CSP is proud to have helped David Furnish and Elton John for the second time become the proud parents of a baby boy, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, was born on January 11, 2013. Big brother, Zachary Jackson Levon, was born on Christmas Day, 2011 with the help of the same surrogate mom.
Magnus Mitchell Handelman joins big brother Felix, who Banks and Handelman welcomed in March 2011. The "Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect" star Banks, 38, shared the happy news on her website this morning (Nov. 14). "Like Felix, Magnus was born via gestational surrogate," Banks revealed in her announcement. "This experience has exceeded all expectations, taught us a great deal about generosity and gratitude, and established a relationship that will last a lifetime. I am also so very thankful to our family and friends for their support throughout this process, as well as the Center for Surrogate Parenting for helping make all this possible." Congratulations Elizabeth!
Actress Angela Bassett and her husband, Courtney B. Vance, are celebrating after becoming first-time parents. The couple became parents of twins -- a boy and a girl -- who were born through a surrogate in January 2006. Angela and Courtney's story is a true love story. They have written a book about their lives and how they came to become a couple and their journey towards parenting. Vance and Bassett, both 47, were married in 1997. When Courtney and Angela decided to start a family, they eventually turned to fertility specialists for help. After seven years of visiting in vitro specialists, getting shots and other treatments, the news was not encouraging. It was an extremely trying and emotionally exhausting time for the couple, and each failed attempt was especially devastating to Angela. After each failed cycle, Angela would stay focused on the prize of parenting: "I was devastated when it didn't happen [again and again]. I had to remain hopeful and resilient and, 'Okay, let's do it again.'" Eventually, a friend approached Angela and announced that she and her husband were five months pregnant. However she did not look pregnant at all. Confused, Angela said, 'You are?' and the friend revealed that they were working with a surrogate mother. She began to tell me about the idea of surrogacy. The more we learned about it, the more we began to think that perhaps this was an answer for us. Angela brought the idea up to Courtney, and they decided to think about it. "The more we learned about it, the more we began to think that perhaps this was an answer for us," Angela says. This was the turning point for Angela and Courtney. Their friend encouraged them to contact the Center for Surrogate Parenting for help and they did. Courtney Vance and Angela Bassett appeared on the Oprah show to discuss their love story which culminated in the birth of their twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah in January 2006. For Angela, the actual birth of their babies was an amazing experience. Just standing there together, holding each other with the realization that this is the moment that we've been working toward, praying for...[it's a dream come true].
We have gotten to experience different cultures and make friends that we would’ve otherwise not met. It is very special for us to be a part of this.
San Diego's Channel 6 Weather Broadcaster Brooke Landau, and her husband, Tony Maturani, came to The Center for Surrogate Parenting, LLC when they realized they needed the help of a surrogate mother. Their baby boy was delivered on January 19th, 2013 and they couldn't be happier! Check out the inside story of Brooke's journey in these two video's produced by Brooke's TV station in San Diego, California.
For seventeen years Joan Lunden appeared daily as a co-host on “Good Morning America.” After saying goodbye to early morning television in 1999, Lunden developed a series with A&E, called “Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden” and has penned several books about parenting. She also made headlines with her decision to have a child at age 54. After numerous failed attempts at in vitro, she was able to have twins, Kate and Max, through the help of a surrogate mother. She is ecstatic about being a parent to infants again. In an interview with MSNBC's Deborah Norville, Lunden talked about why she wanted to have a baby, the surrogate process, juggling motherhood and work, her years on “Good Morning America,” and her new healthy living book, Growing Up Healthy. On becoming a new mom again: Deborah Norville, Host: I remember thinking last year when I heard that you and Jeff were going to have these babies through a surrogate, I was reminded of the question Jay Leno asked Hugh Grant, “What were you thinking?” Joan Lunden: Our life is all about the choices we make, and when I was looking for a mate for life, I really was looking for someone who was a family man, somebody who would embrace my girls as much as they were going to embrace me. I guess I just wasn't finished having children yet. We tried in vitro fertilization many times, but it wasn't working. My doctor said, “No, keep trying, because it's a numbers game. We're going to get this done.” But when you're approaching 50, it's also a time game and you have to ask yourself, 'Is it really about me being pregnant, or is it about parenting and having babies?' So we decided to use a surrogate. NORVILLE: Is it different the second time around? You've had such a big space [between children], because your youngest is 16. LUNDEN: I'm much less daunted by it. I think I'm more patient, more secure. And quite honestly, because I went on my own little journey to health and fitness, I'm much more fit now than I was 20 years ago when I had my first round of children. On the surrogacy process: NORVILLE: Sadly, there are over nine million women in this country who are dealing with some sort of a fertility issue or another. And many of them do consider surrogacy, but how do you go about this process and deal with all the stress and turmoil that may come along with it? LUNDEN: That's the reason why I've talked about it. Most people out there hear the horror stories. They hear about the ones that end in the emotional heartache and the tug-of-war. I thought it was important these days that they hear a story that ended with a happy ending. Surrogacy used to be difficult, because the woman that was carrying the child was biologically related to the child. And sometimes you can still do it that way, but you do not have to do it that way anymore. NORVILLE: Does the mother of your children have any biological connection to them? LUNDEN: She has no genetic relationship. The embryos were implanted in her. We actually went out to California to do our implantation because the laws in California are tried, true, and tested. You're the parent of that baby before she has the baby. Whereas in other states you have to wait 6 months to adopt the baby, from the “birthing mother.” You don't have to worry about somebody trying to take a stake in your child later. NORVILLE: Solving fertility issues can be expensive, particularly in vitro. Most people go the in vitro route first and spend almost $10,000 per cycle, which they can not at most times afford. Do you think that insurance should cover that? Is childbearing a right or a privilege? LUNDEN: I think that in our society we should do everything to encourage child-bearing and family-making. And I think that if insurance will cover Viagra for men, it should also be covering these kinds of methods to try to build families. Some of them will, but usually only for one or two cycles. Often it takes five or six cycles for success to finally happen for a lot of these couples. So it drains them. They're emotionally and financially drained. NORVILLE: How did you select this woman? There are a number of people, through these surrogate agencies who want to be there for the couple that has the child. Yet, how do they match you and your husband up with the surrogate and her husband? LUNDEN: It's quite frankly one of trickiest parts of the whole thing, because everybody has personalities. And you need to match up the right personalities. If you have the intended parents—that's what we're called— who want to call every day and be heavily involved throughout the whole pregnancy, and if you have someone who doesn't want to have that kind of involvement, you've set up a situation that's not going to be a happy, wonderful situation for the person who went into it for all the right reasons. Then, you consider other possible situations that could occur from the get-go. You need to think about the following questions: What happens if you have triplets? Will you do selective reduction? Is she willing to carry them? Everyone has to be on the same page with these decisions. You have to decide how much contact you are going to have afterward, and put the relationship with the surrogate family into perspective. Do they want to see the babies? Do they just want a card once a year? Do they want to say, “I'm glad I did that for you” and never see you again? We met Deborah, our surrogate, and we knew we didn't have to worry about anything. We went through the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Los Angeles. They are probably the oldest and best known. They take care of everything for you. We went to Cincinnati for the birth, and we were right there. I cut the umbilical cord. We talk to them a lot. Their three daughters have become close with my three daughters. They're flying in for the twins' first birthday. I want Kate and Max to always know this woman who did such an extraordinary and selfless and loving thing as to give them life, to help give them life. I don't think that they should grow up and not know her. On raising newborns at 54: NORVILLE: Your kids are going to have one of the older moms when it comes time for junior high and high school and cheerleading tryouts and all that sort of stuff. But do you predict that there will be other moms in the same age group as you? LUNDEN: Absolutely. I know so many people right now, even just within my own realm of friends that are doing the same thing. It's part of our lifestyle. So many women waited until later to get married and then even later after they got married to have children. And then they have problems, and it takes them five, six, seven years to have children. NORVILLE: Since you've been very public about who the surrogate and the family are, it's also going to be a little different and difficult for your kids. None of these issues that seem kind of new and different to us today, will seem like that big of a deal twenty years from now. LUNDEN: Believe me, they're going to get to kindergarten and there's going to be eight sets of twins because of all the other moms that did in vitro and had twins. The mother of my 16-year-old's best friend in school, she's also divorced, had three teenagers, and married somebody eight years younger. She did in vitro and had twins. So already, to my 16-year-old daughter, this standard is old hat to her."
My partner and I spoke with CSP in November 2017 and were immediately impressed by our case manager’s (Fay) professionalism, dedication and empathy. Our experience with CSP was in stark contrast to other agencies that seem to want to sell us a product as oppose to match us with the right surrogate and help us through the miracle of building our own family. Fay guided us through this multi-party process to find us the perfect surrogate for our twin children. Having gone through this process herself in the early days of surrogacy, Fay proved to be invaluable as a trusted adviser. We are very grateful to have found Fay and to be working with all the wonderful professionals at CSP. We transferred our two embryos in April 2018 to our surrogate and are blessed to be pregnant. We have a truly extraordinary surrogate whose passion and determination amazes me every day. I can’t thank Fay and the CSP team enough for the support and dedication they provide to both the surrogate and intended parents.
We are so pleased with CSP. From our first interaction with our case manager, Fay Johnson, we felt an instant connection. She was kind, totally present, listened to our story and was able to relate to us on so many levels. She was also very thorough in explaining how the process works and managed our expectations. The entire team has been instrumental in presenting us with a surrogate who is perfectly matched for us!!! Without question, CSP is the ONLY agency I would refer to friends and family needing such an important service!!! We have an amazing surrogate thanks to Fay and CSP; and we will hopefully be blessed with twins this December!!!
We began working with CSP about six years ago so that we could achieve our dreams of creating a family together. Now we have two, beautiful boys, who bring love, laughter and heartwarming joy and pride with every moment. We are reminded daily of how precious life is and that being present for each other is the greatest gift. Thank you CSP, for your wonderful services and your continued support and encouragement along the way. Thank you CSP!
CSP is proud to have helped David Furnish and Elton John for the second time become the proud parents of a baby boy, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, was born on January 11, 2013. Big brother, Zachary Jackson Levon, was born on Christmas Day, 2011 with the help of the same surrogate mom.
Magnus Mitchell Handelman joins big brother Felix, who Banks and Handelman welcomed in March 2011. The "Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect" star Banks, 38, shared the happy news on her website this morning (Nov. 14). "Like Felix, Magnus was born via gestational surrogate," Banks revealed in her announcement. "This experience has exceeded all expectations, taught us a great deal about generosity and gratitude, and established a relationship that will last a lifetime. I am also so very thankful to our family and friends for their support throughout this process, as well as the Center for Surrogate Parenting for helping make all this possible." Congratulations Elizabeth!
Actress Angela Bassett and her husband, Courtney B. Vance, are celebrating after becoming first-time parents. The couple became parents of twins -- a boy and a girl -- who were born through a surrogate in January 2006. Angela and Courtney's story is a true love story. They have written a book about their lives and how they came to become a couple and their journey towards parenting. Vance and Bassett, both 47, were married in 1997. When Courtney and Angela decided to start a family, they eventually turned to fertility specialists for help. After seven years of visiting in vitro specialists, getting shots and other treatments, the news was not encouraging. It was an extremely trying and emotionally exhausting time for the couple, and each failed attempt was especially devastating to Angela. After each failed cycle, Angela would stay focused on the prize of parenting: "I was devastated when it didn't happen [again and again]. I had to remain hopeful and resilient and, 'Okay, let's do it again.'" Eventually, a friend approached Angela and announced that she and her husband were five months pregnant. However she did not look pregnant at all. Confused, Angela said, 'You are?' and the friend revealed that they were working with a surrogate mother. She began to tell me about the idea of surrogacy. The more we learned about it, the more we began to think that perhaps this was an answer for us. Angela brought the idea up to Courtney, and they decided to think about it. "The more we learned about it, the more we began to think that perhaps this was an answer for us," Angela says. This was the turning point for Angela and Courtney. Their friend encouraged them to contact the Center for Surrogate Parenting for help and they did. Courtney Vance and Angela Bassett appeared on the Oprah show to discuss their love story which culminated in the birth of their twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah in January 2006. For Angela, the actual birth of their babies was an amazing experience. Just standing there together, holding each other with the realization that this is the moment that we've been working toward, praying for...[it's a dream come true].
We have gotten to experience different cultures and make friends that we would’ve otherwise not met. It is very special for us to be a part of this.
San Diego's Channel 6 Weather Broadcaster Brooke Landau, and her husband, Tony Maturani, came to The Center for Surrogate Parenting, LLC when they realized they needed the help of a surrogate mother. Their baby boy was delivered on January 19th, 2013 and they couldn't be happier! Check out the inside story of Brooke's journey in these two video's produced by Brooke's TV station in San Diego, California.
For seventeen years Joan Lunden appeared daily as a co-host on “Good Morning America.” After saying goodbye to early morning television in 1999, Lunden developed a series with A&E, called “Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden” and has penned several books about parenting. She also made headlines with her decision to have a child at age 54. After numerous failed attempts at in vitro, she was able to have twins, Kate and Max, through the help of a surrogate mother. She is ecstatic about being a parent to infants again. In an interview with MSNBC's Deborah Norville, Lunden talked about why she wanted to have a baby, the surrogate process, juggling motherhood and work, her years on “Good Morning America,” and her new healthy living book, Growing Up Healthy. On becoming a new mom again: Deborah Norville, Host: I remember thinking last year when I heard that you and Jeff were going to have these babies through a surrogate, I was reminded of the question Jay Leno asked Hugh Grant, “What were you thinking?” Joan Lunden: Our life is all about the choices we make, and when I was looking for a mate for life, I really was looking for someone who was a family man, somebody who would embrace my girls as much as they were going to embrace me. I guess I just wasn't finished having children yet. We tried in vitro fertilization many times, but it wasn't working. My doctor said, “No, keep trying, because it's a numbers game. We're going to get this done.” But when you're approaching 50, it's also a time game and you have to ask yourself, 'Is it really about me being pregnant, or is it about parenting and having babies?' So we decided to use a surrogate. NORVILLE: Is it different the second time around? You've had such a big space [between children], because your youngest is 16. LUNDEN: I'm much less daunted by it. I think I'm more patient, more secure. And quite honestly, because I went on my own little journey to health and fitness, I'm much more fit now than I was 20 years ago when I had my first round of children. On the surrogacy process: NORVILLE: Sadly, there are over nine million women in this country who are dealing with some sort of a fertility issue or another. And many of them do consider surrogacy, but how do you go about this process and deal with all the stress and turmoil that may come along with it? LUNDEN: That's the reason why I've talked about it. Most people out there hear the horror stories. They hear about the ones that end in the emotional heartache and the tug-of-war. I thought it was important these days that they hear a story that ended with a happy ending. Surrogacy used to be difficult, because the woman that was carrying the child was biologically related to the child. And sometimes you can still do it that way, but you do not have to do it that way anymore. NORVILLE: Does the mother of your children have any biological connection to them? LUNDEN: She has no genetic relationship. The embryos were implanted in her. We actually went out to California to do our implantation because the laws in California are tried, true, and tested. You're the parent of that baby before she has the baby. Whereas in other states you have to wait 6 months to adopt the baby, from the “birthing mother.” You don't have to worry about somebody trying to take a stake in your child later. NORVILLE: Solving fertility issues can be expensive, particularly in vitro. Most people go the in vitro route first and spend almost $10,000 per cycle, which they can not at most times afford. Do you think that insurance should cover that? Is childbearing a right or a privilege? LUNDEN: I think that in our society we should do everything to encourage child-bearing and family-making. And I think that if insurance will cover Viagra for men, it should also be covering these kinds of methods to try to build families. Some of them will, but usually only for one or two cycles. Often it takes five or six cycles for success to finally happen for a lot of these couples. So it drains them. They're emotionally and financially drained. NORVILLE: How did you select this woman? There are a number of people, through these surrogate agencies who want to be there for the couple that has the child. Yet, how do they match you and your husband up with the surrogate and her husband? LUNDEN: It's quite frankly one of trickiest parts of the whole thing, because everybody has personalities. And you need to match up the right personalities. If you have the intended parents—that's what we're called— who want to call every day and be heavily involved throughout the whole pregnancy, and if you have someone who doesn't want to have that kind of involvement, you've set up a situation that's not going to be a happy, wonderful situation for the person who went into it for all the right reasons. Then, you consider other possible situations that could occur from the get-go. You need to think about the following questions: What happens if you have triplets? Will you do selective reduction? Is she willing to carry them? Everyone has to be on the same page with these decisions. You have to decide how much contact you are going to have afterward, and put the relationship with the surrogate family into perspective. Do they want to see the babies? Do they just want a card once a year? Do they want to say, “I'm glad I did that for you” and never see you again? We met Deborah, our surrogate, and we knew we didn't have to worry about anything. We went through the Center for Surrogate Parenting in Los Angeles. They are probably the oldest and best known. They take care of everything for you. We went to Cincinnati for the birth, and we were right there. I cut the umbilical cord. We talk to them a lot. Their three daughters have become close with my three daughters. They're flying in for the twins' first birthday. I want Kate and Max to always know this woman who did such an extraordinary and selfless and loving thing as to give them life, to help give them life. I don't think that they should grow up and not know her. On raising newborns at 54: NORVILLE: Your kids are going to have one of the older moms when it comes time for junior high and high school and cheerleading tryouts and all that sort of stuff. But do you predict that there will be other moms in the same age group as you? LUNDEN: Absolutely. I know so many people right now, even just within my own realm of friends that are doing the same thing. It's part of our lifestyle. So many women waited until later to get married and then even later after they got married to have children. And then they have problems, and it takes them five, six, seven years to have children. NORVILLE: Since you've been very public about who the surrogate and the family are, it's also going to be a little different and difficult for your kids. None of these issues that seem kind of new and different to us today, will seem like that big of a deal twenty years from now. LUNDEN: Believe me, they're going to get to kindergarten and there's going to be eight sets of twins because of all the other moms that did in vitro and had twins. The mother of my 16-year-old's best friend in school, she's also divorced, had three teenagers, and married somebody eight years younger. She did in vitro and had twins. So already, to my 16-year-old daughter, this standard is old hat to her."
My partner and I spoke with CSP in November 2017 and were immediately impressed by our case manager’s (Fay) professionalism, dedication and empathy. Our experience with CSP was in stark contrast to other agencies that seem to want to sell us a product as oppose to match us with the right surrogate and help us through the miracle of building our own family. Fay guided us through this multi-party process to find us the perfect surrogate for our twin children. Having gone through this process herself in the early days of surrogacy, Fay proved to be invaluable as a trusted adviser. We are very grateful to have found Fay and to be working with all the wonderful professionals at CSP. We transferred our two embryos in April 2018 to our surrogate and are blessed to be pregnant. We have a truly extraordinary surrogate whose passion and determination amazes me every day. I can’t thank Fay and the CSP team enough for the support and dedication they provide to both the surrogate and intended parents.
We are so pleased with CSP. From our first interaction with our case manager, Fay Johnson, we felt an instant connection. She was kind, totally present, listened to our story and was able to relate to us on so many levels. She was also very thorough in explaining how the process works and managed our expectations. The entire team has been instrumental in presenting us with a surrogate who is perfectly matched for us!!! Without question, CSP is the ONLY agency I would refer to friends and family needing such an important service!!! We have an amazing surrogate thanks to Fay and CSP; and we will hopefully be blessed with twins this December!!!
We began working with CSP about six years ago so that we could achieve our dreams of creating a family together. Now we have two, beautiful boys, who bring love, laughter and heartwarming joy and pride with every moment. We are reminded daily of how precious life is and that being present for each other is the greatest gift. Thank you CSP, for your wonderful services and your continued support and encouragement along the way. Thank you CSP!
Next to having my own children, becoming a surrogate was one of the biggest decisions of my life. I was always very passionate about it but had no idea where to start. When I found CSP I was so excited and nervous all at the same time. The incredible team of people they have really put my mind at ease. From the beginning to the end I have had so much support and never felt alone. Choosing to go with CSP as my agency was the best choice I made. I would have NEVER found the family I was matched with without them, the family who is now my second family. I will be forever grateful to all of the wonderful people who helped me make my dream come true in giving the gift of life to an incredibly deserving family!
Being a surrogate has touched me in ways I don’t believe I could have been otherwise. I feel that I’m a better person for having learned the type of selflessness this experience requires. My family has met amazing people, and we’ve all been so lucky to have learned about different walks of life.
I wanted to help families who couldn’t have children and not experience the phenomenal feeling of fulfillment that comes with parenthood.
I looked in to reviews from both surrogate and intended parent perspectives. It was important to me that both sides felt supported. My impression after online research and then speaking to a representative was that CSP would provide that mutual support.
Next to having my own children, becoming a surrogate was one of the biggest decisions of my life. I was always very passionate about it but had no idea where to start. When I found CSP I was so excited and nervous all at the same time. The incredible team of people they have really put my mind at ease. From the beginning to the end I have had so much support and never felt alone. Choosing to go with CSP as my agency was the best choice I made. I would have NEVER found the family I was matched with without them, the family who is now my second family. I will be forever grateful to all of the wonderful people who helped me make my dream come true in giving the gift of life to an incredibly deserving family!
Being a surrogate has touched me in ways I don’t believe I could have been otherwise. I feel that I’m a better person for having learned the type of selflessness this experience requires. My family has met amazing people, and we’ve all been so lucky to have learned about different walks of life.
I wanted to help families who couldn’t have children and not experience the phenomenal feeling of fulfillment that comes with parenthood.
I looked in to reviews from both surrogate and intended parent perspectives. It was important to me that both sides felt supported. My impression after online research and then speaking to a representative was that CSP would provide that mutual support.