Episode 208 : Ashley Christman - Uterus Hero

Ashley Christman is a born and raised Pennsylvania girl. She is the mother to two beautiful children and a decade deep into marriage with her high school sweetheart. They live on a small “farmette” with all kinds of furry creatures! She loves to garden, sew clothing, cook and bake!

Surrogacy is something that was on her heart for years after a close family member battled infertility. In 2021, she completed a successful journey and delivered a healthy baby to a set of Intended Parents that became an extended part of her family. Ashley says that standing witness to a set of parents seeing their child’s face for the first time was an experience she will never forget. Now being a case manager, she has the opportunity to help so many more couples become parents!

In 2023, feeling the pull to give back in another big way - Ashley applied for a Uterus Transplant clinical trial at Penn Medicine. In December of 2023, she became the 3rd living donor at Penn to donate her uterus to another woman in hopes that she would be able to carry her own baby!

Listen as Ashley shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• A comparison with Jenn as to who has more chickens (Ashley wins!)
• Being an only child, but with a large extended family. 
• Marrying her high school sweetheart.
• Always wanting to be a mom and pregnancy coming easy for her. 
• Watching her like-a-sister cousin struggle and endure a hysterectomy, and her best friend become a surrogate. Being inspiring to become a surrogate herself.
• Loving the intended parents she was matched with. 
• After some health drama, delivering a perfect baby girl. 
• Starting work for the surrogacy agency.
• Being inspired by a podcast (this podcast!) to look into uterus donation.
• Applying and being accepted into Penn’s uterus donation clinical trial, subject to a whole battery of tests.  
• Undergoing the ten-and-a-half-hour surgery
• Not knowing anything about the recipient, but being permitted to write a letter to the recipient a year after surgery. (Get the tissues ready as we read from the letter!)

 Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: [phone].

Learn more about Family Makers: https://familymakers.com/ 

Learn more about Penn’s uterus transplant program: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/penn-fertility-care/uterus-transplant

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/