Hello potential Surromama!

We are Sandra and Mark and we live in Etobicoke with our fur baby Carter. We’re here with hopeful hearts and hopeful spirits seeking a gestational carrier to help realize our dream of becoming first time parents.

We first crossed paths in 2014 as next door neighbours unaware that a shared condo balcony would lead to a lifetime of laughter and love. Fast forward ten years, and we’ve transformed from friendly neighbours to now celebrating almost six years of marriage. Our journey is a beautiful mix of humour, friendship, and unwavering support, proving that sometimes love really does live just next door.

We enjoy spending time with family, especially our two beautiful nieces and nephews and our dog, Carter. We find relaxation in simple pleasures like watching TV, dining out, or taking walks with our dog. Mark plays soccer in a weekly men’s league, and while he’s out there, I take the chance to indulge in some of my guilty pleasures – mainly docuseries and realty TV. Some of our favourite shows to watch together include Ozark, Griselda, Ted Lasso, and Landman just to name a few. We love going to concerts at the Budweiser Stage along with attending games supporting our Toronto teams. Travel is a passion we embrace whenever possible. I’m Portuguese and Mark is Maltese. We’ve travelled to Portugal together, but I have yet to go to Malta (it’s on our list).

We started our fertility journey with CReAte back in 2019. We have seven PGT-A tested embryos – four euploid and three mosaic thanks to our angel egg donor. Unfortunately, after personally going through eight rounds of IVF, I was only able to get one quality egg, which when transferred, failed to stick around. We were then advised to find an egg donor – which we did. We attempted six transfers using donor eggs, but they too did not want to stick around. After a long and emotional journey filled with ups and downs, we have been faced with unexplained fertility challenges that have made our dream of parenthood feel just out of reach.

We live in Etobicoke, just a few houses away from Mark’s parents, in a neighbourhood filled with parks, schools, and churches – all within walking distance. Mark grew up in this area, and many of his childhood friends have settled here with families of their own. Our siblings live near by, ensuring our future child will be surrounded by cousins and friends to play with. We are grateful to have a strong, loving support system of family and friends close by.

As intended parents, we understand that our role extends beyond just the financial support — it’s about offering care, respect, and appreciation for both your physical and emotional well-being. We aim to do this through open communication and trust, ensuring that you feel supported and comfortable every step of the way. We’ll check in regularly, encourage you to express any concerns or needs you might have, and we would love to attend some appointments together to share in the joy and excitement of this journey. Of course, all of this will always be based on your level of comfort. We’re flexible, easy-going, and truly want to make this experience as positive as possible for you.

We’d love to stay connected throughout your pregnancy, with open and honest communication, and we would be so happy to join you at some of the doctor’s appointments if you’re comfortable with that. Please know that we’re here for you emotionally and financially every step of the way.
After the pregnancy, we would be so happy to share updates on the precious little one you helped bring into our lives, if you’d like. Please know that we will always be deeply grateful for the incredible role you played in helping us welcome our first child. Your support means the world to us.

We’re coming into this with open hearts, vulnerable, scared out of our minds—but ready to take the leap of faith together with the right person. We’re just looking for someone who might feel the same. If you feel called to help us on this journey, we would love to hear from you. Our hearts are filled with love and anticipation, along with our frozen embryos waiting for a chance to make it into our arms with your help.