Our story began over 11 years ago when we first connected on a dating app. We instantly clicked, bonding over long text conversations, hours of talking, and our beloved Sunday breakfasts. After just a few months, we knew we had something special and moved in together to start our life as a couple.
Like any relationship, we’ve faced our share of challenges. One of the toughest was when Michael’s father was diagnosed with cancer. It was a difficult time, but it brought us closer, teaching us how to be a strong team and care for each other in every way. Through it all, our relationship has only grown stronger. We like to think of ourselves as each other’s ZEN – our source of calm and balance. Well, except when it comes to parking the car!
We got engaged in 2018 at a romantic restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Michael thought we were just meeting friends for a birthday celebration, but Aldwin had a magical surprise planned: an intimate moment with a wonderful view over Paris just for the two of them. Michael was so overwhelmed when he realized what was about to happen that he could barely react.
We had always debated who should propose since both of us wanted to wear a ring as a symbol of our commitment. Aldwin secretly had the great idea of buying two rings, giving both of us the chance to pop the question. After two heartfelt speeches, we both said YES!
On 21 August 2021, we celebrated our love with a beautiful outdoor ceremony on a perfect summer day, surrounded by family and friends from Luxembourg, Germany, and Portugal. It was an unforgettable day filled with joy and cherished memories.
Michael, 30, was born in Luxembourg to Portuguese parents, and he has always embraced the richness of his multicultural background. As the second oldest of four siblings, Michael took on a leadership role in his family after their father passed away. His older brother, who is mentally disabled, chose Michael as his attachment figure, a responsibility he holds close to his heart. One of his sisters gave birth to two wonderful baby boys to whom Michael is a proud uncle.
He is also an enthusiastic godfather to two teenage boys and a little girl, with whom he loves engaging in fun activities while being a steady, trustworthy presence in their lives.
Aldwin, 47, was born in the Philippines and moved to Germany in his early childhood. Growing up with three younger brothers, he’s always valued family, and he’s now the proud uncle of two beautiful nieces. Living just an hour’s drive away from his family, Aldwin is excited about staying at home with our child, planning fun playdates with their cousins, and creating lasting memories together.
We realized early on in our relationship that we would love to build our own little family. We envisioned creating a home filled with love, where a child could grow alongside us, learning, exploring, and discovering the world together. This can only be a life fulfilling experience.
Nearly three years ago, we embarked on our journey to parenthood with excitement and hope. After some detailed research, our first big step was the annual surrogacy conference organized by the international non-profit organization called Men Having Babies in Brussels, Belgium, where our path began to take shape.
We always felt a strong connection to Canada for our surrogacy journey, drawn to its compassionate and family-centered values. With the wonderful support of Her Helping Habit, we found and matched with our egg donor and travelled to Canada for the first time during our medical screening and donation process at CReATe Fertility Centre in Toronto. We are thrilled to have 10 healthy PGT-A tested embryos waiting for our perfect match!
Every moment of this incredible journey has been both exciting and, at times, a bit nerve-wracking. Yet, each step forward strengthens our wish to become loving daddies to a wonderful child. We are deeply grateful for the incredible opportunity to grow our family through surrogacy, and we treasure the generous gift that will help make our dream come true.
Trier, one of Germany’s oldest cities, is where we call home. Surrounded by beautiful Roman architecture and historical treasures, we live in a cozy apartment in the city center. We’re lucky to have a large terrace and be close to a big park, perfect for enjoying sunny days. However, our dream is to move to a house with a garden in a quieter town, and we’ve already begun our search. There, we want to create a world of loving memories with our little one, a place filled with laughter, warmth, and the joy of family.
Recently admitted to the Luxembourg Bar Association following law studies in Germany, Portugal and Luxembourg, Michael works now as a corporate lawyer, focusing on sustainability matters and cross-border transactions. His expertise mainly helps businesses navigate through European environmental lawsor manage complex restructuring deals. He thrives in a work environment rich in cultural diversity,collaborating with colleagues from over 30 nationalities and navigating different jurisdictions and work ethics. His passion for languages – he speaks German, English,French,Portuguese, Luxembourgish,and Spanish –enriches his professional and personal connections.
After a long day at work, Michael enjoys relaxing by preparing dinner with his husband. He especially likes to barbecue, try out new recipes with fresh ingredients from the weekly market right in front of their home or make all kinds of vegetables soups during winter. Michael’s music preferences range from smooth, jazzy tones of vinyl records for a relaxing evening to vibrant, pulsating rhythms of electronic music festivals.
He also enjoys meeting colleagues for after-work drinks, planning fun outdoor activities with friends and he values lively family reunions. For his brother, Michael engages in associations that help people with disabilities and once a month they both attend a social event together.
Currently, Aldwin works as a project manager in fashion and shoe retail, where he brings his passion for design and sales to life. He is planning store designs, buying unique shoes and fashion, and curating in-store decorations.
He has a deep love for supporting small independent shoe labels and promoting slow, sustainable fashion. Aldwin believes in making the world a better place through thoughtful choices and inspiring others to appreciate the beautiful things in life.
When he’s not working, Aldwin enjoys exploring good food and restaurants. He also has a tradition of hosting Waffle Sundays, where friends gather to enjoy a cozy afternoon together. These gatherings provide an opportunity to catch up, bonding over life’s challenges, and enjoy each other’s company. Aldwin is known for his calm, supportive nature, always protective of his friends and loved ones.
In his free time, you might also find him singing karaoke, inline skating, engaging in political discussions, or simply enjoying a quiet moment at home with his husband.
We also share a passion for travelling, exploring new places, and creating memories together in different corners of the world. So far, our travels have mostly taken us to European cities, but after our first visit to Canada, we’re now eager to explore more of this beautiful country, especially as we embark on our surrogacy journey.
We are committed to being there for you every step of the way, providing not only full reimbursement for all costs and expenses allowed under Canadian law, but also creating a caring and supportive environment throughout this journey.
We understand the emotional and physical dedication this requires, and we’re here to support you in every possible way.
Whether it’s arranging comfortable accommodations, covering travel and meal expenses, or simply being available to talk whenever you need, we want you to feel truly valued and appreciated. Our goal is to ensure that you feel supported, secure, and connected as we build this incredible bond together.
We are eager to build a friendship with you and we want everyone involved to enjoy this incredible experience, celebrating each step along the way.
Open and honest communication to understand each other’s needs and concerns, is really important to us, before, during, and after the pregnancy. You will be carrying our child, and we want to ensure you feel completely comfortable, safe, and supported throughout the entire process.
We are aware that pregnancy can be demanding and we have deep respect for what you are doing for us. Your well-being and the health of the baby are our top priorities.
We would love to be involved in important moments of the pregnancy, like medical appointments, whether virtually or in person and would appreciate regular updates on your well-being and the baby’s development. However, we are flexible and always open to your preferences on how and how often we stay in touch.
It’s important to us that our child knows and appreciates you, the incredible person who played such a crucial role in bringing our family together. We understand that our child will naturally be curious about this journey and therefore we would want to keep contact.
Thank you so much for considering us and for your kindness in reading our story. We are truly grateful that you’re open to helping couples like us on this incredible journey to build a family. We are excited to introduce ourselves and to share our hopes for the future with you.
We cannot wait to meet you, welcome you to our journey to parenthood, and share this unforgettable experience together!
Thank you for reading and we hope to meet you soon,