March 2012 --Mark, Elle & Alec

Alec & Elle, at 14 months!

Elle  with our week-end nanny looking on.

Mark and his favorite blue slide

Alec loving the outdoors.

Intended Parents Dumps Surrogate Baby & Gets him Back!

--This story is the reason why I preach to intended parents, that they only work with doctors that have a proven track record, and that they have staff or a facilitator to help you through the process---


Green with her baby after passport authorities returned the infant to her. Picture by G Vijayalakshmi
Hyderabad, Jan. 28: An American abandoned her seven-week-old son, born of a surrogate Indian mother, on a bench at the regional passport office here after being refused an Indian passport for the baby so she could take him home.

It was all apparently caused by a misunderstanding, however, and has led to a happy ending.
J. Pearl Linda Van Buren Green, a 35-year-old New Yorker, had not been clearly told that her son, Emperor Kaioyus Van Buren Green, didn't need a passport to leave India.

She later explained she had acted in frustration after spending thousands of dollars over many months in her pursuit of a surrogate baby.Police have decided not to press charges of abandonment, which could have brought Green a jail term of up to three years.

Yesterday, Green was told the foreign ministry had decided to issue an identity certificate for the baby that would act as his travel documents. However, his father Eric Dalton Green, based in Jamaica and a citizen of that country, must first send a letter endorsing his wife's application for the certificate.


Green had arrived in India with seven samples of her husband's semen. After failed efforts in Mumbai and Goa, she came to Hyderabad about 18 months ago. At a fertility clinic here, the child was conceived with eggs donated by a lady from Rajahmundry.

Another local lady acted as the surrogate mother, delivering the child on December 7. Green then applied for a passport for the baby on the Tatkal route.

On Wednesday, she got frustrated when, after a two-hour wait at the passport office and an hour's verification process, she was told the passport could not be issued as the baby was not Indian.

The incident reflects the plight of foreigner couples who have surrogate children in India but whose own countries, lacking surrogacy laws, refuse passports to the babies. After two such children, born to Japanese and German couples, faced such problems in 2008 and 2009, the Supreme Court had shown the way out by directing they be issued identity certificates.

Green was apparently not told about this. After she walked out in a huff, the passport authorities found the baby on a bench in the office waiting room. They went through CCTV footage to ascertain what had happened. From Green's application, they identified the fertility clinic, which gave them the American’s local phone number.


We have asked Ms Van Buren Green to submit an application for an identity certificate for the baby,” regional passport officer K. Srikar Reddy said. I wish things would be cleared soon,” Green told reporters yesterday, adding that she could not afford to stay any longer in Hyderabad because of financial constraints.

Surrogacy has become a big business in Hyderabad and its neighbourhood, causing fertility centres to mushroom over the past five years. Many women from Andhra Pradesh’s drought-hit districts choose to become surrogate mothers to earn a few extra bucks for their impoverished families.

“We get reports of at least 50 to 100 such births in a month,” the state health secretary said. Only about five per cent of the parents are foreigners. “Most of the clients are women from well-to-do Indian families who want to avoid childbirth so that their lifestyle, or body shape, is not affected,” said Srinivas Prasad, a doctor at one of the city’s top 15 fertility centres.

 A fertility expert said his centre had a list of “nearly 400 surrogate mothers” who could be contacted at short notice. “We charge about Rs 3-5 lakh per case,” he added. A surrogate mother receives between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh besides the cost of medicine and maternity expenses.


The same lady is not usually allowed more than three surrogate births but there has been one instance of one lady giving birth to five surrogate children.

The Twins are One!

Elle's famous smile!

Alec after he finished his cupcake!

Mark with his 3D glasses looking at the lighted menorah.

Alec & Elle standing on their own.

It is hard to believe that Alec&Elle were one on December 20th!  They celebrated their first Hanukkah and ate their first cupcake.  Here are some of the latest photos of all of our children.  Happy holidays to all!

Black Women and Interfility

When it comes to making babies, nobody does it better than Black folks. In fact, 19 percent of all Black teenagers, aged 15-19, become pregnant each year, compared with only 8 percent of White teens. Because Black teens are giving up educational opportunities and careers to bear babies at an age when they are still "babies themselves," this "baby boom" has caused nationwide concern about the future of Black America. Less well known--but just as critical to the future of Black America--is the "baby bust" occurring among older Black couples, aged 25-44. At a time when they have the maturity and financial means to establish and nurture strong families, many Black couples are finding that they simply cannot have children. The truth is, when it comes to making babies, African-American couples in the 25-44 age group are discovering that the much-vaunted myth of Black fertility is just that--a myth.

The National Center for Health Statistics, a division of the National Centers for Disease Control, notes no difference in fertility rates for White or Black women, aged 25-44. However, according to RESOLVE, a national clearinghouse and support group, infertility is actually 1.5 times higher among African-Americans than Caucasians. Infertility--defined as the inability to conceive after one year or more of intercourse without contraception--usually can be treated and reversed. In fact, of the 5.3 million infertile couples in the U.S. who seek treatment two-thirds are able to have children.

A major problem is that Black couples often fail to get diagnosed and treated for infertility. As Dr. O'Delle M. Owens, a Black doctor who was Cincinnati's very first board-certified fertility specialist and who has been the director of Reproductive Endocrinology at the city's Christ Hospital since 1986, explains, "White couples tend to seek treatment for infertility in greater numbers than Blacks. For White couples, infertility is often the first roadblock they've faced--while Blacks are distracted by such primary roadblocks as food, shelter and clothing." Another problem is failure to get early diagnosis and treatment of diseases that often lead to infertility.

World of Surrogacy has created a foundation for the children of surrogates in India.  Our mission along with that  of  many  other  countries is to help the children of surrogate mothers throughout the diaspora of India to achieve an education, so that their children will not have to walk the same path.

Please stay with us over the coming months and watch us grow................

LATEST PICS!

COLIN & MARK

 ELLE @ 9 MONTHS

MARK WITH HIS ADORING SIBLINGS IN NEW JERSEY

MARK@ OCEAN CITY,  MARYLAND

MARK WITH THE WIND IN HIS FACE

Daddy and Mark's Trip to Toys R Us

Now that Mark is nearing 3 years old, it appears the simplest comment can take you down a long road you didn't intend.  While looking at the computer today Dad searched "robot" and mentioned casually that you can buy robots.

On the way to the toy store, Dad mentioned the name - Toys R Us - and Mark said "We aren't toys!"  Dad said, "I like that!  You're right!  Give me a high five".

The store had moved, so they got out of the car in the parking lot of the old location to ask directions to the new location.  After a passer-by gave them directions, Dad put Mark back in the car.  Not understanding both would get in to drive to the new store, Mark started to cry.  "I'm going to miss you!" he said.  In a few seconds Dad figured out what Mark was thinking and said, "Mark, I would never leave you in the car!"

In the checkout at the new location after agreeing to the cheapest robot - just $10 - Mark spied a plastic rocket on a string.  The 2 cent rocket was attached to a Toy Story flashlight.  "I want the rocket!", he said, and stuck to that decision even after being told it would mean no robot today.  That 2 cent plastic rocket sealed the sale of a 50 cent flashlight for the incredible price of $8.57.

The Happy Meal ploy - a cheap toy to force the parent's hand - had worked.  Apart from that, it was a perfect outing.

Dr. Patel's American Bollywood Babies!

Mark, watching his favorite late night show with Alec.

My beautiful daughter Elle!

Alec in his favorite walker.

Mark (August 1, 2011)