Adam and Beth Harris of Dallas are joining a growing number of couples who want to adopt unused embryos.

They thought they'd be the parents at a playground by now. "I'd like to have two, at least," Beth said. "We have different ideas. I come from a big family."

But after six years of infertility treatments, there is no baby for the Harrises. "For a man who shows it differently, it's hard to see your wife like that," Adam said. Doctors say Beth can carry a child, but she can't get pregnant-even with the help of in vitro fertilization.

"You start to go through emotions like loss of hope, and feeling kind of alone," Beth said. The Harrises are rare. Most couples who undergo IVF end up with too many embryos, even after their families are complete.

The Harris had none.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of leftover viable embryos are abandoned-frozen in temporary holding tanks with limited futures. For more than 20 years, couples chose to destroy them, save them or donate them anonymously.

Then an adoption agency in California did the unthinkable by coordinating the adoption of frozen embryos between pre-matched clients. "This option provides those families the opportunity to place their embryos with adoptive families with all the safeguards of traditional adoption," said Natasha Nechiporenko of Snowflake Adoptions. And embryo adoption lets infertile women experience pregnancy. It's important to note that Snowflake adoption agency is a Christian agency that believes life begins at conception.

"Those embryos are something that you created, and now you have to take the responsibility for making the right decision for them," Nechiporenko said. Hospital ethics boards across Texas are examining the ramifications of such adoptions. Adopted embryos are already implanted at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas and are being considered by Presbyterian hospitals. And doctors are getting better at using them. Twenty years ago, they saw a five percent success rate with frozen embryos.

The Harrises say their struggle changed them. "New hope comes when you find that maybe it really is about being parents and not about having your own biological child," Beth said. They've begun their own frozen embryo adoption process, and hope to be matched with a batch of embryos in four to six months. If successful, Beth could be pregnant by September.

"It starts giving you hope back, that you don't have to die to all of your dreams," Beth said. "I think for a woman that is a unique thing." With new hope, a walk in the park isn't so hard anymore.

Snowflake Adoption Agency has a regional office in Dallas. We're told the agency's 100th and 101st babies were born on Thursday-twin sisters.

Source: "Lives In Limbo. Debate Over Future of Frozen Embryos" 11/26/2005.

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