Holly and Alan Baugh didn’t support Proposal 2 for stem cell research, which was approved, Nov. 4.
The Waterford couple believe surplus embryos are more than research tools ? they’re children, and the Baughs are raising two of them. After five years of trying to have their own children, they checked into adoption and in vitro fertilization.
‘We kind of weighed all of our options and a couple of reasons we didn’t go with IVF was because of the expense and we didn’t want to be faced with a decision infertile couples are faced with now,? said Holly. ‘What do we do with any leftover embryos that we might have??
That question weighed heavily on their hearts, so they decided to go with adoption.
‘At first we checked into adopting a child that was already born and then something came to our mind that we had heard on the radio three or four years prior about families who had adopted embryos,? said Holly. ‘Doctors usually don’t give that option.?
They decided to go through Nightlight Christian Adoptions based out of Fullerton, Calif.
Nightlight matched the Baughs with a family they felt would be a good match. After the genetic family read the Baughs biographies, they gave them the OK. In return, Holly and her husband received background information and history on the genetic family and decided to go with them. Soon the couples were communicating with one another via e-mail and phone.
‘It was important for our kids to know where they came from and who their genetic family was,? she said.
After the family doctors had talked, eight frozen embryos were sent to Michigan in 2005.
‘Six were thawed, but four of them didn’t make it through the thawing process, two were viable and one was iffy,? she said.
In April 2005, Holly carried and gave birth to her firstborn, Katie Baugh. Successful the first time, she decided to try it again and gave birth to her son, Aiden, in June of 2007.
She said carrying the babies was ‘intense.?
‘I was on hormones and my husband had to inject me with shots everyday,” said Holly. ‘But of course it was well worth it because we have two beautiful children we just adore.?
All throughout both of her pregnancies they kept in close contact with the genetic family and kept them updated on their status.
“The babies are referred to as ‘snow flake babies? because each is unique and different,? said Holly. ‘When you adopt, you have no idea what you’re going to get.?
However, Holly said her and Alan received family pictures from the genetic family, which allowed them to see what their kids looked like.
‘We got to potentially see what our kids would look like before they were even born,? she said.
Holly was born in and raised in Clarkston. Previous to being a stay at home mom, she worked in public relations. Alan was born and raised in Flint and currently works as a Medical Technologist. They live in Waterford.
Katie, 3 1/2 years old, and Aiden, 16 months, are genetic siblings. Holly also said how thankful she was to the genetic family.
‘To imagine our lives without them or Katie and Aiden would be hard,? she said. “I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience the whole process of pregnancy and parenthood.?