When people think about egg donation, money often comes to mind first. And it’s true—compensation can be a strong motivation. But for many egg donors, the decision goes far deeper than financial gain. Sometimes, behind the donation is a story that changes lives forever.
It was the winter of 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I first met a couple from China. They were in their fifties, quiet and reserved, asking thoughtful questions about egg donation and surrogacy. At that time, I didn’t know much about their background, but over the next two years of working closely together, I learned their story.
Both were university professors in China. They had only one child, a beloved son who was studying abroad in the United States. Tragically, their son passed away due to illness—a devastating loss that left them heartbroken. They were part of a generation shaped by China’s one-child policy, and that one child had been their entire world.
After mourning, they made a courageous decision. Though the wife was no longer able to conceive with her own eggs due to her age, their love for children and their desire to rebuild a family led them to pursue parenthood again—this time through egg donation and surrogacy.
We eventually matched them with a remarkable egg donor: a young Chinese woman who had graduated from an Ivy League university. Her donation process in 2021 went smoothly, resulting in several healthy embryos. One day, in a conversation, I asked her why she chose to donate her eggs.
She told me she had talked seriously with her boyfriend. They had both agreed they didn’t want children of their own and might never have a family in the traditional sense. But she said something that stayed with me: “Even though I don’t want children myself, I like the thought that a part of me—my genes—can continue to live on in the world. Maybe someone else can have the family I’ve chosen not to have.”
The couple later worked with two surrogates. Embryo transfers were done separately, and in 2022, they welcomed a baby boy and a baby girl—twins born of love, science, and extraordinary generosity. Today, the twins are over three years old. Every so often, I receive photos from the parents, showing their bright smiles and joyful little faces. The children are growing up happy, cherished, and deeply loved.
This story may sound like it ends here, but in truth, it’s only just beginning. The gift of one egg donor sparked the rebirth of a family. The children are still small, their futures unwritten. But for their parents, and for all of us who witnessed this journey, their story is already a beautiful testament to hope, healing, and the profound impact one decision can make.
