Intended parents

Michaela Halwachs

Doing their journey in Canada

About them

We’re Zach and Michaela, and our story began at university in 2009. Zach was playing varsity volleyball and Michaela was working at the campus athletic centre. With mutual friends and plenty of chance encounters at social gatherings, our paths continued to cross, and those encounters eventually turned into a relationship.

After graduating in 2012, we moved west to Saskatchewan, where Zach began his teaching career and Michaela started her journey as a Registered Nurse. We spent nine years there, growing in our careers, building lifelong friendships, and creating many wonderful memories before eventually making our way back home to Ontario. Today, Zach is an elementary school principal and Michaela is a Registered Nurse with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

We were married in 2014, and becoming parents has been a dream we’ve carried with us for many years. Our path to parenthood has included more challenges, treatments, procedures, and heartbreak than we ever imagined, including the loss of a pregnancy in 2024. Through it all, we’ve leaned on each other and on the incredible family and friends who surround us.

Today, we live in Wheatley, Ontario, Michaela's hometown, with our dog Chesney. We feel so fortunate for the life we’ve built together and have so much love to give. We’ve always dreamed of sharing our lives, traditions, and experiences with a child of our own. We’re incredibly hopeful that this next chapter, and the generosity of a surrogate, will help bring our long-awaited dream of becoming parents to life.

Relationship status

Married

Our story began in 2009 at university. We often found ourselves at the same social gatherings, and those chance encounters eventually led to a relationship.

After graduating in 2012, we moved to Saskatchewan to begin our careers. During the nine years spent there, Zach proposed on a small island in Northwestern Ontario where his family had a cabin, a place that holds many special memories for them. We were married in 2014.

In 2020, we moved back to Michaela’s hometown of Wheatley, Ontario, to be closer to family and put down roots. Today, we live on a quiet street surrounded by trees with our dog, Chesney. Michaela works as a public health nurse with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, focusing on the school-aged vaccination program, while Zach is the principal at Gregory Drive Public School in Chatham.

Outside of work, we enjoy travelling, exploring new places, staying active outdoors, and taking part in local events. We love spending time with family and friends, but some of our favourite moments are the quieter ones at home, simply enjoying each other’s company. After more than 15 years together, we’ve built a life filled with shared experiences, laughter, and unwavering support for one another.

As we look ahead, we feel incredibly grateful for the life we’ve built together. Our hope is to one day share it with a child and create a new chapter filled with the same love, connection, and memories that have shaped our journey so far.

Their journey

Home area

219 Hillside Avenue, Wheatley, ON, Canada

Approximate area

Journey country

Canada

Financial preparedness

We are financially prepared for the surrogacy journey and are committed to ensuring our surrogate feels supported throughout the pregnancy. We are prepared to reimburse up to $3,000 per month, to a maximum of $30,000, for pregnancy-related expenses. We are also prepared to reimburse additional applicable costs, including travel, counselling, lost wages, and other pregnancy-related expenses. Of course all medical and legal costs are covered by us as well.

We understand that every surrogacy journey is unique, and we are open to discussing the details with a potential surrogate to develop a reimbursement plan that feels fair, reasonable, and comfortable for everyone involved. Our goal is to ensure that our surrogate feels fully supported and that financial considerations do not add unnecessary stress throughout the journey.

Embryos

Yes.

We currently have two frozen embryos stored at Victory Reproductive Care in Windsor. Both embryos were created and frozen in 2021 and are graded 3BB. Depending on how our journey unfolds, we would also be open to considering an additional egg retrieval if needed.

For the safety and well-being of our surrogate, we would only transfer one embryo at a time.

Clinic

Victory Reproductive Care

Agency

Not using an agency

What they're looking for

Their hopes and requirements for a surrogate

Requirements

Our ideal surrogate would meet the following medical and practical criteria:

Be between 21 and 40 years old
Have a healthy BMI (ideally under 40)
Be a non-smoker and non-drug user
Have completed her own family, with at least one previous uncomplicated pregnancy and birth
Have no more than five total births or three previous C-sections
Be medically and emotionally cleared for a surrogacy journey by the appropriate healthcare professionals
Be able to attend required medical appointments and follow the recommendations of her healthcare team

The relationship we hope to build

More than anything, we hope to find a surrogate who is kind, genuine, compassionate, and comfortable building a relationship with us throughout the journey. We value open and honest communication and believe in navigating every high and low as a team. We hope for a journey that is low-stress, positive, respectful, and built on trust and mutual understanding.

We would love to find someone who has a strong support system around her and feels emotionally prepared for the unique experience of surrogacy. We respect that every surrogate has her own family, commitments, and boundaries, and we want to support her in whatever way feels right for her.

We are open to finding a surrogate anywhere in Canada. If we are fortunate enough to find someone in Ontario, we would love the opportunity to attend appointments when possible and arrange visits throughout the pregnancy, but we are open to building a meaningful relationship regardless of where she lives.

Ultimately, we hope to find someone who feels like the right fit for our family and who shares our desire to approach this journey with kindness, communication, respect, and a genuine sense of partnership.

Vaccination information

We believe in vaccination and the important benefits that immunization can provide to a baby during pregnancy and beyond. We would like our surrogate to remain up to date with routine vaccinations in accordance with the Ontario publicly funded immunization schedule and would encourage consideration of recommended seasonal immunizations such as the flu shot.

We also understand that vaccination decisions are personal, and we would be open to discussing this further with our surrogate and her healthcare team to ensure we are comfortable with the approach throughout the pregnancy.

Views on termination

We would only choose termination for severe chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, if the baby had no quality of life or if continuing the pregnancy put our surrogate’s life in danger.

The intended parents

Michaela Halwachs(She/Her)

37 years old

Communicates in

English

Occupation

Registered Nurse

Religion

Non-religious

Sexual orientation

Straight

Fun facts about me

A few fun facts about me: My brother and I share the same birthday, even though we’re two years apart! Our younger sister reaped the benefits of gifts for a few years too because she thought it was her birthday as well and grandma always came through with gifts for all. I was born and raised in the southernmost point of mainland Canada, and Zach and I still call it home. I once broke my right (and dominant!) arm while dancing in the kitchen, definitely not my best dance move! I also lived in rural Saskatchewan for nine years, where I began my nursing career and made some wonderful memories. And our dog, Chesney, is named after our favourite country music artist, Kenny Chesney.

Interests and hobbies

I’ve always been someone who loves being active, spending time outdoors, and, most importantly, being surrounded by family and friends. Growing up in a small town, I was lucky to have lots of opportunities to spend time outside and make lifelong friendships. I played hockey growing up and have always enjoyed team sports and staying active through biking, running, Pilates, yoga, and long walks. Sunday walks with my childhood best friend are still one of my favourite traditions.

I became a Registered Nurse in 2012 and have since had the opportunity to work in a variety of nursing areas. I’ve always had a strong interest in working with and helping people, and nursing has been a meaningful part of who I am.

Zach and I love travelling and exploring new places together, especially beach destinations, and I also love travelling with my family. I’m just as happy spending a quiet day at home with a good book, a warm coffee, and our dog, Chesney. I love being outside and embracing every season, whether that means enjoying the sunshine of summer, the colours of fall, or a cozy winter day.

What friends say

“
My friends would describe me as warm, caring, and kind-hearted, and someone who is deeply loyal and committed to the people in my life. They would say I’m supportive, thoughtful, and always willing to be there for the people I love, often putting others before myself. I’m someone who wants everyone to feel comfortable, welcome, and included, and my family and friends know they can always count on me when they need someone. They would also describe me as easygoing, adaptable, genuine, and down-to-earth, with a positive outlook on life. Above all, I value meaningful relationships and believe in showing up for the people who matter, making memories together, and being grateful for the connections I have.
”

(He/Him)

38 years old

Communicates in

English

Occupation

Elementary School Principal

Religion

Non-religious

Sexual orientation

Straight

Fun facts about me

Here are a few quick fun facts about my journey, adventures, and a couple of unexpected twists along the way!

Double Achilles Down: I’ve managed to tear both of my Achilles tendons—one playing competitive volleyball, and the other during an intense game of four square with students at recess.
Early European Backpacking: At 18, I spent three months backpacking across 12 countries in Europe, taking in new cultures and unforgettable sights.
Northern Roots: I was born and raised in Atikokan, a small town in Northwestern Ontario whose name comes from the Ojibwe word for "Caribou Bones." I still return often to visit friends and enjoy the stunning natural landscape.
An Unforgettable Dance: When we were moving into our first apartment in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, I spun Michaela while dancing, only for her to slip out of my arms and land on her backside—breaking her right arm! It’s definitely a moment we can laugh about today.

Interests and hobbies

I have always enjoyed spending time outside and being active. I enjoy biking, walking, hiking, spending time in the yard, and being around the water. Living in Wheatley, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Erie, makes the outdoors a natural part of my everyday life and gives me plenty of opportunities to enjoy it throughout the year.

Sports have always been a big part of my life. Growing up, I played just about every sport available to me. During my time at Nipissing University, I played for the school’s volleyball team. My passion for the sport of volleyball has continued through coaching at various levels, from the grassroots level to college. These days, I spend more time watching, reading about, talking about, and following sports than I do playing them. That said, I still enjoy playing hockey throughout the cooler months and golf regularly in the warmer months. No matter the season, you can usually find me on the schoolyard playing a variety of games and activities with students.

I also love to travel and explore. I enjoy seeing new places, experiencing different cultures, and getting a sense of what makes a place unique. I appreciate beautiful beaches and warm destinations, history and learning and activities that allow me to become more familiar with an area. Closer to home, I enjoy the opportunity to take day trips with family and friends, trying out new restaurants, exploring small towns, checking out local events and activities, or simply settling in to our favourite local spots

When I am at home, I enjoy the slower, quieter moments. I love a quiet morning with a coffee, or a slow evening spent cooking dinner and listening to music. I enjoy sitting in backyard, listening to the stillness of nature or sitting around a fire. There is always something comforting about indulging in a good television series. I appreciate having a busy and active life, but I also really value these simple moments at home that give me a chance to slow down and recharge.

What I enjoy most is having a good balance in my life. I love being active, social, and surrounded by people, but I am equally comfortable slowing down, spending time at home, and enjoying my own space. Having that balance allows me to appreciate both the excitement of new experiences and the simple, quiet moments that make everyday life meaningful.

What friends say

“
My friends would describe me as authentic and grounded. They would highlight my loyalty, caring nature, and dependability, as well as the importance I place on the people and relationships in my life. I can be counted on when it matters. I am inclusive and make an effort to ensure people feel comfortable and welcome. I show kindness and genuinely appreciate those around me. They would also describe me as resilient and determined, especially when faced with challenges. I tend to take things as they come, adapt when I need to, and keep moving forward. I also have a fun, easy-going, and adventurous side. I am always open to trying something new or exploring somewhere different. I enjoy being spontaneous, making plans with friends and family, and finding ways to make the most of the time we have together. Above all, they would describe me as someone who is supportive, thoughtful, and always there for the people who matter most to me.
”

Their story

Questions & answers

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