Hi, we are Mark and Peter. We hope you’ll embark on this exciting journey with us in creating our family! ♡

We met in Phoenix when Mark was in nursing school and Peter was in medical training. It has since been 11 years, and we have established our careers, married each other, and are now excited to start a family (with your help!)

Our upbringing and family:

Peter: I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, to hardworking immigrants. My parents had escaped the Vietnam war to find freedom but, not knowing any better, found themselves settling down in a neighborhood ridden with gangs, crime, and poverty. In those years, we found strength, safety, unity, and joy in our family, friends, church, and local community. Growing up among six brothers, I learned from my parents a strong work ethic to do our best, to make the most of what we had, and to help others. I learned to have compassion for those facing adversity, and that compassion fueled my desire to pursue healthcare where I can directly impact people’s lives. I hope that I can bring and instill that same resilience, hope, love, and passion for life with our kids.

Mark: I grew up in the suburbs outside New York City, surrounded by the love of my parents and one older sister by my side. My parents imparted upon me a most precious gift: the values of love, compassion, and empathy. They showed me that the world could be a beautiful place when approached with hope, curiosity, an open heart, and a desire to uplift others. They also taught me the values of honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity, as well as treating others with respect and dignity. I learned to appreciate the diversity and vibrancy of the world, and to embrace the differences and strengths that make each individual unique. Part of my long-held desire to have children is due to the fact that I want to model, teach, and instill those same values of kindness, generosity, unconditional love, and spirit of optimism in them. The world needs more good people. I can think of no better way to honor my parents’ legacy by raising another generation that is similar to them in those most important of ways.  

Our Journey to start our family:

Now married for almost 7 years, we are excited to start a family of our own. We have 4 PGS tested frozen embryos in the waiting.

Our home/neighbourhood and plans to raise our child(ren):

We envision raising our children in a safe and stable environment where they can learn to be kind, independent individuals who live to better themselves and our surrounding community. We hope that they can grow up alongside other children and families that support each other and enrich our community. We live in the San Francisco Bay area where people come from all over the world with different backgrounds and varied traditions. Here, we hope to raise our children in a diverse and inclusive community where they can also feel safe being part of an LGBT family. We hope this setting will help foster empathy, tolerance, and global awareness, as well as an appreciation and respect for all humankind.

Our occupations:

Peter is an allergy doctor, spending time helping patients and their families navigate everything from the anxiety of food allergies to finding relief in their asthma, eczema, and seasonal allergies.

Mark is an inpatient registered nurse, currently working on a Medical / Surgical unit, with additional past experiences in oncology and orthopedics. Amidst the fast-paced environment of the hospital, he tends to the needs of individual patients and families, whether it is through monitoring a patient’s condition, providing education, advocating for his patients, or coordinating care with the interdisciplinary team.

Our clinical roles may differ, but we have a shared commitment to serving our patients with hope, kindness, empathy, and professionalism as we help them on their journeys to recovering their health and wellness.

Our hobbies:

From exploring new destinations to tending to our own garden, we cherish the opportunity to immerse ourselves in new cultures, ideas, and experiences. We enjoy traveling, getting lost in our own city, and venturing out to explore other countries when the opportunity arises. Exploring our worldwide communities near and far has allowed us to broaden our perspectives, deepen our understanding of the world, and forge meaningful connections with people from all over the world. Whether wandering through bustling city streets, navigating tranquil countryside paths, or hiking along forest trails, we relish the chance to discover hidden gems, savor local cuisine, and learn from the rich tapestry of cultures we encounter along the way.

Closer to home, our backyard garden serves as a tranquil space where we nurture vibrant blooms and tend to our vegetable garden. We find peace and renewal by connecting with the natural world and watching our daily neighbors—playful birds, curious squirrels, and the nightly skunk, possum, and cat. Their presence always brings us a sense of wonder, reminding us of the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of stewardship and respect for our environment.

Back indoors, we enjoy TV shows (Mark loves sci-fi), reading (Peter gets hopelessly lost in books), listening to music, or gazing into each other’s eyes. Lol. Once in a while, a new recipe becomes an accidental, smashing success and finds its place in our recipe binder (yes, non-digital, old-fashioned paper!).

How we will support our surrogate during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy and post partum:

To our prospective surrogate:

As intended parents, we want like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for the extraordinary gift you are offering us—the opportunity to welcome a precious little one into our lives. Your decision to embark on this journey with us is nothing short of a miracle, and we are honored to have you by our side every step of the way.

As we prepare for this incredible journey together, we want you to know that our commitment to you goes beyond words. We are here to support you in every way possible in order to ensure your well-being throughout this journey. During pregnancy, we want you to feel comfortable, supported, and cherished every step of the way. We understand the physical and emotional challenges that come with carrying a child, and we are committed to being there for you through it all. Your health and happiness are our top priorities, and we will do everything in our power to ensure your personal health and for you to feel comfortable, valued, and respected throughout this journey.

We will be also be there for you during the postpartum period, offering the care and resources you need to recover and thrive. Whether it is access to medical check-ups, lactation consultants, or mental health support services, we will work to ensure you have everything you need to feel supported and cared for.

Above all else, we want you to know how much we appreciate everything you are doing for us and other prospective families. We are forever grateful for the love and light you are bringing into our lives, and we cannot wait to embark on this incredible journey with you.

Our Relationship with our Surrogate:

We hope to have ongoing and open dialogue throughout this journey, but in a way that is the most meaningful and comfortable for you. From there, depending on what feels right to you, we can continue to share in each other’s joys and celebrate the precious moments, milestones, and triumphs of our growing family. We believe that by nurturing a relationship built on trust, respect, and mutual admiration, we can embark on this journey and beyond together with confidence, joy, and gratitude.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about us. We hope you consider this journey with us and look forward to talking to you. Have a beautiful day!