New Yorker Despina Meris had always imagined her future with children in it. After falling in love and moving to Australia in her early twenties and battling cancer at age thirty, she and her husband Bill finally settled down to baby-making ldash; only to have miscarriage after miscarriage. They tried IVF, with the same result. Heartbreaking years of trying and thousands of dollars later, they turned to surrogacy Ddash; first in India, then the Ukraine and finally in Thailand, where their son was conceived.
But just when they thought their dramas were over, Thailand banned all surrogacy and the government issued a warrant for the arrest of their doctor. Despina and Bill were left with no way of contacting their pregnant surrogate, and no response from their medical clinic.
This is the almost-too-crazy-to-be-true story of Despina and Billbsquo;s nine-year quest to become parents, but it squo;s about more than just the drive to have a child. Itdsquo;s also an insider squo;s experience of the IVF and surrogacy industries, and the way women are treated in the fertility meat-grinder. Itesquo;s about what itgsquo;s like to live for years with uncertainty, how far youssquo;ll go before you call it quits, and what really matters when it seems like all the odds are stacked against you.
