“Who knew a random roommate 14 years earlier would become the reason I get to be a mom.”

Not all pregnancies begin the same way…but every story is special and unique. This is a super special surrogate birth story that started with two friends who were roommates in college: Joy & Jamie


Joy dreamed of becoming a mom - and after years of infertility, she was beginning to think it wouldn't happen for her. But thanks to modern medicine and her amazing friend, Jamie - Joy finally got to become a mom to the baby she always dreamed of. 

Three people pose together indoors, with a small baby wearing a floral headband in the center.

Photo courtesy of Jamie's IG - @jamiesejkora

Joy:

“Our experience trying to conceive started out normally – only took about 4 months to get pregnant, but that ended in a miscarriage. 


It took about a year to get pregnant again. I had wanted to see a fertility specialist because it was taking so long, but this was when COVID started. After that also ended in a miscarriage we went to see a fertility specialist. 


We first tried IUI – which ended in an ectopic pregnancy and emergency surgery to take out my fallopian tube. 


We decided to start IVF at this point – hopeful that this would be the method that finally worked. 


But after almost 5 years, several different IVF protocols & transferring clinics, and 5 IVF transfers later – still no success. Our fertility MD at this point felt that looking into getting a gestational carrier was our best option.


If this is what could help me become a mom finally there was no hesitation.


I was beyond lucky that Jamie had previous thought about being a gestational carrier, so the idea was not new to her. She had also previously mentioned that she would be open to that for me, but I never thought it would get to that point.


The day my MD called and told me our 5th transfer failed – I immediately called her and told her shes going to have to seriously think about this now, because it may be my only chance of becoming a mom.”

...


Jamie first reached out to me in January of 2023 when they were first starting the process of surrogacy. There were multiple things that needed to happen - including psychological evaluations for all parties, hormone therapy, and finally a transfer in March. 


When I read the message Jamie sent me through my website contact form, I got tears in my eyes:


“I'm in the process of beginning the journey of being a surrogate for my best friend and I want to surprise her with birth photography - especially the moments as babe is born and she and her husband meet their little nugget. I think it would be the most special gift for them to remember the day they finally got their baby in their arms.”


Like, how sweet is that? I was so thrilled to be considered to capture this story. We chatted back and forth and once we got the news that the transfer was successful, we made it official. 


Everything progressed beautifully, and Jamie and I met for our in-person prenatal appointment in early December. Their estimated due date was January 3, but Jamie knew she wouldn’t make it that long. Sure enough, a few days before Christmas she was having signs of early labor. I was biting my nails all through the holiday wondering if I would be called on Christmas day!


Joy

“I don’t think I slept good for a month ha ha. We have had so much loss and disappointment that I was waiting for something to go wrong. I was also anxious that she was going to go into labor and have that baby before we made it to Lincoln since we live an hour away!"

...


Thankfully, baby Addison waited until after the holiday festivities to make her entrance on December 28 - in plenty of time for her parents to make it to the hospital to enjoy the moment. 


Jamie was texting to keep me posted on her progress. She went from 4 cm at almost noon to complete by 1:30pm! She sent me the text “We’re compete 😳” at 1:31pm, so I literally ran to my vehicle with my gear and raced across town to the hospital. 

Exterior view of Bryan Hospital medical facility entrance with snow on ground.

As I was rushing through the hallways at Bryan East Hospital, I heard the lullaby over the intercom that they play when a baby is born. My heart sank and I thought “nooooo! I hope that’s not them!”


Luckily, it was a different baby and I made it just in time to get my gear ready and capture Joy getting scrubbed up to catch her baby girl.

A medical professional and bio-mom share a celebratory high-five in a hospital room getting ready for the birth of her surrogate baby
Bio-mom gets ready to assist in the delivery of her surrogate baby.
Medical team assists patient during labor delivery in hospital room while wearing protective gowns.

Addison was born with just a couple of pushes straight into her mother’s arms.

Doctor shows bio-mom how to deliver her emerging baby from the surrogate mom.
Bio mom delivers her baby and places her on the chest of the surrogate mom.
Bio mom delivers her baby and places her on the chest of the surrogate mom.

“I don’t think there are even words to describe the feeling of being able to catch Addison. It was the most amazing way to be a part of her birth. 

Medical professionals and support person attending to patient during hospital delivery.
Medical team assists during childbirth as newborn emerges in hospital delivery room.

The joy on everyone’s faces and the sheer happiness in the room was palpable. 

Healthcare providers support patient during active labor in hospital setting.
Parents admire their newborn baby wrapped in a blue patterned blanket in a hospital room.

Jamie told me later “I didn’t even cry this much when my own kids were born!”


At the very beginning of their journey, Jamie presented Joy with a bell necklace that would be a way to help baby recognize her as her mommy once she was born. Jamie wore the necklace during the pregnancy so that the baby would hear the bell in utero, and then once she was born, Joy wore the necklace so that the sound of the bell would be a familiar and comforting sound. The passing of the necklace was such a beautiful and sacred gesture. 

Hospital patients sharing moment after the birth of a surrogate baby
A couple shares a tender moment in a hospital room as they cradle their newborn baby wrapped in a patterned blanket.
A tender hospital scene shows parents bonding with their newborn while wrapped in a butterfly-patterned blanket.

“I know I’ve said to Jamie that thank you isn’t even enough and I feel silly saying it to her because this is what Kevin and I have waited and gone through so much and for it to finally be a reality 5 years later, by the time Addison was born.”

Medical staff and parents gather around a hospital bed during a joyful moment with a newborn.
Newborn baby wearing a knit cap rests peacefully on white hospital bedding.
A person in a grey sweater holds a sleeping newborn wrapped in a butterfly-print blanket.
Hospital room scene shows parents and newborn sharing quiet moments together.
Two people sit together in a hospital room sharing joy while holding a swaddled newborn.

The love between these two couples was so inspiring and sweet to witness. And when the chaos of birth and nurses and measurements subsided, they were able to truly celebrate all they had been through to get to this moment. 

Black and white hospital photo captures joy and celebration with a newborn baby.

“The pictures brought back all of the emotions from the day and we got to relive all of the moments. We’ve watch the slideshow video of pictures so many times and have shown so many people the pictures! It was the happiest day of our lives and I am beyond grateful to have pictures from it that we can look back on for years to come.

Hospital celebration scene with champagne being poured while holding a newborn wrapped in patterned blanket.
Group celebrates in hospital room with drinks while gathered around new baby.

the most memorable moment of the day was our champagne toast because what’s better than my new baby with my best friend, Jamie and some champagne“ - Joy

Two new parents share champagne toasts in a hospital room while one holds a newborn baby wrapped in a blanket.

If you don't have a plan to capture your birth story yet, go download my FREE Birth Photography Shot List - with all of the most important moments to capture, along with some pro-tips for better, more creative images. Grab it here --> Birth Photography Shot List



If you're local to the Lincoln NE area and want to learn more about birth photography and videography services, let's connect! Your initial consult is always free so you can get ALL the info and ask all your questions before deciding if professional birth photography is right for you. 


My goal is to help shift cultural perceptions about birth and parenthood through the power of unbiased support and visual storytelling. Our stories are powerful. Birth is powerful. The more we share our stories, the more we normalize birth and the struggles/triumphs of parenthood. Our stories shape who we are, and they have the power to show others that they're not alone. If this resonates with you, I encourage you to share this story with someone who it can inspire.