Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption was established in 1997 when its president, attorney Ron Stoddart, was asked to facilitate the open adoption of an embryo. Today, that Snowflake Baby is approaching teenhood. Since then there have been hundreds of babies who have been born through the program.
Ron Stoddart answered some of my more general questions about the program and the nuts and bolts of how it works. Nightlight Christian Adoptions is the "parent" agency of the Snowflake program. Families need not be Christian to adopt.
Meredith: Can you explain what embryo adoption is all about - the nuts and bolts?
Ron Stoddart: Embryo adoption is a very straightforward way of building your family through adoption - nine months before the baby is born. Instead of a birthmother, you are adopting from a family who has embryos remaining after they have completed infertility treatment. The adopting mom carries the baby and gives birth to her adopted child. A court hearing is not required and the parental rights are completely transferred before the embryos are implanted.
Meredith: Do the donors and the adoptive parents ever meet? Stay in touch? Do Snowflake "siblings" stay with one family or are they adopted to different families, as is the case, for example, with sperm donor babies?
Ron: We encourage openness to the extent the families are comfortable. Most choose to maintain contact by e-mail, sharing photos and stories. Some meet and even share vacations. We try to have all of the embryos from one family adopted by only one other family. This reduces the length of your holiday card list.
Meredith: What are some of the emotional issues about adopting embryos--for the parents and for the child?
Ron: Similar to adopting a newborn, but with all of the emotions of a pregnancy thrown in. The child should be told the truth of their origins, using all of the language and experience we have with adoptions.
Meredith: How many calls do you receive each month from prospective adopters? Donors?
Ron: Initial calls from interested families typically run from 10 to 30 per month - with 4-6 choosing to pursue the adoption - either placing or adopting.
Meredith: Who finds the embryos--and how?
Ron: Many fertility clinics (we have worked with over 200) refer their patients to us to place their embryos. At this time, we actually have more embryos available than adopting families. I think this is a result of the tremendous emphasis we have placed in the past 10 years on reaching out to families with embryos. Now we are increasing our outreach to potential adopting families.
Meredith: What are the costs, who pays?
Ron: The adopting family pays all of the costs -which typically runs from $12,000 to $15,000 including our agency fees and the fees of the clinic for thawing and implanting the embryos.
Meredith: Like with other adoptions--of babies and children--is a home study required?
Ron: Although not required by law, we do require adopting families to complete a home study. We believe that the educational component of a home study is particularly helpful.
Learn more about Snowflakes and parent agency Nightlight Christian Adoptions by clicking here.
