helping people every day. Working with Shelley has been a total blessing as there is a genuine and indescribable bond that we all share. It has been a true joy being able to be a part of the lives of so many and hearing of the elation of new parents opening a wonderful and exciting new chapter. |
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I am originally from Michigan. I entered this field of Surrogacy through a friend. I never dreamed of moving into this type of job. Nor did I realize what a blessing it would be. I didn?t know how extraordinary it was to be a Surrogate. In the short time that I have been here I have seen such wonderful people trying to have babies that for one reason or other are unable to but have so much love to give a child and so desperately try and try again with such hope and faith. The process of matching a Surrogate to a couple is so amazing. The thought, love, selflessness, passion, soul, and heart that goes into this sometimes long process of bringing a life into this world is astounding. I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing, miraculous journey for all involved. Every day I am reminded of how precious life is and that we should not take our lives or being able to bring a life into this world for granted. I look forward to your journey. |
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I was born in Paris, France and grew up in Spain, daughter of an amazing painter and artist Salvador Maron and famous 60?s model & designer Willy van Rooy and younger sister of an amazing designer who still lives in Madrid, Spain. I moved with my parents to Los Angeles when I was 13 to pursue modeling. I have been an entrepreneur for a large part of my adult life and my major interests are fashion and art. I am married to a wonderful man and has 3 children. I can only imagine the thrill of a couple being able to attain their dream of starting a family through this wonderful program, I am now part of this great team of women and most of all I am able to see Shelley Smith do what she does with so much passion and love which is to guide and help these amazing people. |
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Having grown up in Calgary, Canada, I moved to Los Angeles in 1997. Though my family remains there, it was an easy decision to make: after multiple pilgrimages with my family to Newport Beach, Hollywood, and Disneyland, the freeways of Southern California were almost as familiar to me as the Trans-Canada Highway (and even today, travel remains one of my favorite pastimes!). Originally, I moved to follow the dream of so many ? acting. While waiting for that elusive break, I began working alongside an accountant at a small firm. That job lasted over eight years, and the career much longer, sustaining me through one adventure after another. My passion turned from acting to history, and in 2008 I graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor?s degree in History. The experience and relationships I culled in accounting over the last 12 years have been invaluable, and eventually lead to the opportunity to work with Shelley Smith. It is truly inspirational to see Shelley, and everyone else here, help breathe hope into dreams almost forgotten. I feel fortunate to work in a place where generosity and graciousness abound, and gifts of happiness to loving couples are a daily occurrence. |
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I grew up in Maryland and went to Towson University where I majored in music and acting. I moved to California to find work in the entertainment industry. For a few years, I worked in animation and the music industry but realized that I really wanted to help people. My love of helping others inspired me to become a massage therapist and eventually go to grad school. I received my M.A. in counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2009 and am currently working towards getting my license. I discovered Shelley's agency through Christi and Carolyn whom I had known for years. I originally thought that this would be something to do while I did my therapist internship. In the time I have been with the agency not only has the staff has been beyond wonderful to work with but I am honored and blessed to witness the miracles and relationships that form between parents and surrogates. I stumbled upon this amazing career path and I hope and plan to continue to work with couples who need egg donors and/or surrogates even after I have received my license. I am also blessed to live with the love of my life, Jeff and our wonder dog, Lenny |
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California. I'm a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of the USA and completed my Gold Award organizing a series of seminars and support groups to promote positive body image and eating disorder awareness for young men and women. My career experience has been rooted in customer service, management, and operations. My husband and my children are the greatest loves of my life. My dream has always been to find a job that I could be passionate about and at the end of the day know that I had done my part in making a difference in the world. My grandmother used to say that if you saw someone in need and you thought there was even a small chance that you might be able to help then it was your duty to try. Knowing that there are wonderful people in the world who desperately want and deserve to be parents but for many reasons are not able to do it alone inspired me to become a surrogate mother. From the moment I met with Shelley I knew that her agency was different from all the others. I had the honor of being a gestational surrogate for a lovely couple with the support of Shelley's amazing staff. Shelley has a gift for matching couples and surrogates based on real compatibility. I'm proud to now work with Shelley's agency and be a small part of the incredible work that they do. I feel whole knowing that I am playing a part in a process that gives couples the most wonderful gift in the world: the gift of family. |
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