The Journey, Episode 1: Gifts

Madeleine Baran (0:00)

Hi, it's Madeleine Baran. I'm so excited to bring you this new story from the brilliant investigative reporter Ava Kaufman, and our longtime incredible producer, Natalie Jablonski.

Ava is a staff writer for The New Yorker, and in my perhaps biased view, one of the most astounding investigative reporters working today. And the story, well, I'll let it speak for itself, but this one has really made me think deeply about what makes a family, who gets to be a parent, and how little recourse there is for anyone when things go terribly wrong.

We'll be releasing new episodes every week, but if you want to listen to the entire series right now, with no waiting and no ads, you can do that by subscribing to The New Yorker. And you can take advantage of a special deal for In The Dark listeners, a seven-day free trial, not just to this series, but to all of our past seasons and to everything the magazine offers. Just tap the button at the top of the In The Dark feed, right here on Apple Podcasts to subscribe. And here's the thing about becoming a subscriber. This kind of work we do, this in-depth investigative reporting and meticulous production can take a long time. We actually have a whole other story that's coming out soon that I've been working on for more than a year. All of this is expensive. We're traveling, we're knocking on doors, we're reviewing thousands of pages of records. If you're already a subscriber to The New Yorker, thank you. And if not, please help us out by subscribing today.

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Ava Kaufman (2:23)

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Kayla Elliott (2:28)

Alrighty guys, so I know it's been a while. My name is Kayla. If y'all are just now stumbling upon my page, I am 26 years old. I live in Texas, and this is my first time being a gestational surrogate. So I'm kind of sharing my experience, but...

Ava Kaufman (2:47)

Last year, I started watching videos posted online by a woman in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Kayla Elliott (2:53)

This will be my fifth pregnancy. I have four bio kids.

I'm very new at YouTubing, so bear with me. I'm still getting the hang of actually speaking and looking at the camera making videos.

Ava Kaufman (3:05)

Kayla Elliott was about to carry a child for strangers. She figured about nine months of work, and then it'd be over.

In the delicate jargon of the fertility industry, the experience is called a journey.

Kayla Elliott (3:21)

Please subscribe and you will get some little sneak peeks of my journey and pregnancy.

Ava Kaufman (3:28)

Like every surrogate mother, Kayla understood the baby was not hers. It was a gift for someone else.

Kayla was carrying a baby for a couple who told her they desperately wanted a second child, and who tried unsuccessfully to conceive.

Kayla Elliott (3:46)

I say this with all my heart guys, like if I could give my fertility, just a sliver of it to every mom out there who's struggling with fertility, I would do it in a heartbeat. I mean, I would like no questions asked. Like I love the fact that I could help another family and I don't see.

Ava Kaufman (4:06)

She kept posting updates and videos, mostly on TikTok, so that her family and friends could follow along.

Kayla Elliott (4:13)

Here it is guys, 17 weeks today. Little baby girl, belly bump, or love and being a surrogate.