There are few things more difficult emotionally than the inability to conceive a child.
For a couple in Parker, they had nearly given up hope of having a second baby after a reproductive health complication made it too difficult for them to conceive naturally.
That discouragement faded when Elizabeth and Marty Wilson learned about the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption program.
The program, established in 1997 by Nightlight Christian Adoptions, works to help couples donating their embryos find the right match.
“A couple in California had a few embryos left over after doing IVF and instead of discarding them, they chose to donate them,” Elizabeth said, “And we are so grateful we were a match.”
That embryo was kept frozen for nearly 18 years in a plastic tube before being matched with the couple.
The Wilson’s fertility doctors assured them that the frozen embryo had the same chance at life as a new embryo.
“Baby Marley has quite the birth story with a twist” Elizabeth said “She was FedEx'd to us!”
About 9 months after a successful embryo transfer, Elizabeth gave birth to Marley Jade on June 3, 2016.
“She is healthy and beautiful,” Marty said, “Now having done this process, we couldn’t imagine doing it any other way.”
“This was just the door that was opened for us,” Elizabeth said.
The Snowflakes program allows the donor family and the recipient family to connect if they choose.
So far, the Wilsons have corresponded with Marley’s biological mother, as well as Marley’s biological sister, who is now 18-years-old.
“We send letters to one another and pictures,” Elizabeth said, “Marley’s donor sent a really nice card to us after Marley was born. I think about that family every day.”
For now, it’s just an occasional letter or picture, but the Wilsons said a reunion may happen someday in the future.
“We are just so grateful for Marley. We love her so much.”
