Campaign Story

A Path to Fatherhood: Winfred’s Surrogacy Journey
My name is Winfred S. Tovar. I’m a single, gay, Black man with a lifelong dream: to become a dad who shows up with steadiness, humor, and love every single day.

I’m also a physician trained in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Critical Care Medicine. I’ve stood in delivery rooms at 3 a.m. cheering new life into the world and at ICU bedsides at 3 p.m. holding a family’s hand through doubt and fear. Those moments shaped my belief that families are built on intention and care—and that love is something you do.

Outside the hospital, I slow down in my rooftop greenhouse where I grow orchids (especially paphiopedilums). Orchids reward patience and consistency: you don’t rush roots; you build the right conditions and show up. That’s the kind of father I’m ready to be. At home, I’m raising a Boxer puppy named Kinje—short for Purkinje fibers, the cells that keep a heart in rhythm. She reminds me that even chaos can be joyful when it beats to a steady love.

I’ve wanted fatherhood for as long as I can remember, but I waited until I could build a stable home, a strong community, and a clear plan. My sister and her family are my closest circle—first in line for school pickups and newborn shifts. My friends are the aunties and uncles who bring soup, show up on moving day, and tell hard truths kindly. I’m not doing this alone; I’m doing this as the anchor of a village ready to welcome a child.

Why surrogacy? Because it allows me to participate responsibly in bringing my child into the world while honoring the woman who makes that possible. My medical training keeps me mindful of risks; my values keep me grounded in dignity and consent. I’m committed to independent legal counsel for the gestational carrier, transparent communication, and comprehensive support throughout the journey.

I’ve saved, budgeted, and carefully mapped the milestones—agency, legal, insurance, embryo transfer, escrow, and the many small but meaningful expenses in between. Still, even with disciplined planning, surrogacy is expensive. That’s why I’m asking for help.

Why I’m Raising $50,000
Your support will bridge the final gap to make this dream real. Here’s how your gifts will help (approximate allocation):

$25,000 — Gestational carrier compensation installments: paid at key milestones (heartbeat, trimesters, delivery).

$8,000 — Legal & court filings: contracts for both parties, GC’s independent counsel, and Texas parentage orders.

$7,000 — Insurance & medical out-of-pocket: premiums if needed, deductibles, and copays across pregnancy.

$6,000 — Embryo transfer & medications: the cycle that turns hope into a heartbeat.

$4,000 — Escrow, travel, and contingency: secure payment management, visits for monitoring/transfer, and the unexpected.

Every dollar goes toward a clearly defined step that brings a child closer to home. I’ll post updates at each milestone so you can follow the journey you helped launch—from clinic appointments to contract signing to the quiet miracle of a first ultrasound.

Why Give?
Because representation matters. I grew up wanting to see fathers who looked like me loving out loud—gentle and strong at once. I want my child to know, from day one, that their family was built by a village that believed in them before they could say their own name. Your gift isn’t just funding a procedure; it’s investing in a home that will be safe, curious, and joyful—where feelings are named, questions are welcome, and difference is celebrated.

I handle conflict with openness and humility. I apologize quickly and repair fully. I keep calendars, make checklists, and still laugh when the plan changes. I can build a crib (with only a few screws left over) and craft a bedtime story from scratch. I’ll be the dad who shows up at parent-teacher conferences, who learns car-seat configurations, who waters orchids before sunrise while warming bottles in the kitchen.

If you’re able to give, thank you. If you can share this fundraiser with your network, thank you. Either way, your support—financial, practical, or simply cheering from the sidelines—means the world to me and to the child who will one day hear the story of how a community opened the door to their life.

Goal: $50,000
Purpose: To cover the final costs of gestational surrogacy so I can welcome my child into a loving, prepared home.

With gratitude,
Winfred