“We’ve Got This”: A Surrogate’s Story of Love, Hope, and Family

Even with a full life as a mom and teacher, Jolynda McGrath felt called to help another family experience the joy of parenthood by becoming a surrogate — and she hasn’t looked back since.

As a mother of two and a 20-year educator from Texas, Jolynda McGrath describes her life as anything but slow.

“My youngest child does All Star cheerleading so I’m not really sure what the phrase ‘free time’ means,” she laughs. “She doesn’t drive and I’m her chauffeur to all things cheer… so I would say cheer is my ‘life’ and free time.”

Yet even with a full plate, Jolynda felt called to something bigger — something that could change another family’s life forever and her own.

A Personal “Why” That Sparked Becoming a Surrogate

Jolynda’s inspiration to become a gestational surrogate came from someone very close to her.

“My surrogacy spark was my best friend from high school. She has some issues after her first child was born and was told the only way she could have another baby was via surrogacy or adoption.”

Watching her friend navigate the surrogacy process opened Jolynda’s eyes. Then, at a friend’s wedding, she learned that yet another acquaintance was a surrogate with ConceiveAbilities.

“I applied on the way home in the car! They called the next day and set everything in motion. The team was just so friendly and helpful from hello that it just felt like family.”

A Match Made in Three Hours

When Jolynda met her intended parents, the connection was instant. “We matched with the sweetest couple that quite literally you just wanted to shrink down and carry in your pocket.”

Their match call — scheduled for an hour — stretched to nearly three.

“At one point the Match Expert disconnected and it was like talking to my long-lost best friend. We talked about food, favorite TV shows and just the most random things.”

And from day one, our motto took shape: “We’ve got this!” We even got shirts made!

Honesty and communication guided the surrogacy journey. Jolynda made sure her intended mother felt included in every milestone.

“I made a special scrapbook so that years after birth, if she was sitting with friends she could talk about the pregnancy and all the cravings, morning sickness, and movements too. They loved it!”

Her second journey brought her back to the same couple to do a sibling journey — pure serendipity. “It was just perfect timing and meant to be!”

Surrogacy Moments That Change Lives

Jolynda acknowledges that not every moment was easy, but even in sharing these challenges, her focus remains on the joy she witnessed in the families she helped.

For her first surrogate birth, Jolynda describes a moment the entire hospital felt:

“They told my husband that he could take the baby to the parents. He walked the baby to mom and dad and got to ‘deliver’ their long-awaited child to them! We had the whole hospital in tears!”

Six years later, that bond has only deepened. “We’ve stayed close and still send Christmas gifts and Birthday and Mother’s Day and Father’s Day texts, calls, and gifts!”

“One of the Most Rewarding Things I’ve Ever Done”

When asked what the surrogacy experience has meant to her, Jolynda doesn’t hesitate:

“For me, being a surrogate was by far one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. If I could do it again tomorrow I 100% would. Helping a family become complete is something I just can’t put into words.”

She emphasizes that becoming a surrogate is an act of pure heart.

“You don’t do it for the glory or the money. To be a surrogate is something that is just in your heart.”

The Surrogate Sisterhood

Even in retirement from carrying, Jolynda says the sense of connection remains.

“Surrogate sisterhood — it’s a bond that allows gestational carriers to help others in a unique and loving way. The itch never really goes away! Once you’re retired there is a missing piece that remains.”

A Legacy of Love — and an Invitation Forward

Jolynda’s story captures exactly what makes surrogacy extraordinary: the courage to give, the joy of making a family whole, and the lifelong bonds formed along the way. Her journeys weren’t only about delivering babies — they were about delivering hope, love, and possibility.

If Jolynda’s surrogacy spark feels familiar, you’re not alone. One of the best ways to explore becoming a surrogate is by hearing directly from women who’ve walked the journey themselves.