Overview

What drives a woman to risk everything-her body, her emotions, her safety-to carry someone else's child? In Courage to Carry: A Surrogate's Unconditional Love in Conditional Circumstances, Jennifer Hansen delivers a raw, riveting, and deeply compassionate memoir that answers this question with unwavering honesty. As a young mother and survivor of abuse, Jennifer had already defied the odds. But it was her lifelong desire to help others-especially those struggling with infertility-that led her to become a gestational surrogate for a couple she didn't know. What began as an act of generosity quickly evolved into a transformative journey of love, loss, resilience, and personal growth. With warmth, wit, and remarkable vulnerability, Jennifer guides readers through the entire surrogacy experience-from her first application to the emotional aftermath of birth. Along the way, she confronts stigma, builds a community of support, and learns that creating life is about far more than biology. It's about trust, courage, and an unshakable belief in the power of human connection. Courage to Carry is more than a memoir. It's a call to compassion and a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to give the gift of life.

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9781990688683

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Reviews

""I was mesmerized by the story Jennifer had to tell. Having been a part of the story but not understanding the profound nature of her treatment and her resilience to persevere, I was instantly captivated. This will undoubtedly become a beacon for future surrogates."" - Todd D. Martin, MD ""Jennifer Hansen provides a first-hand account of the ups and downs of her own surrogacy journeys carrying and birthing children for others. Jennifer's memoir provides a cautionary tale that should be of interest to others contemplating serving as gestational surrogates in the United States."" - Heather Jacobson, Professor of Sociology, the University of Texas at Arlington, and author of Labor of Love: Gestational Surrogacy and the Work of Making Babies

Author Information

Jennifer Hansen graduated with a BA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2004, with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She homeschools her children while traveling all over the United States, having lived in Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. In 2019, she completed the annual Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference at the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, given by Arizona State University.Jennifer knew since she was a teenager that she wanted to become a surrogate. In 2008, as a gestational surrogate, she delivered twins; in 2017 she was a gestational surrogate again, for a single baby. Her desire to become a surrogate encompassed giving back something to the world that was bigger than herself.Jennifer enjoys being pregnant, taking care of children, and volunteering for humanitarian nonprofit organizations that support military members, the homeless, and human trafficking victims. This is her first book.

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