It's been a little over 2 weeks since my first post and I just wanted to say how wonderful it was to get such positive feedback and support! It makes starting this journey that much more exciting.
No joke, about an hour after I posted the first entry, the agency emailed me with the first IP's profile! I was shocked to get one so fast. I was nervous and excited as I opened the attachment. They were a nice looking couple, but when I scrolled down, I noticed they lived near Chicago. Bummer. We were hoping to find IPs a little closer to the West Coast. I want to be able to share this journey and experience as much as possible along side the IPs. I understand that finding IPs that I match with in the Bay Area is slim, but I am hopeful for an opportunity at least within a short flight or a few hours driving distance. I called the Executive Coordinator at the agency and told her what I had hoped for. Although she said the Chicago couple was in-fact planning on traveling a lot to make it to as many appointments as possible, she totally understood. She has been a surrogate herself several times and mentioned that her first IPs were in Rhode Island (she's in Texas) and it was difficult to feel connected. I want to be able to build a friendship - not that this can not be done long-distance, but I think it's important for me to feel connected to this family and be able to spend an ample amount of time with them. There's a chance that no friendship will materialize at all, even if we are close in proximity, and that's OK too. I would at least like the option.
I felt a little guilty, then wondering "what if that couple from Chicago has a hard time finding a surrogate?". The Coordinator assured me they will find a match. She also mentioned that they receive new IPs every week and that it shouldn't be terribly long before she found a good match for me. The agency will also be featured in a popular national news show in a few weeks and apparently they get tons of new IPs every time they get media coverage.
That's all for now, I guess it's waiting for now... but there's no rush. The right opportunity will come along when the time is right.
