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~ click here to view our photo gallery ~ We are extremely thankful for the kind words that these Intended Parents, Surrogates and Donors have shared. We are equally as honored that they have put their trust in Family Source Consultants as their agency to help guide them through this emotional and personal experience. Our journey to become parents did not begin with Family Source Consultants, but it ended with them. We started working with an agency in California to do egg donation and surrogacy, but that ended in conflict between the agency and the clinic they recommended. So we tried an agency in New Jersey for the surrogate but after a year they didn't have any candidates that passed the screening. Then we tried another agency in Illinois for the surrogate and one in California for an egg donor. The egg donation worked, but the surrogate had medical issues. Discouraged but with a freezer full of embryos we eventually found Zara at FSC. What a breath of fresh air. A year later we have the greatest daughter a parent could ask for plus a couple of new friends: Zara and our surrogate. Two thumbs up? Make it six!
Ted, Sue and Kate - a happy family
through egg donation and surrogacy Thank you so much for all you've helped us through over the past few months! We realize you have many clients and business matters, but the personal attention you constantly extended went way beyond our expectations. Your understanding and concern during this emotional process is worth more than words can express. After years of fertility struggles, everything seemed to click into place once we found FSC. We are forever grateful! M & S – Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois Thank you so much for all that you did for us. We are so grateful to all of you guys. From the time we talked on the phone to the time he was born you were there for us. We can't thank you enough for having our back with the previous donor and working with us to get the donor that we first wanted. She will always hold a special place in our heart and so will you. J & J - Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois Zara from Family Source Consultants gave me hope when I had none left. That hope and encouragement kept me going and if I didn’t have that, I wouldn’t have been able to pick up the pieces and move forward. And because I did, thanks to Zara, I’m now expecting the greatest gift I’ve ever been given – a baby girl. I didn't know what to expect and I was so vulnerable at times, but whenever a situation would come up, Zara handled it with professionalism combined kindness and her warm personality, which always put my mind at ease. Abby - Intended Mother via Gestational Surrogacy Illinois Our journey with surrogacy started in May 2008 when we contacted Zara at FSC. She was so helpful in explaining how surrogacy works for international IP’s and keeping in touch with her we then decided to work with her and move forward. We were very lucky because we were quickly matched with a great surrogate from Illinois. Since we met Zara and Staci they were there every step of the way as we scheduled our match meeting and we began corresponding with our surrogate and everyone involved in this amazing experience. When everything was ready we travelled to Chicago and we spent a week there in order to meet our surrogate, doctors, Zara and Staci, and the attorneys. One month later our surrogate got pregnant fortunately. In June 2009 we went back to Chicago because our baby was going to be born. We can’t find enough words to explain how wonderful this experience has meant to us. We have been very impressed with the communication between FSC and ourselves. They are always there to check up on our next steps as well as offering their assistance in any way. FSC has also been very easy to work with as far as compensation and expense reimbursement payments; they are really on top of making sure they are made in a timely manner. We can't say enough about their professionalism, these women are definitely in the right way of work and they have so much passion for what they are doing which is very important so as to understand other IP’s. Since we have worked with them we are referring many other couples from Spain because we are sure they will be in good hands and we were. Parenthood is the best has happen to us and our best dream came true thanks to FSC and our surrogate.
Ricardo and Ivan – Intended
Parents via Gestational Surrogacy When my husband and I learned that we would need to find an egg donor in order to have a child, we were not initially convinced that using an agency would provide us with everything we were looking for. I am pleased to say we could not have been more wrong in that regard. We received access to the Family Source Consultants (FSC) website to view their available donors and we immediately were drawn to three donors (one in particular) that met our initial criteria. In addition, we interviewed several of the larger agencies in the Chicagoland area and ultimately, the decision to work with FSC was surprisingly easy for several reasons. At least from our perspective, selecting a woman with the qualities most important to us became an important part of our mission. We found the characteristics of the girls in FSC's program to be much more consistent with our personal goals than in any other program. As stated, there were three girls we were interested in and the team at FSC clearly understood the process my husband and I were working through. The team did an excellent job of listening to our thoughts and offering, what we found to be, valuable advice and support. We likewise found FSC to be exceptionally committed through every stage of the process. The donor we picked was in the process of moving out of state. FSC was very proactive about ensuring that everything from medical appointments, drug deliveries, and other milestones were happening precisely as they should. I cannot say enough about their attentiveness and professionalism. The decision to pick a girl was an emotional one. I believe FSC spends a great deal of time, energy, and discipline selecting girls for their program. We found the quality of their donors to be second to no other agency. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to meet and personally thank our donor for her gift to our family and FSC helped make that experience one we will not forget. We are very pleased to recommend both Zara and Staci at Family Source Consultants for all the reasons stated above and others that are more difficult to put into words. We cannot stress enough their professionalism throughout what has got to be one of the most difficult decisions we have personally ever had to make.
L & R – Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois
Becoming an egg donor is
a big decision. When I first decided this was something
I wanted to do, I was very excited, but also very
nervous. I had so many questions, and didn't know
exactly what to expect. After doing months of online
research, I looked through a number of agencies, and
none really seemed right for me. Finally I found
Family Source Consultants, and I could not have had
a better experience. From the moment I first made
contact with Staci Swiderski, I knew I'd found the right
agency for me. Having been through the process numerous
times herself, she was always ready and able to answer
all of my many questions, including responding to
late-night emails and phone calls. I was walked through
everything step by step and in great detail, and was
told what to expect all along the way. The process
really could not have gone more smoothly. All of my
emails and phone calls were answered immediately, even
when late at night or for the fifth time in a day.
Staci helped me to feel completely confident with
everything, and I even had the opportunity to meet and
cultivate a relationship with the recipient parents, who
are now 8 weeks pregnant! Being an egg donor is an
amazing opportunity to give an invaluable gift, and the
service provided to me by Family Source K-Donor Illinois I just wanted to say, thanks so much for everything. You guys have been so great to work with, I would work with you again and tell anyone who is interested in being a surrogate that your agency is the one to deal with. I have always felt important and you guys have gone over and beyond what I ever expected, and I also see that you treat the parents great as well. This has been truly a wonderful experience. I feel honored to have been able to be a part of something I feel so strongly about. My husband and I have both been happy through this whole process. I truly think that I would sometime do it again if there is another family in need. I am going to treasure this forever, and hopefully spread the word so others out there can help couples become parents.....thank you so much for allowing me to do this!!! Brandi – Gestational Surrogate Indiana I had been privately looking for an egg donor for a year before I started working with Staci at Family Source Consultants. Unfortunately all the donors I found previously didn't follow through with the process. I was heartbroken and ready to give up. Then we decided to try one more time, but this time to use an agency. My fertility doctor recommended Family Source Consultants as one of the few agencies who has donors that meet his high medical qualifications. I emailed Family Source and had a response that same day. They let me look through their donor database, and I found someone that I connected with right away. Staci contacted the donor the next day, and we were officially matched. Staci has kept me informed every step of the way, emailing me whenever there is a new development. She helped me find a lawyer for the process, and has been extremely empathetic to my situation. Staci and her partner have both struggled with fertility issues, so they understand what we are going through. Although I've never met her, I've come to think of Staci as a friend. Sometimes I wish I had come to the agency sooner, but then I probably wouldn't have been matched with the same donor, and I think there's something special about our match. I would recommend Family Source Consultants to any couple who is in need of an egg donor or a surrogate. T – Intended Parent via Egg Donation Illinois I have been in contact with Family Source since March 2007 after reading the book, Surrogacy Was The Way, written by Zara Griswold, the Co-Director of the agency. In order for my husband and me to have another baby, we need to use a surrogate since I was diagnosed with breast cancer and after recovering was told that I could not safely carry another pregnancy. We previously looked into adoption, but after reading Zara’s book, decided to pursue surrogacy to have a second child. From the first moment I spoke with Zara, I felt completely at ease with her and the process. She answered all of my questions and reassured me whenever I had concerns. It is also through Family Source, that we have met our wonderful surrogate, Chrissy. Zara couldn’t have matched us with a more perfect surrogate. Chrissy is everything that we could have asked for in a surrogate, and we have grown to know and love her and her family. Zara is also very financially responsible. She set up our escrow account for paying Chrissy, and always sends us a statement and pays Chrissy on time each month. If I ever have a question regarding expenses, she is able to provide answers immediately. Zara was also very helpful in putting us in touch with attorneys and doctors for Chrissy. She has a lot of knowledgeable contacts, who also speak very highly of her. I am fully aware of how stressful this process can be, but Zara is wonderful and you should feel comfortable putting your complete trust in her. She will be able to help you from beginning to end, to remove the stress and allow you to enjoy the process. Kim & Scott – Intended Parents via Gestational Surrogacy New York We have been through the surrogacy process once before with a perfect outcome of twin sons. This time however would be a different experience as we needed to find a surrogate and an agency. The path through surrogacy is an incredible journey with many ups and downs. Finding the agency to put your trust in is one of the first and most important steps. We began our search online, and contacted three different agencies. Of these agencies, we knew Family Source Consultants was right for us. They were the only one to get back to us in a timely, considerate manner that made us feel important. Even though we are still in the middle of this process, we feel we made the right decision. Family Source Consultants have been there for us every step of the way. If we email or call, we always get to speak to them within a couple hours. This makes us feel important and as if they really do care. We look forward to continuing the surrogacy process working with them hopefully with another terrific outcome. Carrie & Gary – Intended Parents via Gestational Surrogacy Iowa My experience with this agency has been nothing less than a blessing in matching me with a wonderful family to help. I started off by hearing an ad on the radio about these women who were going to be egg donors and surrogates. I am a single mother with three boys of my own and when I heard about this on the radio I thought to myself, what a wonderful way to help a family who is really looking to have a child when my family is blessed with so many children. How could I turn down this opportunity or at least try to help? I started doing some research about egg donors and being a surrogate and found a web site for Family Source Consultants. After going to their web page I found it to be very user friendly and very easy to look into the different programs they offered. I started off by filling out an application and within a couple of days I received a phone call from their agency. We then scheduled a meeting and Zara came to Minnesota to meet with me. I have since been with Family Source and referred my younger sister to their agency. We have both been matched with wonderful Intended Parents. After being matched in July, 2007 and going through all the different tests and evaluations we have made it through everything and have a transfer date of February 2, 2008. Although this can be a long and painful journey for those Intended Parents in finding that perfect person to be in their life and to carry their unborn child, this agency has made it very easy. Some Intended Parents look for years to find someone, but I can honestly say that from my experience and from working with Zara and Staci it has been a great and wonderful blessing in matching me with my Intended Parents. They have been there for me 100%. They have been there for me to answer all my questions whether big or small. They are there if you just feel you need to talk or need reassuring about anything throughout this whole journey. Dawn – Gestational Surrogate Minnesota I am a married mother of 4 girls who, even though every blessed, still felt something was missing in my life. I had a dream about having a baby, but it wasn’t mine, rather it was for a couple who couldn't have one themselves. Seeing them hold the baby and looking so overwhelmingly happy made me feel so blessed, beyond what words could ever say. I began to research surrogacy online. At the same time, my sister was doing research to become an egg donor and through her I was referred to Family Source Consultants. I went on their website to read their information and upon doing so I found it very easy to navigate around and find out information that pertained to what I was interested in doing. Their website made me feel warm inside and it touched my heart. I then contacted Zara, with the agency, and asked additional questions. I felt so comfortable talking to her. She answered all my questions, explaining everything in detail and in a way that I understood. I felt a strong connection during the phone conversation, like it was meant be, that this was the agency I was looking for, and so I decided to fill out a profile with them. They made the whole process simple and easy going, and it was well organized. I was immediately matched with a couple, whom I am presently working with. They have been tremendous to work with and are the greatest people ever. I’m so grateful to have them in my life and it’s such an honor to be able to help them expand their family. So now, because of Family Source Consultants, my dream is coming true and my new journey in life is starting. I have been so lucky to have Family Source in my life and taking this journey with me. God truly blessed me by bringing me to them. They are always there for you, no matter what. You can always get in touch with them to ask them anything or just say “Hi”. And if you can’t get a hold of them right away, you leave a message and they always get back to you quickly. Not only do they show professionalism but friendliness and kindness. My experience with them has been wonderful. You can tell when talking with them how kind and sincere they are. You can see how much they understand and value the importance of building a family and making dreams come true (just as they express in their website and when you talk to them). They’re not just an agency, but they are a friendship, a family. You are not just a client to them but a friend, someone important and special. I personally feel it is a privilege to be able to share your life with them. Not only do they have someone to help you with your particular situation, whether it be for Egg Donation (Staci) or a Surrogate &/or Intended Parents (Zara), but they also have a surrogate liaison (Alicia). She is awesome and has been a great help to me in this process. She is there to listen and answer questions. As a surrogate, I have only worked with Zara and Alicia, but no matter who you are working with, they are all there for you 100%. I think their agency is truly a blessing and anyone who invites them into their life will truly be grateful and blessed, as I am. Chrissy – Gestational Surrogate Minnesota I wanted to let the future Intended Parents know that Family Source Consultants (Staci and Zara) are very professional, caring & passionate… they are with you every step of the way. They hold you up when you think you can’t go on. They understand what you are going through and they also listen and I mean really listen. They screen the donors and the surrogates like they are going to use them themselves. I cannot tell you how much praise I want to give them….. I can go on and on and on. G & T – Intended Parents via Surrogacy & Egg Donation Illinois We have been working with Family Source Consultants over the past three months in the hopes of adding to our family. After interviewing other similar companies we chose FSC because of the warm and reassuring conversations with Staci and the general feeling of comfort with them. Although this has been an emotional and hormonal journey, FSC has made it as easy and worry free as possible. They have helped us through this process, in which we were very unfamiliar, and guided us through the legal and medical matters that can be overwhelming. We would recommend anyone that is looking to build a family to Family Source Consultants. We hope that they enable us to have the family we have always dreamed of. K & B – Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois Being an egg donor was something I was excited yet nervous about doing. I found this agency and immediately felt comfortable. They met with me and got to know me and made me feel so comfortable about the experience. When I was matched I had a dozen plus questions :) I contacted them on a daily basis with questions; I never felt that I was inconveniencing them at all. They always returned my calls in a timely manner; (sometimes late at night when I had med questions) they were so willing to help me out as much as they could. I could not imagine my experience anywhere else. I felt so comfortable with everything, they were with me through the whole experience and I am grateful to them for being so helpful. I would recommend this agency to anyone. K – Egg Donor Illinois Working with Family Source Consultants has been a great experience. I was a little nervous about finding a couple that would match me, however they found the right couple on the first try. They are so friendly and helpful in all ways. It seems no matter what hurdle has come to light they have been there to get me through. I'm only at the beginning of my journey, but I have no doubts that I have picked the perfect agency to guide me to the end of this incredible experience. Cortney - Gestational Surrogate Indiana Donating with Family Source Consultants has been a satisfying and smooth process. Especially when you are donating for the first time, it is helpful to have the staff support to guide you through the process. The course of donating eggs is not complicated, but is often a totally new experience for women, which can be the most difficult part. Family Source Consultants offered sincere help in the form of emotional support, expertise, and advice. In addition, egg donors will feel comforted by the advocacy the employees provide. Donors are provided with encompassing assistance before, during, and after the donation. You will feel as if you are part of the FSC team. M - Egg Donor Illinois I am writing this letter as a form of thanks to people that made my donation process comfortable and fulfilling. From my first meeting with Family Source Consultants (FSC), up through my second egg donation, I knew that I was working with a knowledgeable and caring group of people. I appreciated the amount of time that Staci Swiderski, one of the founders and directors of FSC, took to interview me as a prospective egg donor. I had the sense that she really wanted to get to know me. She wanted to be sure that I understood everything about the process that I was willing to undergo. By taking the time to both answer and ask questions, I also believe that she is better able to find a match for the recipient mothers, fathers and families that come to her and her partner, Zara Griswold. I cannot imagine a person being more passionate about her work. Staci has been there to answer any questions that I have had - big or small. Throughout the donation cycle, she has seen to every detail and ensured that the process went well. I have recommended FSC to others and I will continue to do so.
Thank you. M - Egg Donor Washington Working with Zara & Staci not only opened a new door to me, but also gave me an extra family to love. I started thinking about becoming a Surrogate Mother about 6 months after my last child was born. He is almost 3 years old now and up till this point of being matched, I really had no luck of finding the right couple for me. I tried to be a surrogate for a couple I had already previously known, and things did not end as they should have. Sometime helping those closest to you is not always what is best. This is what led me to FSC and their trust in finding me a good match. I was told that there was a great couple with their agency that had been looking for a surrogate and that we both met all our requests for each other. I had wanted a match that would be a lifetime of friendships and memories, and hoped my couple would want the same. Little did I know this couple I was introduced to, ended up feeling like a long lost friendship, and we got along wonderful! For me, being someone's surrogate meant more than just having the cute belly to show off, it was about changing someone's future with the happiness I already had from my own children. It was about giving them the ultimate gift in life- a family. This was something I knew I would always be able to do, and with FSC's help, I found my perfect IPs to work with. We started out emailing for a few weeks before meeting and by the time the day came to meet in person, I felt as if I had known them for a lifetime. We are now currently pregnant with twins due this summer of 2008 and could not be happier. I can tell you they will always be a part of my family, as well as I will be part of theirs. I would have never thought I would have matched with an international couple, as I have now, but the matching process was no different as it would be to have them next door. Zara and Staci have always been professional and positive with their words, not only to me but also to my IPs. Coming from such a far away country, they had no idea where to begin their search, but knew surrogacy was the best fit to start their family. They found FSC and began their journey. They helped us arrange our first meeting and instantly, I knew I was working with a very special couple. Although they had experienced a sad loss trying to have a family on their own, they have always made me feel like I have repaired their hearts and am now giving them hope for the future. Zara and Staci have always been available to help me and my IPs with any issues or questions we have had. They took great consideration into what both my IPs and myself wanted in a match. FSC is not just an agency, but the start of where a family begins. I would highly recommend working with this agency to anyone interested in surrogacy and especially anyone internationally. Jackie – Gestational Surrogate Illinois I wanted to thank you for helping me through a stressful and difficult time. Everything is so unsure during this time and having you was the best thing. From my initial hour and a half phone conversation with Zara, I knew you were the agency for me. Not only because of your personal experiences but because you are both compassionate women. I have gone to other agencies prior to yours and I felt they were just interested in my money. Also the great thing about you is I had access to your entire database. Other agencies only let me see who they thought I would be interested in and were they wrong with the matches they sent me. Over the past few months I sent Staci several emails with what I considered "stupid" questions and was never made to feel bad or a burden. She always returned my phone calls right away and listened to my concerns. I honestly cannot thank you enough for everything. Words cannot express how I feel about this whole "part" of my life. Even now that our time together as client and agency has ended I do plan on keeping in touch. In you not only did I find a great agency, but I feel I also found two women that I can still call just to talk to. Thank you again so much for everything. M & A - Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois I knew after looking at some different agencies that I wanted to work with you, and I am glad we chose Family Source. You (personally) have made a very complicated process much easier and have made me feel comfortable through everything. I appreciate the time you have spent with me over the phone and via email, and have never treated me as "just another client." It is apparent that you like what you do and that you care about the people you are helping!!! T & R - Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois We want to sincerely thank you for connecting us to D. D is is so special and dear to us and we cannot begin to thank enough her for the gift she provided us. She is a Saint with a heart bigger than the world. We could NOT have asked for a better carrier and we now feel as though we have a friend for life. You offer a wonderful service and I wish you great success in connecting people for this special journey. And it is a long journey where the end justifies the means - especially since the end is just the beginning! Thank you, M and S - Intended Parents via Gestational Surrogacy Minnesota My journey with surrogacy started in 2007 when I curiously contacted Zara at FSC. She was so helpful in answering my questions and keeping in touch as I made the decision to move forward. I was quickly matched with a great couple and Zara and Staci were there every step of the way as we scheduled our match meeting and I began corresponding with my intended parents and scheduling appointments. I've been very impressed with the communication between FSC, mainly Zara, and myself. She is always there to check up on our next steps as well as offering her assistance in any way. FSC has also been very easy to work with as far as compensation and expense reimbursement payments, they are really on top of making sure they are made in a timely manner after I've made a submission. I can't say enough about their professionalism, these women are definitely in the right line of work and they have so much passion for what they are doing. Tiffany – Gestational Surrogate Illinois I will start off by saying that I have been extremely blessed in my life with my 3 children which is the reason I wanted to become a surrogate-. I wanted to give back and make another couple as happy as my husband and I are with our family. So, when my youngest was 6 months old, I approached my husband about the possibility of doing surrogacy and surprisingly, he agreed right away and was very supportive. In the Spring of 2008, I started doing a ton of research online and contacted a couple different agencies in IL including Family Source Consultants. I knew from the very first phone conversation with Zara at FSC that I would work with her agency. She immediately felt like a friend over the phone and was so informative. We ended up meeting Zara in person within a couple weeks of our initial conversation and we had a great time getting to know her and learning more about FSC and surrogacy in general. She answered all of our questions and explained how everything would work. Less than a week later, we were having dinner with Zara and potential IP's- who we were officially matched with the very next day. We were extremely lucky to have been matched so quickly and to have the pregnancy take after only one round of IVF. In May of 2009, exactly one year after matching with IP's, I delivered their healthy baby boy. Kim – Gestational Surrogate Illinois I'm so grateful that we picked your agency and had the experience we had. It made the outcome even more precious for us knowing the process was surrounded with love and wonderful people guiding us on our journey. K & D, Intended Parents via Egg Donation Illinois As I started this process, I wondered how quickly I would get a response and a family to match with. Family Source Consultants/Zara did an outstanding job with both. The response was super fast and Zara said she would start working on a match right away. Wow, they did an amazing job. I couldn’t have picked a better couple to help. From the very start we hit it off. There was never a time where we didn’t get along, didn’t agree, or talk about everyday. The Intended Parents were so involved as that was what I wanted, and wouldn’t have had it any other way. I never felt alone through this whole process, either with my wonderful family support, the parents, or with this agency. I can’t say thank you enough for all that you have done for me. I delivered a little boy for my couple and couldn’t be more proud. I look forward to many more journeys with this agency and with Intended Parents looking to bring a baby into the world, just as my previous Intended Parents have. I never knew how fulfilling this feeling would be. I am so pleased that my Intended Parents and my family have such a wonderful friendship. We have stayed in contact and I receive pictures of him all the time. I love being able to watch him grow, and to talk to his mommy on the phone and hear the joy and love in her voice is beyond PRICELESS! I was always asked how could I do this. My answer was this isn’t my baby, I am giving the most wonderful gift of life anyone could ever give, And that I wouldn’t change it for anything. I loved every minute of this journey, from the “Devil Shots” (as my hubby calls them), clear to the painful delivery. As I sit back and think about it, non of this would of never been possible without the help of God, my wonderful family, or Family Source Consultants! THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! Charity – Gestational Surrogate Indiana |
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