Episode 216: Dr. Andrea Ali-Panzarella – Every Family Is A Tree
Andrea Zorida Ali-Panzarella is a proud mom of three beautiful boys, who was inspired to write this book – Every Family Is A Tree -- after a long journey with infertility and loss. She is also a pediatrician, specializing in child abuse, who has cared for children from all walks of life.
Andrea and her husband welcomed their sons with the help of compassionate physicians and caring gestational carriers. As they read to their children each night, she noticed the limited number of books that represented their unique family story and realized the missed opportunities to empower her children to know their worth. Her hope with this book is that all people, especially children, will feel seen and accepted in this world no matter what their story is.
Listen as Andrea shares with Ellen and Jenn:
· In her medical training, seeing lots of children born by IVF, but never thinking it was something she would need to turn to.
· After experiencing pregnancy loss, rethinking the mindset that everything happens for a reason.
· Finding various diagnoses, including male factor fertility issues and polyps.
· Turning to IVF and getting pregnant with twins. Only to lose one heartbeat and then the next.
· Going through more transfers that either failed or ended in miscarriage.
· The conversation eventually turning to surrogacy.
· Working with an agency recommended by a friend; being matched with a surrogate they loved.
· The surrogate becoming pregnant with twins!
· Finally being able to breath when the babies arrived safely at 35 weeks.
· Wanting to give the rest of their embryos a chance.
· Being matched with a more local surrogate this time and getting to drive to attend appointments.
· From day one with her babies, wanting to explain their story to them, but not finding many fitting children’s books.
· Taking matters into her own hands to write something where everyone could feel seen – not just her own family, but all the different families she sees in her day-to-day practice as a pediatrician.
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Learn more about Dr. Andrea Ali-Panzarella and her book Every Family is a Tree: https://www.andreaali-panzarella.com/
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Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/
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