Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story

by Sara Connell

Overview

In February 2011, 61-year-old Kristine Casey delivered the greatest gift of all to her daughter, Sara Connell: Sara's son, Finnean. At that moment, Kristine—the gestational carrier of Sara and her husband Bill's child—became the oldest woman ever to give birth in Chicago.

Bringing in Finn is the incredible story of one woman's hard-fought and often painful journey to motherhood. In this achingly honest memoir, Connell recounts the tragedy and heartbreak of losing pregnancies; the process of opening her heart and mind to the idea of her 61-year-old mother carrying her child for her; and the profound bond that blossomed between mother and daughter as a result of their unique experience together.

Moving, inspiring, and ultimately triumphant, Bringing in Finn is an extraordinary tale of despair, hope, forgiveness, and redemption—and the discovery that when it comes to unconditional love, there are no limits to what can be achieved.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580055413
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	10/08/2013
Edition description:	First Trade Paper Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.70(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Sara Connell is an author, speaker, and life coach with a private practice in Chicago. A frequent media contributor, Sara has appeared on Oprah, NPR, WGN, and FOX News Chicago, and will soon appear on Good Morning America, Nightline, and The View. Sara's writing has been featured in: ELLE, Good Housekeeping, Parenting, Psychobabble, Evolving Your Spirit, and Mindful Metropolis. Her first book, Bringing in Finn: An Extraordinary Surrogacy Story, was nominated for ELLE magazine's 2012 Book of the Year. Visit Sara at her website, saraconnell.com, and on Facebook. She lives in Chicago, IL.

Editorial Reviews

"Riveting narrative trumps all, and readers found it here in spades: After an ordeal of fertility treatments and lost pregnancies, the author and her husband accept her 61-year-old mother’s offer to become the gestational carrier of their child—a saga that transforms a strained mother-daughter bond and creates a new family."
—ELLE magazine

“Sara Connell burns through abstract questions about the ethics and limits of medicalized fertility and gets to the heart of things. The result is a powerful testament to the depth and complexity of mother love. “
—Ariel Gore, founding editor of Hip Mama and the author of Bluebird

“Sara Connell’s journey to motherhood is a modern miracle. Her lyrical book chronicles an adventure that leads us into uncharted territory. Connell reaches deep into her heart to write about the desire for children, the sacred trust of marriage, the enduring bonds between mothers and daughters, and the sustaining power of hope. I couldn’t put it down.”
—Dominique Browning, Senior Director, Moms Clean Air Task Force

“Be prepared to be blown away. Bringing in Finn is about a family so determined to bring a baby into the world that they push every convention possible and succeed in making a miracle.”
—Michelle Lowe, playwright, author of Inana, winner of the 2010 Francesca Primus Prize

“Bringing in Finn is a must-read for anyone who is in any stage of yearning—for a child, for a mother, for a family, for faith. This is a story for anyone with an unfulfilled longing or desire.”
—Christie Tate, author of Outlaw Mama

“…this is an amazing journey, beautifully shared. It calls us to celebrate what matters most, persevere in times of despair, and know the Truth that Love always prevails.”
—Marian Baker, author of Wake Up Inspired

"Bringing in Finn is Sara’s bracingly honest memoir, and it’s a testament to the power of family. Far from being sensational, it’s a moving and inspiring look at unusual choices made with love."
—Reader's Digest

"The remarkable story of a family coming together when a 61-year-old woman becomes a surrogate carrier for her infertile daughter."
—Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

The story of a 61-year-old woman who served as the gestational carrier for her grandson. At the beginning of the book, Connell's struggles with her fertility don't seem that unusual. In fact, she isn't the most sympathetic narrator, as we see her dismiss Western medicine entirely after a single appointment with a gynecologist with a bad bedside manner. After spending two years trying acupuncture and herbal tea in an effort to restart her cycle "naturally," the author finally consulted a medical professional and eventually became pregnant through in vitro fertilization. When she experienced the devastating loss of her twin boys at 22 weeks gestation, the author thanked the doctors for attempting a risky medical procedure with a small chance of success. After another pregnancy and miscarriage, Connell and her husband began to consider surrogacy. This would be an unremarkable point in the story except for what happened next: The author's mother, recently retired, offered to act as the surrogate. They accepted, and their second IVF cycle was successful, with Connell's mother delivering Finn, a healthy baby boy. A life coach by trade, the author tends to emphasize mystical experiences, which are certainly powerful and meaningful. However, though she has more reason than most to be thankful for the extraordinary advances in medical fertility treatments, she never seems to acknowledge that science had a lot more to do with her son's birth than vision boards and trusting in the "Divine Mother." Noteworthy mainly due to the remarkable circumstances of Finn's birth.

Kirkus Reviews