Check Out Kenedi Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenedi Smith.

Kenedi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
At the age of 5, my mom became a surrogate for the first time. By her second journey, when I was 8 years old, I fully understood the process. I adored the couple she was helping, and being surrounded by that much love and hope sparked something in me very early on.

Later, I became a single mom at just 20 years old. On my 21st birthday, my mom jokingly said, “You now qualify to be a surrogate!” I laughed it off at first, but shortly after my son turned one, I began the process and eventually completed my first journey as a surrogate.

Experiencing surrogacy myself helped me truly understand why my mom chose to go on three journeys of her own. The moment my first surro baby was born and I watched her dads become parents — instantly and completely in love with their daughter — I was hooked.

There is honestly no feeling in the world like witnessing someone finally hold the baby they have prayed and longed for for so long. To know you played even a small part in helping create that moment is an incredible honor.

I went on to complete two more surrogate journeys, and after my last one, my mother and I decided to start our podcast, Stop. Sit. Surrogate.. What began as a way to share our six personal surrogacy stories and offer advice from our own experiences has grown into something so much bigger than we ever imagined.

Now, 5 years and 6 seasons later, we’ve had the privilege of interviewing surrogates, intended parents, children born through surrogacy, surrogate family members, lawyers, embryologists, IVF doctors, agencies, psychologists, maternal health professionals, and so many others involved in the IVF and surrogacy world. It has become such a meaningful platform for education, connection, and honest conversations about all aspects of surrogacy and pregnancy.

Without the love, support, and trust of this amazing community, we would never have been able to reach and educate others all across the world.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. While surrogacy has brought some of the most beautiful and rewarding moments of my life, it has also brought heartbreak, disappointment, and experiences that deeply impacted me mentally and emotionally.

My third journey was honestly horrible and really broke me mentally. It ended up being one of the hardest journeys we have ever shared on our podcast, Stop. Sit. Surrogate.. Thankfully, the baby was healthy, but the way I was treated by the intended parents, the agency, and even the intended parents’ lawyer was incredibly disheartening. It was an experience I never wanted another surrogate to go through. That journey became one of the biggest reasons my mother and I started the podcast — to help educate surrogates, teach them how to protect themselves, understand their rights, and hopefully prevent situations like mine from happening to others.

I also began my fourth journey in 2022, and it was another long road filled with heartache before I finally found my match in 2023. Thankfully, I ended up matched with one of the most wonderful human beings I could have ever hoped to walk this journey with.

We had one transfer, but unfortunately her little bean didn’t stick around. It was devastating. More than anything, my heart completely ached for my intended mother. We stayed on this journey together for almost two years, but sadly we were never able to do another transfer or complete the journey together. I struggled mentally with that for a long time because, as surrogates, we go into this wanting to help create families. We want so badly to help these hopeful parents finally hold their baby.

When a journey ends without that outcome, it hurts deeply. Even though logically I know it was not my fault and there was nothing I did to jeopardize her chances, emotionally it still felt like I had failed her. If that first transfer had worked, she would have her little boy in her arms today.

That journey changed me in so many ways, and I will forever be grateful for her and the bond we built together. A piece of my heart will always stay with her. I still pray and hope that her little bean is on the way to her someday, because anyone who wants to be a parent and has that much love to give deserves the chance to become one.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
A huge part of my work today revolves around education, advocacy, and supporting surrogates through every stage of their journey. Through our podcast, Stop. Sit. Surrogate., my mother and I have spent the last several years creating a space where people can learn about surrogacy in an honest, realistic, and compassionate way. We cover everything from matching, contracts, IVF, pregnancy, postpartum, mental health, and surrogate rights to the emotional side of the journey that people do not always talk about openly.

I also created a referral and mentorship program where I help potential surrogates get medically and psychologically cleared before they ever officially sign with an agency. This is something I am incredibly passionate about because it gives surrogates more control over their journeys. Instead of feeling rushed into whatever match is available, they are able to explore agencies and intended parents with more confidence, more options, and a better understanding of what they truly want out of the experience. I really believe surrogates deserve to feel empowered and educated throughout the process, not pressured or overlooked.

One thing that sets me apart is that everything I do comes from lived experience. I am not speaking from the outside looking in — I have personally gone through multiple surrogacy journeys, both beautiful and heartbreaking. Because of that, I try to advocate for surrogates in a very honest and realistic way while still holding onto the beauty of what surrogacy can be.

One of the projects I am most proud of is a children’s book my mother and I wrote called My Mom Has Superpowers. The story is told from the point of view of my son and was created to help children understand surrogacy in a fun, realistic, and age-appropriate way. Representation and education for surrogate families — especially the children involved — is something that means so much to us because surrogacy impacts the entire family, not just the surrogate herself.

More than anything, I hope people know that my goal has always been to educate, support, and advocate while helping create safer and more positive experiences for everyone involved in surrogacy.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is my little family. I am incredibly grateful for my son, my husband, and even our puppy. Being part of the infertility and surrogacy community has really taught me not to take fertility, pregnancy, or family for granted. Walking alongside so many people who dream of becoming parents gives you a very different perspective on how precious those moments truly are.

Right now, we are also expecting our baby girl in August, and we could not be more excited or thankful. This season of life feels especially meaningful, and I think having experienced both the beauty and heartbreak that can come with fertility journeys has made me appreciate every moment even more.

At the end of the day, family is truly everything to me, and being able to love, support, and grow alongside the people closest to me is what brings me the most joy.

Pricing:

• Free

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stopsitsurrogate.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stop.sit.surrogate?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559365875256#
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@stop.sit.surrogate
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@stop.sit.surrogate?_t=ZT-8wVNGJKlJb4&_r=1