After a long and arduous roadblock-filled struggle, a Melbourne naturopath is finally able to realise his lifelong ambition of fatherhood.
Shaun Resnik recently became the first single man in Victoria to become a father through surrogacy, with the birth of baby Eli Michael on March 22, three and a half years after he began the process.
Every year, around 100 kids are delivered to surrogates across the state, who must first get federal government clearance before attempting to circumvent Victoria’s stringent rules, a procedure that is extremely difficult for singles.
Mr. Resnik believes that by sharing his story, more single people will be able to become parents. The new father expressed that it’s a love he has never encountered.
Mr Resnik, currently 44, was unmarried when he started the lengthy road to parenting by joining local surrogacy Facebook groups shortly after his 40th birthday.
A year later, he met Carla Pincombe, who was pregnant with a surrogate child for a same-sex couple at the time, and the two became fast friends. Before Ms Pincombe offered to carry his kid, Mr Resnik went through a terrible and failed experience with three other possible surrogates.
Mr Resnik’s desire of becoming a parent became a reality a year ago when he met mother-of-two Bree, who consented to give her eggs for Ms Pincombe to carry his kid.
Resnik explained that this is enormous. It’s past time for society to accept unmarried homosexual men to be fathers. He always wanted to be a father however he simply didn’t know how he was going to do it. Fatherhood, according to Mr. Resnik, is tiring yet gratifying.
Eli was named after his grandpa and came several weeks early. Mr. Resnik remarked ”He’s a great bubba. He’s peaceful, comfortable, and chilled as long as he has a bottle in his mouth. However, he has a scream that will penetrate your soul!’He’s keeping us up at night, and if I wasn’t bald, I’d have lost my hair by now.” He stated that the rigorous and often agonising three-and-a-half year trip was worthwhile.
His desire to have kids was motivated by a close bond with his own parents, even if it meant going it alone. He stated that he always wanted to be a dad because he has a great relationship with his parents. Some of his favourite memories are going on strolls with his dad and the dogs, and they just have this incredible closeness. He simply wanted that relationship with his lovely kids, and that’s why it was worth it. It was an exhausting effort, but it was well worth it. At the time of his voyage, he was a single homosexual guy who desired for a family. He continued that he is in a relationship now. His partner has just recently joined them on this voyage. There are two dogs, a baby, and a partner in the house. ‘Everyone’s hopes have come true.’
Ms Pincome was delighted to assist her friend after three possible surrogates fell through for a variety of reasons. ‘Joy. It’s pure delight. ‘I imagine astonishment, and probably relief,’ she explained. Ms Pincome was glad to help her buddy after three potential proxies fell through for different reasons. ‘Bliss. Unadulterated bliss. I surmise, shock, and likely alleviation also,’ she said. Mr. Resnik and his boyfriend, Sean, have spent the previous two weeks adapting to life with their new baby. Exhausting and exciting all at the same time!’ he wrote on Monday ‘I’ve got a lot on my hands… soiled nappies and chucks.’ ‘Sean is doing an excellent job, and it’s been a pleasure to see Carla and her children for Eli hugs.’ ‘Baby Eli is in charge of the house!’ Mr. Resnik urged other singles to follow their parental ambitions, but cautioned that it would not be easy, and emphasised the need of having a solid support network if going solo.He added that he was prepared to do it alone, and that’s precisely what he would have done. His suggestion is to go for it, but not to wait too long. This is a lengthy procedure. This is a marathon, not a race.
Mr. Resnik hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Eli having a sibling in the future. ‘If Carla is up for it and I’m not utterly fatigued by the end of it,’ he continued.
