S2E7 - Who? Advocates from the Donor Conceived Community Me, You, & Who?! Creating happy families via egg donation and surrogacy

In this episode, we have the privilege and honor of hearing from Melissa Bornico and Rachel Schiff as they discuss their experiences as donor-conceived individuals and their involvement with the US Donor Conceived Council (USDCC). They share how they learned about their donor conception, the challenges they faced in processing this information, and the impact it had on their identities and relationships. Mel and Rachel highlight the importance of support as they navigated what it means to be donor-conceived and how this led to their advocacy work with the USDCC. They also explain the role of the USDCC in advocating for donor-conceived individuals, promoting legislation, and increasing awareness about donor conception. Some of the topics covered include the importance of accurate and updated information, the significance of known donors, understanding and exploring identity, ID release at 18 and parentage laws, and dispelling myths about donor-conceived persons. This conversation was eye-opening, offering not only the perspectives of donor-conceived individuals but also emphasizing the need for the advocacy work supported by the US Donor Conceived Council.  Takeaways  -Learning about donor conception can be a complex and emotional process, with individuals discovering their donor-conceived status at different stages of life. -Support and understanding from parents and loved ones are crucial for donor-conceived individuals to process their identities and navigate their relationships. -The US Donor Conceived Council (USDCC) is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization that advocates for donor-conceived individuals, promotes legislation to protect their rights, and raises awareness about donor conception. -Regulation and record-keeping in the assisted reproductive technology industry are essential to address concerns such as the potential for accidental incest and the lack of information about genetic siblings. Advocacy organizations like the USDCC play a crucial role in ensuring that donor-conceived persons have access to accurate and updated information about their genetic origins. -Knowing the identity of the donor, especially through known donation, can provide DCPs with not only necessary medical information that is important to the understanding of their genetic heritage but can also provide sense of connection as they explore their own identity. -Parents of donor-conceived children should not be afraid to ask questions and seek out the perspectives of donor-conceived adults. -The USDCC provides educational resources and advocates for the donor-conceived community.  Show Notes:  The US Donor Conceived Council (USDCC): https://www.usdcc.org/  Known Donor Program:  https://eggdonorsolutions.com/intended-parents/known-identified-egg-donor-program/  Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/createahappyfamily/   Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@createahappyfamily   Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/SurrogateSolutions/   YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7FXoqUgC2ao5jEr0lBnXRQ   Vimeo- https://vimeo.com/user83704977   Podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/me-you-who-creating-happy-families-via-egg-donation/id1655017371   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2qHPZay3shiMvbGb0EwBuO   Yelp- https://www.yelp.com/biz/egg-donor-and-surrogate-solutions-frisco-3   Pinterest- https://www.pinterest.com/eggdonorandsurrogatesolutions/   Google- https://g.page/r/CYj7Ap5NC5RKEB0/review