New Yorkers David F.M. Vaughn 39, and Brian Becker, 37, are new dads. Over the past three months, the two most important things they’ve learned as fathers is “patience, and how to swaddle LIKE A CHAMP!” David and Brian chose surrogacy as their path to fatherhood, but making that decision was one of the more difficult parts of their journey. Brian’s siblings are adopted, and while they still want to make adoption part of their family journey, certain opportunities arose that made their surrogacy decision easier. Brian’s sister enthusiastically offered to be their gestational surrogate.

But let’s jump back to the beginning of their story.

The year was 2011. David, an actor (today he focuses more on writing and directing), met Brian, a marketing director, through Match.com. “My sister met her husband on there – now a family of 8 – and she begged me to join,” said David. So he decided to give it a go, and both his sister and a best friend wrote a glowing endorsement for his ‘About Me’ section. At the same time, Brian was also considering joining Match. “He was previewing some guys and I was one of two guys who piqued his interest and made him decide to join,” said David. “Then by pure coincidence, I came across Brian’s profile a week later and ‘winked’ at him. And that was that. Our first date was at a restaurant in Studio City called Mexicali.”

In their profiles, David had said ‘definitely wants kids,’ and Brian had marked ‘possibly.’ As their relationship got more and more serious, so did the topic of children. At a family event, just after Brian and David became engaged, the topic of kids came up. When the two fiancés mentioned their interest in surrogacy, Brian’s sister, Erin, quickly said “I’d do it!” Although nothing more was said that night, the idea planted a seed in their dads-to-be heads.

David and Brian were married in October 2017, on a big boat that circled Manhattan, and “it was four levels of party,” said David. “We got married and had the reception all on the boat, and to be honest the best part was the ice cream sundae bar. Oh, and also marrying Brian.”

When a friend on Facebook re-posted an ad about an upcoming seminar in New York City, and said “Any of my gay friends who want to become dads should go to this!” David was intrigued. So he and Brian attended and spent the whole day going to all the panels they could, and speaking to many vendors as possible. “We, like most people, walked out a little defeated when the costs of surrogacy were explained. But we also had a ton of information to start digesting and discussing.”

The conference experience sparked the first practical moment for them to explore parenthood. It was a safe space for us to walk in pretty ignorant of the entire process, and walk out with some sense of how it could happen for us, and some practical steps to take to move the needle forward.

Check out GWK’s Facebook page for invaluable insights about the process of surrogacy.”

The seeds had definitely been planted. David and Brian were starting to get specific about how to begin their family. They recalled Erin’s comment and wondered if Brian’s sister was serious or not. So Brian phoned Erin to find out if she had been, and without missing a beat, she said “I’ll do it.”

“It was just an amazing, selfless moment and frankly, I was caught off guard by her decisiveness,” said Brian. “I offered her all the outs. ‘Well, I mean…talk to your husband…and you can take time to think about it…and we won’t be mad if you say no…’ She did concede that she should check with her husband – but he was equally supportive right out of the gate. They’re pretty amazing, needless to say. And from there it was full speed ahead!”

In 2018, they were able to retrieve 13 healthy embryos. The husbands’ advice to others considering surrogacy is to split the journey into two: embryo creation, and the rest. “It takes the pressure off, and it makes it more financially feasable to do the whole thing without selling everything you own,” said David. “Splitting the process in two parts makes the first step feel more manageable and lets you get started – AND if needed – it gives you a moment to pause so you can save again for the second half of your journey, while your embryos relax on ice.”

Later that year, the couple managed to pregnant on the first transfer! They announced to the world, via Instagram, on March 30, 2019, that they were expected a little one, due August later that year.

On August 7, their son Emmett was born. “It was a whirlwind day for sure, but switching from this ‘theoretical’ and ‘hypothetical’ baby we had been talking about for two years into he’s ACTUALLY here was abrupt and crazy,” shared David. “It took a while for me to realize that his, indeed, was the baby we had made and had waited for. THIS is him. He’s here.”

While the past three months have seen little sleep, the new dads have experienced a new level of love. Both Brian and David are forever thankful to their sister for carrying their son Emmett.  “It’s imperative to have a safe space for gay men to come and learn about becoming dads in a non-judgmental atmosphere,” said Brian. “It’s also incredibly validating to see other fathers on the same path – both those further along than you who give you a sense of your future, and those who are just starting who remind you how far you’ve come (and who give you a chance to share your own knowledge and experience!).”

The dads recommend anyone interested in surrogacy to “read, read, read. You will learn so much by watching others talk about aspects of surrogacy, it will demystify the process. We’ve learned so much, not only about the mechanics and finances of surrogacy, but also had a forum to ask advice on a million little decisions (like how to fly with a 3-day old!).”

Congratulations to this new family of three!

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