Two weeks ago, our team at Ivy Surrogacy faced one of the most nerve-wracking mornings we’ve experienced in years—a moment that tested our responsiveness, our advocacy for our Intended Parents, and our unwavering commitment to our surrogates.
It was supposed to be a joyful milestone.
A Smooth Morning—Until Everything Went Wrong
The day began with optimism. Our surrogate had flown from Arizona to Los Angeles the night before, fully prepared and excited for the embryo transfer. Early that morning, our team member Valerie accompanied her to the clinic, guiding her through pre-transfer steps and offering reassurance.
Meanwhile, at around 8:00 AM, Chris, who was in our Los Angeles office, received a call from the clinic coordinator—and her words instantly froze the room:
“There is an error in the Intended Parents’ informed consent paperwork. Unless they re-sign it immediately, the embryo transfer will be canceled.”
The Crisis: A Midnight Problem in China
Our Intended Parents live in China. With the time difference, it was already well past midnight there.
We called. We tried WeChat. We called again.
Five attempts. Ten attempts. Fifteen attempts.
Silence. The Intended Parents were fast asleep—completely unaware that their dream was one signature away from being delayed indefinitely.
And the stakes?
They were enormous.
This was their only PGT-A embryo.
While the embryo itself would not be lost if the transfer were canceled, delaying the transfer meant:
- restarting medication schedules
- delaying pregnancy plans
- rebooking medical logistics
- extending the surrogate’s commitment
- incurring additional financial costs
And for families with only one embryo, every delay carries tremendous emotional weight.
The surrogate had done everything right.
She had taken weeks of medication, attended monitoring appointments, arranged childcare, and traveled across state lines. When she learned the transfer might be canceled due to a paperwork technicality, she felt discouraged and upset—so much so that she considered ending the match entirely.
A cancellation would have caused serious emotional and financial harm.
Not embryo loss—but a very real, very painful setback for everyone involved.
We knew one thing:
If we didn’t act immediately, months of preparation and trust could unravel.
Ivy Surrogacy Steps In
We refused to let a preventable administrative error derail this family’s journey.
Chris immediately instructed Valerie—who was already at the clinic—to find the coordinator and escalate the issue to the physician if needed. The message was clear:
Do not accept “no” for an answer.
Valerie advocated firmly and respectfully, presenting three critical points:
1. This was not the Intended Parents’ fault.
The clinic had long known the parents were international and subject to a major time difference. Paperwork should have been reviewed days earlier—not minutes before the procedure.
2. There was zero medical risk in proceeding.
The parents had one embryo, eliminating any chance of mix-up. The procedure remained fully safe and compliant.
3. Canceling the transfer would create significant, unnecessary harm.
While the embryo itself remained safe, the Intended Parents and surrogate would shoulder:
- additional costs
- further delays
- emotional distress
- risk of losing the surrogate match
The Turning Point
The tension in the clinic was heavy. After hearing Valerie’s explanation, the coordinator consulted with the physician and embryology team.
Minutes felt like hours.
Finally, they returned with the decision we had been hoping for:
They would proceed with the embryo transfer. The parents could re-sign the corrected documents once they woke up.
We finally exhaled. The surrogate exhaled. The Intended Parents—still asleep halfway across the world—had no idea how close the day had come to unraveling.
A Happy Ending
The embryo transfer went smoothly. Days later, the surrogate’s HCG test came back positive.
What could have been a painful delay became a celebration of teamwork, communication, and determination.
Our entire team, the Intended Parents, and the surrogate were overjoyed.
A Helpful Reminder for International Intended Parents
While situations like this are rare, they do happen. For Intended Parents outside the United States, we strongly recommend:
- Stay reachable until the embryo transfer is officially completed, even if it requires staying awake late.
- Keep communication channels open, in case a quick signature or decision is needed.
Sometimes a single phone call can prevent a significant delay.
Our Commitment at Ivy Surrogacy
This experience is a powerful reminder of why families worldwide choose Ivy Surrogacy:
- We act quickly.
- We advocate fiercely.
- We protect Intended Parents’ interests.
- We support surrogates with compassion and respect.
- We prevent small obstacles from becoming major setbacks.
At Ivy Surrogacy, we don’t just manage cases.
We safeguard dreams—especially in the moments that matter most.
