Help Elliot adopt Uma!

Like so many of us, I’ve been watching Matthew, Elliot, and Uma’s story unfold through every post and picture since Uma came into the world almost two years ago. And as one of their dear friends and now roommate, I’m so lucky to have a front row seat to their lives.

I was there when they were told how much it would cost to harvest the eggs, how much IVF would cost, how much it would cost to ensure the high-risk pregnancy would make it to term, how much it would cost to deliver the baby, then once Uma had arrived, how much it would cost for her spinal surgery. At this point, Matt & Elliot have put down close to $75,000 just to have Uma earthside. But, nearly two years after Uma’s birth, they have one more financial hurdle to overcome: the cost of Elliot’s legal fees to adopt Uma as his child, officially.

Nebraska doesn’t recognize surrogacy. So as of December 2020, Matthew and Cele (Matthew’s mom and birth mother) are on Uma’s birth certificate. Elliot isn’t recognized at all.

My husband and I have had the pleasure of living with this little family for the past three months, and let me just say that Elliot is the most caring, patient, and loving papa to sweet, sassy Uma. It breaks my heart knowing they need to spend another penny to prove something that is so obvious: Elliot is Uma’s father. 

So, if this family has brought a smile to your face at any point over the past two years and you’re in a position to help, please donate! Your generous contribution will go directly toward Elliot’s legal fees to officially adopt Uma.

As we all know, it takes a village.