Adopted embryos: Real faces to remember in November

In November, Michigan voters will vote on a proposal to amend the state constitution to address human embryo and human embryonic stem cell research in Michigan. A common argument from Proposal 2 supporters is that "leftover embryos" have to be thrown away if they are not used for research. Frank and Lucy are two "leftover embryos" that show there is a third option that is not often mentioned.

David and Stacy Geisen of Marshall wanted to have a family. David said they tried for several years to have children but quickly realized there was an obstacle to them conceiving children.

"Little by little we found out we were having trouble with that; three years became four, four became five," David said. "We came to the conclusion that adoption was going to be the way that we were going to have our family."

The Geisens researched their options for adopting a child. Stacy said she read an article about embryo adoption and wanted to learn more about it. She found the website for the Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program.

The Snowflakes program is run by Nightlight Christian Adoptions in Fullerton, California. Parents of embryos created in IVF clinics have the option of lovingly placing their embryos for adoption. According to Nightlight, there have been 134 embryos who have been adopted and born from their program so far, including Frank and Lucy Geisen.

After going through Nightlight's process, Stacy said she prepared herself with her doctor for pregnancy, and the embryos were then shipped to her and implanted.

"They shipped the embryos UPS; they came through the mail overnighted," Stacy said. Three weeks after being implanted, Frank's heartbeat could be detected by doctors. After their first success, Stacy said they wanted to adopt another embryo and gave birth to Lucy as a result.

Stacy said there are better options for stem cell research, including adult stem cells, than killing human embryos like Frank and Lucy. Stacy said there are many troubling issues attached to human embryo research like fetus farming and human cloning which should give all people pause. She said those in favor of using embryos for research have celebrities and others to give the issue a face. Frank and Lucy represent real faces in the human embryonic research debate, faces which have been missing until now.

"We feel there needs to be a face to these embryos," Stacy said.

Using human embryos for research results in killing a human life, a unique person like Frank or Lucy.

"Embryonic stem cell research is essentially destroying life, because it's proof to us that these embryos are life," David said. First Frank and now Lucy are here to prove that truth.

Stacy said frozen embryos are really orphans, and there is a place for them. David said that live human embryos can give cures. Frank and Lucy cured their infertility and gave them the chance to raise a family. "The embryonic adoption program was the cure to our illness, our disease; our infertility."

Please remember Frank and Lucy when going to the polls on November 4. Vote NO on Proposal 2.

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