When a friend offered to donate three embryos, author Ian Jenkins and his two male polyamorous partners began their journey to parenthood. Although they had the support of family, friends, and coworkers, however, they still encountered obstacles, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures, the threat of the Zika virus, the sudden need to find a new doctor, and other medical, legal, and financial obstacles. Ultimately, with the aid of several women—embryo donors, their egg donor, their surrogate, and a surprise milk donor—they were able to complete their family, and became the first polyamorous family ever named as the legal parents of a child.
Jenkins blends personal recollections with observations about legal and medical issues encountered by many queer parents and parents-to-be, as well as observations specific to polyamory (noting, for example, that it is much more accepted in some parts of the world than in the U.S.) He writes with warmth and humor, and people of all identities and relationship structures should enjoy this readable, informative, and relatable memoir.
