Local Highschool Sweethearts Searching For A Surrogate To Help Them Start A Family

Brianna and Josh Gill, high school sweethearts from Peterborough, have put a call out for a surrogate to help them start the family they’ve always wanted.

Photo courtesy of Brianna Gill.

The two met and started dating at age 14 while attending Kenner Collegiate high school.

When Brianna was around 16 she was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH), a condition that affects one in 5000 women. With this diagnosis Brianna learned that she was born without a uterus, though she does have ovaries.

“I was only 16 so it was a lot to hear,” she said. “I remember being devastated because right from a little girl you always dream of what your future will look like and your family, and imagine carrying a baby.”

Outside of her family, Josh was the only person that knew of her diagnosis at the time, says Brianna.

“I always felt like I was going to be with Josh forever and I think that’s why I wanted to tell him right away. I thought he had a right to know that if he wanted kids that would be a challenge for us. I thought if he decided that was too much for him to deal with we could just end things right there, but he was so supportive and he has been by my side ever since.”

In 2018 Josh and Brianna were married, and have since started a ‘furry’ family with their two dogs Nellie and Dixie.

Until 2020, Brianna kept her diagnosis secret. Aside from her family and Josh no one knew.

“It just made me feel different, and I didn’t like the idea of feeling different. “

She says that after the two were married friends and family began asking when they would start trying for a family.

“It’s innocent enough and I know people don’t mean any harm but hearing that repeatedly took a toll on my mental health. It just reminded my that our journey to parenthood was going to be challenging.”

In 2020, together, Briana and Josh went public on social media with her diagnosis, while they began going to a fertility clinic to explore their options.

“The support we got after we posted that was humbling,” said Josh. “We didn’t expect that.”

Their plans to start a family were put on hold due to COVID, but in January of 2021 they officially started looking for a surrogate, and started their Instagram account ‘Growing The Gills’.

Initially a family friend offered to be their surrogate, but after two embryo transfers that were unsuccessful, they are now looking for a new surrogate.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brianna + Josh Gill = intended parents (@growingthegills)

The two posted a video to Instagram looking for a surrogate on April 6, and were surprised to see how much traction it gained.

“I get so overwhelmed, I’m so grateful I just can’t believe how much it’s blown up,” said Brianna.

The two say after posting the comments and their private messages were filled with well wishes, people thanking Brianna for being so open about infertility and some offering connections to surrogates.

“Just the amount of people we don’t even know reaching out and wishing us the best on our journey, it’s mind boggling to see how far this video has gone and it’s still making headway,” said Josh. “It’s just such an amazing feeling.”

Brianna says she originally made the account to advocate and educate people about infertility and the different ways a family can be started.

According to Canadian law, surrogacy must be altruistic meaning surrogate mothers cannot make financial gain, though any expenses related to the pregnancy can be paid by the intended parents.

Since their Instagram video has gotten popular the two say they’ve received many messages from people wanting more information and are feeling hopeful that the right surrogate will find them soon, though they have not found them yet.

To follow along on The Gills journey follow them on Instagram.

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