Elena & Quentin: A Heartfelt Thank You for Considering Us
We are a French/Russo-Belgian married couple, 36M and 39F years old, living in Lyon, France, deeply grateful for the chance to connect with a gestational surrogate who can help us create the family we have always dreamed of.
Our Story
Our story began in 2018, on a ski holiday in the French Alps, Chamonix. It wasn’t on the slopes where we met, but on the dance floor! At the time, Elena was living in Brussels, Belgium, and Quentin in Lyon, France. Despite the distance, we spent a year traveling across Europe every weekend — exploring the French Provence, Italian Sicily, Rome, and Berlin, among many others. These adventures brought us closer together, helping us build a strong and loving relationship.
In 2019, Quentin moved to Brussels to be with Elena, and in 2021, we married in a post-Covid celebration. As newlyweds, we began thinking about starting a family and sharing that joy with our loved ones. In 2022, we moved to Lyon to be closer to Quentin’s family, the Alps, and the sea. We both love sports — running, biking, and practicing Via Ferrata in the mountains. We also share a passion for oenology and enjoy discovering wines from different regions.
About Quentin
I grew up near Lyon in a countryside town as one of three siblings (including a twin sister). In my childhood, soccer was my passion from the age of eight, and I even played at the regional level with dreams of going professional until an injury led me to focus on my studies instead.
During my master’s studies in Operations and Logistics Management, I spent time in the US and UK, which deepened my passion for discovering new cultures. Currently, I work as a Senior IT Consultant at an international consulting company.
My friends describe me as curious, thoughtful, calm, and a great listener. My wife adds that I’m kind and reasonable.
About Elena
I was born in the former USSR, now Russia, and grew up as an only child in a close-knit family. I spent weekends and holidays at my grandparents’ countryside house, known as a dacha. As a child, I was active in sports like ice-skating, ballet, and gymnastics, and today, I continue to lead an active lifestyle through synchronized swimming and Pilates.
I studied chemistry in a local University before moving to Germany for my PhD. Today, I work for one of the world’s largest chemical companies, focusing on the commercialization and business development of industrial substrates for chemical processes.
Friends and colleagues describe me as dynamic, active, and sociable. Life has given me the opportunity to learn and speak five languages, and I feel truly international, having lived and worked in several countries. My closest friends say I am expressive, sincere, and always eager to help others.
Why Surrogacy?
At 16, I was diagnosed with Roketansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), a condition that prevents me from carrying a child. Though it was difficult to process as a teenager, I always knew that surrogacy would be the way for us to have a family. Quentin and I have embraced this path with hope and determination.
In France, surrogacy is not practiced, so we must seek this opportunity abroad. To prepare ourselves, we joined a French voluntary association that supports couples like us. We’ve attended seminars, met other families who have successfully gone through surrogacy, and have been inspired by their stories. This journey fills us with hope that one day we will hold our own child in our arms.
Our Relationship with You
We would love to build a close and supportive relationship with you during this journey. If you are comfortable, we would appreciate regular video calls and visits during your pregnancy to share in this special time together. After the birth, we hope to maintain contact and perhaps visit each other from time to time. We plan to be open with our future child about their birth story, and we would be honored for them to know you.
Of course, we are open to the level of contact that you feel comfortable with, and we will respect your wishes.