Quinton & Jamin

I’ve spent my career helping people grow their families. It’s the part of medicine that always felt most meaningful to me — guiding individuals and couples through one of the most important journeys of their lives. But becoming a dad myself changed everything.

Start before you feel ready

My husband, Jamin, and I always knew we wanted to be parents. It was something we talked about early on while dating. We came from tight-knit families and shared a deep desire to build a family of our own. Still, knowing when to actually begin wasn’t easy. It was Jamin’s mom who gave us the advice we didn’t know we needed: Start before you feel ready. I’m so glad we listened. 

Our path to parenthood involved many steps — working with an egg donor and gestational carrier, partnering with a surrogacy agency, and navigating all the logistics that come with third-party reproduction. As a fertility physician, I knew how complex the process could be. But living it firsthand gave me a new perspective on everything: the timeline shifts, the unknowns, the emotional investment. What used to feel like routine parts of the process as a doctor became deeply personal as a patient. 

Inclusive, compassionate care at SGF Atlanta

There were tough moments. There were delays, surprises, and points where things didn’t go the way we hoped. But we never felt alone. The team at SGF was compassionate, inclusive, and truly collaborative. Our nurse, Abbie, made a point to include both of us in every update. Our physician, Dr. Desireé McCarthy-Keith, gave us space to talk through the emotional parts of the process – not just the medical ones.  

We’re completely obsessed

Now that our son, Elliot, is here, everything has changed — in the best way. We thought we’d enjoy being parents, but we’re completely obsessed. It’s more fulfilling than we could have imagined. As Jamin puts it, “I was used to being the main character in my life — and now I get to be in service of someone else. It’s the greatest privilege.”

Just start

Becoming a parent has completely changed the way I show up for my own patients. I understand their journeys more deeply. I know what it means to be all-in. I can share that this process, while not perfect, is so worth it. 

To anyone considering this path, especially LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples, know that there’s no one “right time” to begin. Just start. Learn about your options. Take the first step. Use the resources. Surround yourself with support. And remember —persistence pays off.