Get This Guy a Baby!

Our names are Monica and Eileen.   We are starting this Go Fund Me for our incredible friend, Shawn Thorn.  We are reaching out to you and asking for support to help his lifelong dream of becoming a dad a reality.

In the last year, Shawn has been dealt an emotional and financially devastating blow.  His journey towards fatherhood has evolved from being a dream , to  a reality, to a very costly journey that has led to nothing but complete heart ache.

Shawn started the adoption process in 2013.  With a constant stream of obstacles, waitlists and red tape and no light at the end of the tunnel, Shawn decided to pursue surrogacy in 2015.  With the help of a very dear friend in Florida who offered to donate her eggs, and a surrogate here in the Lower Mainland, the idea of having a child who shared his very own DNA was a conceivable reality. In the spring of 2016, Shawn’s first IVF treatment had been successful. He was delighted and giddy with anticipation that his dream was finally coming true - he was to be a father.  Three weeks in to the pregnancy,  and three years after applying to adopt, as luck would have it, adoption services contacted him about a little 3 year old girl who needed a family; she sounded so ideal. Unfortunately, Shawn had to decline due to the seemingly successful surrogacy.  As you can imagine, this was a very emotionally conflicting moment for Shawn.   Three weeks later, Shawn was given the devastating news that the pregnancy had miscarried. The grief and pain of loss was devastating to him and he was only consoled by the fact that he could try again.
Sadly, by the end of 2016, Shawn had a total of 3 miscarriages and 1 failed embryo transfer attempt; a total of 4 unsuccessful IVF treatments with the surrogacy totalling a value of nearly $75,000.  He literally put his life savings into making this dream a reality, and now, to him the dream has been lost and the cost of starting the process again is more than he can afford. Here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to close friends:

"My heart is sad and there's a certain vacancy that is strong an prominent since last week, the day I found out that she had the miscarraige. I've cried endless times throuought each day since then.  It's uncontrollable at times. My eyes tear when I'm not even thinking about loss...It's unbearable at times. It's like that feeling you get in your stomach when your heart is broken; it's like all the butterflies have just died."

Shawn has yearned for fatherhood at a deep soul-aching level. He has built his life and career around being with,  supporting, teaching, adoring and loving children.  He helped raise all the children in his family and most recently has been a father-figure to his cousin's daughter who adores him.  He is also a doting Godfather to one of his best friend's 18 month old twin boys. Those of us around him who love and adore Shawn are not willing to see his dream die. So, we have set up this page to help support Shawn in raising the money to start the surrogacy process again.  Any contribution helps. We want to see this guy get his baby.

More About Shawn

Some of Shawn's friends and family have reached out to him since he decided to end his journey with surrogacy. To get a sense of his character, here is what they have said:
"I am so thankful that I can be a part of your journey. I am beyond honoured. You deserve kids and it needs to happen for you. I know I'm just your surrogate, but I've fallen in love with you and your family, and you deserve this and I would do anything in my power to help you."
-Cara (Shawn's surrogate)

"I hope that you recognize how amazing you are and how much joy and happiness you bring to others."
-Jackie

"Life is such a mystery . . . so much of outside our control . . . yet blessing abound at the same time. And you my friend are a blessing to the world. As always, I know you are keeping one eye on the future, setting beautiful and positive intentions. My arms are around you, you are not alone." - Gary

"Yet through it all, you still have a postive outlook on the future. You have truly been though so much. . . you must be extremely strong to endure such hope and loss all at the same time. I'm sending my loving wishes at this time and am thinking of you. Please know that all you do to help others makes you the greatest "Dad" to all. There is a reason for everything so never give up and your dream will come true. All my love, Lara"