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Support in Surrogacy: Considerations for Intended Parents and Surrogates
In a truly inspiring and candid conversation, Christine Devlin Eck recently welcomed Michelle Valiukenas, the remarkable founder of The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation. Michelle's personal narrative is one of profound resilience, openly sharing her deeply emotional journey through the complexities of infertility, the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, and her eventual path to parenthood via surrogacy. Her story powerfully illuminates the often-hidden emotional challenges that accompany fertility struggles and underscores the absolutely vital, even "lifesaving," importance of community support during these trying times. It's a poignant reminder that no one should navigate such an isolating journey alone, and that shared experience can be a tremendous source of strength and solace.
Michelle's personal struggles became the catalyst for an incredible mission. Driven by her own experience, she established The Colette Louise Tisdale Foundation, an organization that has since become a beacon of hope for thousands. To date, the foundation has extended vital financial assistance, crucial education, and powerful advocacy to over 3,100 families across the nation who are grappling with pregnancy complications and the devastating experience of loss. This commitment to practical support, coupled with compassionate understanding, showcases the immense impact one individual's journey can have when channeled into serving others in their most vulnerable moments.
Beyond the foundation's remarkable work, Michelle also delved into the intimate and often misunderstood nuances of surrogacy. She shared her own experiences, emphasizing the paramount importance of open communication and profound understanding between intended parents and their surrogate. A particularly moving aspect of her story was the beautiful way she consciously integrated her daughter's memory into her surrogacy journey, highlighting how remembrance can be a powerful and healing part of the process. This episode is an essential listen for anyone seeking to understand the multifaceted aspects of infertility, loss, and the unique path of surrogacy, offering invaluable insights and a testament to the power of support in the face of profound challenges.
More about Michelle:
Michelle Valiukenas, founder of the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation
𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 is a mom, storyteller, and advocate. She has three children: Sweet Pea, who was lost to miscarriage; her angel daughter, Colette Louise, who lived for nine days; and her only living child, Elliott Miguel. A self-described recovering attorney, Michelle graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law in 2006. Michelle is the founder and director of the Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation, established to improve outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, prematurity, and infancy, as well as aid grieving families through financial assistance, education, and advocacy.
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