Courtesy Tammy Myers
It was no joke — on April 1, Tammy and Jordan Myers got to celebrate asMichigan surrogacy laws were officially changed.
“All of the traumatic aspects of this now have a purpose,” Tammy tells PEOPLE. “I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement and truly honored to have been part of this journey.”
The Michigan Family Protection Act advocates for the legalization and regulation of surrogacy, fair compensation and legal representation for surrogates, and equal treatment for children born through assisted reproductive technology. It also streamlines the process of obtaining parental recognition.
(L-R) Assisted Reproduction attorney Melissa Neckers with Senate Majory Leader Winnie Banks and Tammy Myers.Courtesy of Tammy Myers
Courtesy of Tammy Myers
“He wasn’t even considering how these outdated laws affect real people like myself, my family and many families like mine,” the mom says. “I almost couldn’t sit still. He clearly doesn’t understand the trauma that our family has endured because of these outdated laws. So it just seemed that he was very out of touch from what real people in Michigan need.”
The bills’ sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Steckloff, tells PEOPLE House Bill 5207 “breaks down legal barriers that hinder reproductive choices.”
Rep. Samantha Steckloff with Tammy Myers.Courtesy of Tammy Myers
Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, speaking to the bills on the Senate floor last month said the birth of the Myers' children should have been the happy finale to their story. Instead, it was months of legal battles.
“There’s no good reason to continue subjecting families in our communities to this kind of stress and unnecessary legal hoops,” Brinks said. “The vote we are about to take feels like a long time coming for many of us in this room, but that wait has felt ten times longer for those who desire laws that honor and acknowledge their path to becoming a family.”
But it is the Myers family who have put a face on this complicated political battle.
Tammy remembers holding twins Eames and Ellison, born Jan. 11, 2021, in the hospital when she received the call from their attorney that the judge had denied a cursory request for an emergency order for rights.
“Jordan said right then that they were messing with the wrong momma bear,” she says. “Truthfully, from that moment on my drive was never going to be over until we got to this point.”
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Myers family from left to right Eames, Tammy, Corryn, Jordan and Ellison.Tammy Myers
Tammy Myers
Myers, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, says the couple “really wanted to have two to three children close together in age,” and that they started trying for a second child when their daughter was 2. “That’s when I found the lump and was diagnosed,” she says.
“Had I not asked that question, you can’t go back,” Myers says. “I was able to do an emergency egg harvest before I went straight into treatment and surgery for several years.”
Little did she know that after she finished cancer treatment and looked forward to the birth of their twins with gestational carrier Lauren Vermilye that she and her husband would be forced to adopt their biological babies — or that it would take close to two years of legal battles, insurance uncertainties and financial challenges before that would even happen.
Now, Tammy says she’s happy other families won’t have to endure the same journey as her family.
“This milestone marks a significant stride forward for Michigan families who may one day confront the same journey of infertility,” Myers tells PEOPLE. “These new laws offer assurance and protection for families, carriers and most crucially, children.”
source: people.com
