Today we’d like to introduce you to Casey Bojorquez.
Hi Casey, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
For me, being a mom has always been my greatest joy and the thing that I’m most proud of at the end of the day. In my early twenties, I watched a close friend face infertility struggles trying to start a family of her own, and it dawned on me: I couldn’t imagine a world where I wasn’t able to be a mom. After researching and better understanding the options available for parents who struggled with infertility, I realized there were very few ways in which I alone could help, but what I could do was become a surrogate.
I immediately fell in love with surrogacy and the idea that I was able to help someone in such a profound way. I was fortunate enough to have two wonderful surrogacy journeys, but I still wanted to do and learn more, so I went and worked for an agency. Meeting with women considering a second surrogacy journey, I heard the same testimony again and again: I wish I would have known more. It dawned on me that not every woman is as lucky in finding a reliable agency on the first go. So, the desire to bring education to these women and the intended parents who are hesitant to approach surrogacy is what inspired the creation of Surrogacy Is.
For a while, that is exactly what my business partners, Sunshine & Kyle Hanson, and I did. We dedicated the majority of our time and energy to educating women and parents about the surrogacy process, explaining the ins and outs, and how to approach the journey with the right questions and confidence to ensure that the journey is as magical as possible for all parties involved. It was vital to note that not all agencies are created equal, so picking the right one makes a world of difference.
Through our advocacy work, we initially vetted agencies and narrowed in on the ones that were doing it right. Over time, I realized that while they were doing a great job, if I had an agency, we would be offering even more. Ultimately, if not us, then who? Someone needed to shake up the surrogacy industry after almost half a decade of being a little too comfortable and go above and beyond what was expected from an agency.
Once the agency side of Surrogacy Is launched, we were able to provide services and support that doesn’t exist with other agencies. It’s our goal to cover all the bases, ensure everyone is on the same page, and that each party gets their dream experience. Creating a family through surrogacy can be a difficult and scary process, but it doesn’t have to be.
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?
In all honesty, it has been a smooth road for me. Of course, everyone faces a hiccup here and there, but overall, I’ve been lucky. I think part of that may fall to luck, but I also believe that an uninhibited curiosity and desire to know and do more gave me the confidence to navigate the process and grow. As soon as I realized that not all agencies work the same, I approached every step with caution and wondered how I could play my part to make sure other women were better prepared to start the process as well.
Through my conversations with the other women, I saw that their journeys were not quite as smooth as mine, but with the right agency, they could be. Having the right agency means more than just ease of experience. It means security for yourself and your family, confidence that you are taken care of, knowing someone is always in your corner, trust that protocols are being followed, and more. If the agency is doing their job well, the road will always be smooth, so my goal is to give all women the same fortune that I received so they never have to experience otherwise.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
At Surrogacy Is, the number one thing we do is educate and show anyone willing to listen that surrogacy is beautiful. After 16 years in the industry, I’ve realized just how important a role a competent and caring agency can play. We began Surrogacy Is by educating women on the differences between agencies and aiding them in picking the right one. Although we were not an agency at the time, we made sure to vet and connect these women with the agencies we felt were doing it right and made sure that they knew, throughout the whole process, we were always in their corner.
Every day, we are challenging the status quo. Providing services and access to the industry that no other agency has is just part of what we do. When I joined forces with my partners Sunshine and Kyle, we set out to create a platform that we wished had been available to us. I think what sets us apart is acknowledging that there is an existing imbalance in understanding and teamwork in surrogacy, but also the drive to make a difference.
Some agencies out there have begun to advocate for surrogates, yet there is still so much more than can be done. We’ve grown Surrogacy Is into a full-service agency, but first and foremost, we are advocates. Every decision and service we offer is made with surrogates and intended parents in mind – a vision that has not yet been seen in the surrogacy industry. Our mission is to transform the surrogacy journey for everyone involved, arming both the surrogates and intended parents with the knowledge they need to make informed choices.
At the end of the day, I am most proud of being a mom, and when I’m at my end, hopefully, old and gray, I can say I was proud of the children I have raised, and I was proud that I was able to help someone in such a profound way through surrogacy. The two children that I was able to help bring into this world, and the many more to come through our agency, are going to have kids, and their kids are going to have kids. Intended parents become parents and then grandparents. That’s so much bigger than you or I.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
This is a tough one for me because I am such an open book, but believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice! I always knew I wanted to save the world in some way, and I planned on doing that through the criminal justice system. During my time pursuing my degree, I knew I was deeply passionate about making a positive impact on society; it was the one thing I knew I wanted to do. Helping people was a must, and once I learned about surrogacy and did the research, I immediately knew that was the career for me. It was meant to be.
The transition from criminal justice to surrogacy was unexpected, but to me, it felt so natural. Both fields share the common theme of avenues where I can help others and make a huge impact in their lives. I am able to help create families and bring a change into the world with the work I do, and it truly is a great pleasure. Although my academic background is completely different from what I am doing today, the values I learned from criminal justice are being applied to every family I have had the pleasure to work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://surrogacy.is/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surrogacy.is/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Surrogacyis
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJb2k_e_kX1C-tBj4eVXfg
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZL3kyxuHa8sK2KPldn54b
Image Credits
Surrogacy Is
