The pandemic and a mutual friend connected us in 2020. Chris was almost 50 years old and had been unmarried till then, having dedicated most of his adult life to starting and operating a busy dental clinic in Vancouver. That year, the pandemic forced his clinic to close and he began re-evaluating his priorities – one of which was to meet a life partner.
Han was in her late 30’s and living in Asia up to 2020, and it was the cancellation of all flights which forced Han to remain in Canada during her annual visit with her parents, who live in Vancouver. After our first date (a walk on the Stanley Park seawall), we became nearly inseparable. We married in 2022 in Vancouver.
CHRIS (54)
Chris was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec to immigrant parents (Dad was pursuing post-doctoral studies in Quebec; Mom was an operating room nurse) who raised him with proper values (work hard and treat everyone with respect) and the belief that you can do anything you set your mind to. Chris has a brother (4.5 years older, married) and when Chris was around 3, the family moved from Ontario to Vancouver, where Chris grew up and went to school.
After achieving his first degree at UBC, Chris went to the University of Western Ontario in London for dental school. It was at this time that Chris forged many lifelong friendships with classmates from the Toronto and London area. After dental school, Chris returned home to Vancouver and worked as an associate dentist for five years before opening his own clinic which till he met Han, had been his main life focus.
HAN (42)
Han was born in northern-eastern China during the time of the one child only policy, in a remote part of the country. She was raised mostly by her grandparents while her own parents were busy operating the family business. Han was sent to boarding school starting at kindergarten as there were no schools in the remote area of her home. Due to this isolation, she always longed for a sibling and a complete family environment.
Han studied at the University of Calgary and returned to Asia after graduating.
INFERTILITY STRUGGLES
After two years of trying to conceive naturally, we started IVF in 2022 and through five cycles in two different clinics/cities we didn’t have any successful implantations but were able to attain three grade 4AA embryos. Our fertility specialist advised that due to our age and indeterminate infertility, we should seek a surrogate’s help if we want a child. Although our frozen embryos are in California, we are prepared to have them transported to a qualified clinic closer to the surrogate, wherever she may be.
We live in a breathtaking part of the city just five minutes walking distance from the beach and the Pacific Ocean. We will raise our child in Vancouver and look forward to enjoying as a family the many outdoor activities that living on the West Coast makes possible. Our German Shepherd, NiuNiu, loves playing with kids and all the neighbourhood children stop by our front yard to play with her when they pass by after school.
WHAT WE LIKE TO DO
Chris is a dentist who treasures the relationships he has built with his patients, employees, and colleagues. When not working, Chris unwinds with photography, bicycling, and playing with NiuNiu, our family dog.
Han is a newly minted realtor who enjoys yoga, snowboarding, travel, and being a big sister to NiuNiu.
Chris enjoys cooking Western cuisine and Han is good with her wok. Together we enjoy cooking new inventions for each other to try.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU
We are profoundly grateful for the gift of surrogacy and happy to support our surrogate 100% during all steps of this incredible journey. The most important consideration is her health and the health of the child. To this goal, no expense will be spared. We are fully committed to ensuring our surrogate has the foundational support to make this a successful journey, whether that be financial, or mental/emotional, not only pre-pregnancy but well after the pregnancy also.
We are firm believers that a child developed within a healthy and happy mother will also be healthy and happy. We want our surrogate to feel fully appreciated, supported, and taken care of throughout this incredible partnership.
We would like to involve the surrogate at all stages of this journey, including ongoing contact with the growing child and will respect any boundaries our surrogate wants. We will raise our child to understand and honour the important role their surrogate has played. We are happy to accommodate our surrogate in whatever level of relationship she wants but hope that she will remain part of our lives.
Chris works in a helping profession so he understands the psychological stakes of putting someone else’s interests ahead of one’s own. Why do we do this? Sometimes it’s so satisfying to see someone else succeed because you have given the best of yourself. We are hoping to find a special surrogate whose values and goals align with ours in this way.
Thank you for reading and if you want to get to know us better, please reach out and connect with us.