In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Redefining Family, host Jonathan Wilson sits down with Bryan Lambillotte to discuss his journey of self-discovery, coming out, and building a family with his husband Chris through surrogacy. Bryan shares intimate details of his experiences, offering a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way.
Bryan knew he was gay from grade school, a realization that led to a significant moment right after he graduated high school, when his parents discovered a downloaded video, which inadvertently prompted his coming out. His little sister was the first to know about his sexuality and provided immense support. When his dad confronted him about liking boys, the conversation led to an accepting and positive outcome. Similarly, a heartfelt conversation with his mom offered further emotional support.
Bryan and Chris met in 2011 on Grindr and celebrated their 5-year dating anniversary by getting married. In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided to have children and chose surrogacy as their path to parenthood. This process took two years, during which they found an egg donor and a surrogate, eventually welcoming twins.
The journey to surrogacy was fraught with challenges. The first surrogate they loved was disqualified due to a small hole in her heart. The second surrogate revealed she was pregnant just before the embryo transfer, leaving Bryan feeling defeated and questioning their chances of becoming parents. However, Chris’s encouragement kept them going, and they finally found a third surrogate with successful previous experiences, leading to the birth of their children.
Chris also shares his experience with postpartum depression and the backlash he faced, shedding light on an often overlooked aspect of the post-birth journey for new parents. The episode concludes with Bryan offering valuable advice for future gay parents considering surrogacy, emphasizing resilience and the importance of support.
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