'This is everything that I fought for, everything that I wanted,' says Tammy Myers of spending special moments with her kids
Tammy Myers helped fight to change Michigan surrogacy laws after she was forced to adopt her biological twins born via surrogate in 2021"From the time I became a mother, that day has always been really special," says Myersborn via gestational carrier because of Michigan surrogacy laws.
After the mom of three helped change that restrictive legislation, celebrating Mother’s Day has an even greater meaning..
“From the time I became a mother, that day has always been really special. ”Her journey to motherhood hasn’t been easy. It included a bigger fight than she and her husband of 17 years, Jordan Myers, could have ever anticipated. Amidst the picturesque lakes and brutal winters of Grand Rapids, the couple raised their daughter Corryn.
The little girl was only two when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. After Tammy overcame that daunting health crisis, she and Jordan still wanted to give Corryn the siblings she kept asking for. They welcomed their twins, son Eames and daughter Ellison, with the aid of a surrogate in 2021.
Though Jordan and Tammy had raised their biological twins since they were born — and had the full support of their surrogate — they were required by antiquated state law to adopt their own babies. , Tammy went on to push for change at the state level. By the spring of 2024, the Michigan Family Protection Act had passed.
The act ensures the legalization and regulation of surrogacy, streamlines the process of obtaining formal parental recognition and better protects parents, surrogates and children.
“For too long, Michigan parents faced legal uncertainty when growing their families through these methods," Stephanie Jones, a spokesperson for the , a group of volunteers that also worked tirelessly to help pass the legislation, said at the time. "The MFPA corrects this ensuring that all children are recognized and protected under the law from birth. ”Now, Tammy is determined to enjoy time with her family and those hard-won moments of joy.
The twins, now 5, are set to graduate from preschool, while her 13-year-old daughter is preparing for high school. The proud mom says she feels like she lost moments with her eldest daughter while she was sick. The legal and advocacy battles after the twins were born were also all-consuming. With that colossal fight behind her, Tammy relishes the time they spend at the beach and at local parks.
When she sees Corryn run off to play with her siblings, Tammy has a recurring thought: “This is everything that I fought for, everything that I wanted.
"Credit: Courtesy Tammy Myers That includes watching her children grow and step into their individuality. Ellison is very protective of her twin brother, a bond Tammy has loved seeing develop over the past year.
Meanwhile, although Corryn sometimes needs time on her own to be 13 and hang with friends, the teen still maintains a “special bond” with her younger sister and brother. She says her full life wouldn’t be possible without Jordan, a 43-year-old creative manager, who has offered her unwavering support.
“He's a hands-on dad,” says Tammy, “but also supports in the best way possible the dreams that I have. ” Just this month, Tammy traveled to Washington, D.C. , where she attended the National Breast Cancer Coalition Leadership Summit. Not only did she and other advocates push for the continued federal funding of breast cancer research, but they also lobbied in support of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act.
Separately, Tammy has partnered with The Chick Mission, which pushes for insurance coverage and better policies to support fertility preservation for cancer patients.
“There are so many paths to motherhood,” says Tammy, “and we're finding that a lot of people do not realize how many people and individuals are struggling with fertility. ”As Mother’s Day approaches, Tammy is eager to return to the shores of Lake Michigan with her family.to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It's just those simple moments now… that we don't take for granted,” she says. “Maybe we would, if we hadn't gone through the craziness that has brought us here. ”
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