The Surrogacy Foundation, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that works to expand access to surrogacy, announced the first successful baby birth through its $100,000 grant initiative.
The baby girl was born Feb. 24 to the intended parents, Shannon and Patrick McGill of Canton, Georgia.
The milestone birth comes following a hard, years-long journey for the McGills, who had feared that the chance of having a child was an impossible endeavor.
Back in May 2022, Shannon experienced life-threatening complications during the birth of her son. Following an emergency cesarean section and severe hemorrhage, doctors performed a hysterectomy that saved her life.
Although she could no longer carry a pregnancy, doctors later confirmed that her eggs remained viable, making surrogacy a possible path forward for the couple.
“After everything we endured, we knew our story wasn’t over,” said Shannon. “Being told I needed a hysterectomy was devastating, but hearing that surrogacy was still possible gave us hope.”
The McGills were the recipients of the foundation’s second-ever $100,000 grant (which it awards every year) in October 2024, after completing a multi-stage application and review process. The funding was supported by proceeds from the nonprofit’s annual “Surrogacy Soirée” fundraising event.
At the following year’s event, the couple met Charlotte Ramberg of Cumming, Georgia, an experienced gestational carrier — as well as a licensed professional counselor specializing in maternal and reproductive mental health — who agreed to carry their child.
After a process that included medical and psychological screenings, legal coordination, an embryo transfer and months of waiting, the pregnancy progressed successfully.
“For me, surrogacy is an act of trust, hope and responsibility,” said Ramberg. “Every journey is unique, but the goal is the same. It is about helping a family welcome their child into the world. Watching Shannon participate in her daughter’s delivery, then seeing her and Patrick hold her for the first time, was unforgettable. Outside of delivering my own children, it is one of the greatest honors of my life.”
According to The Surrogacy Foundation, gestational surrogacy in the United States can cost over $150,000, placing it out of reach for many families.
Zach French, executive director of The Surrogacy Foundation, says that the nonprofit’s grant program is designed to help remove that barrier, while also promoting ethical surrogacy practices.
“We talk a lot about access to family building in theory. This is what it looks like in practice,” said French. “A family who once heard ‘you can’t’ is now holding their daughter because a community decided to step in.”
