When Adam Zayden witnessed his older sister’s struggles to start a family, he knew he could help. The 25-year-old made the selfless decision to donate his sperm to his sister, Jade, and her wife, Eefje, enabling them to conceive. This act of love transformed Adam into a proud biological uncle to his son.
Jade, 29, and Eefje, 30, had been trying to have a baby since 2018 but found themselves frustrated by the challenges of finding a suitable sperm donor. Adam, recognizing their struggles, stepped forward, stating, ‘They’d become so frustrated with the donor process – it just felt like the right, and easy thing to do.’ Six months later, Eefje became pregnant after Adam donated his sperm.
The couple, now proud parents of a baby boy, navigated the insemination process together, with Eefje performing the procedure herself. Adam expressed his joy, saying, ‘This whole process has made me so much closer to my sister and her partner. Now they have a little boy, and I’m really happy for them.’
The baby, now 16 months old, was born on March 18, 2023, weighing 9lb. Adam describes the child as having Jade and his ‘bum chin’ but resembling Eefje. Jade shared that having a child was always Eefje’s dream, but the prospect of adoption seemed daunting and expensive. Sperm donation appeared as a more viable and accessible option.
The couple, residing in Amsterdam, faced numerous hurdles during their journey. Friends who initially offered to be donors fell through, and others suggested inappropriate methods of conception. Jade revealed the emotional rollercoaster they experienced, stating, ‘It really was an emotional rollercoaster due to opening yourself up in the most vulnerable of times and being dependent on strangers to help fulfill one of your biggest dreams.’
Artificial insemination in the Netherlands isn’t covered by health insurance, leading to an extensive search for suitable donors. While the couple didn’t incur any donor fees, they often incurred travel expenses, only to see their plans fall apart. Fortunately, Adam’s willingness to help provided a solution.
The decision to donate came naturally to Adam, as he and his family had previously joked about the possibility. Having no desire to father his own children, he saw this as an opportunity to support his sister and her wife. Adam underwent necessary testing, including an STD test and sperm count, which revealed he was ‘very fertile.’ Doctors prescribed a ‘pill’ to boost his sperm count and advised him to track Eefje’s ovulation cycle.
For a week each month, from December 2021 to June 2022, Adam followed a specific routine. While Jade walked the dog, he would go upstairs, provide the sperm sample, and hand it to Eefje. This process occurred almost daily, six or seven times a month. Finally, Eefje discovered she was pregnant.
Jade expressed her gratitude for having a trusted family member as a donor, stating, ‘It was great having someone you really know and trust, because it’s such an emotional time.’ Their story highlights the unique bond of family and the lengths to which they will go to support each other’s dreams.
