Courage to Carry
A Surrogate’s Unconditional Love in Conditional Circumstances
By Jennifer Hansen
What drives a woman to risk everything—her body, her emotions, her safety—to carry someone else’s child?
In Courage to Carry: A Surrogate’s Unconditional Love in Conditional Circumstances, Jennifer Hansen delivers a raw, riveting, and deeply compassionate memoir that answers this question with unwavering honesty.
As a young mother and survivor of abuse, Jennifer had already defied the odds. But it was her lifelong desire to help others—especially those struggling with infertility—that led her to become a gestational surrogate for a couple she didn’t know. What began as an act of generosity quickly evolved into a transformative journey of love, loss, resilience, and personal growth.
With warmth, wit, and remarkable vulnerability, Jennifer guides readers through the entire surrogacy experience—from her first application to the emotional aftermath of birth. Along the way, she confronts stigma, builds a community of support, and learns that creating life is about far more than biology. It’s about trust, courage, and an unshakable belief in the power of human connection.
Courage to Carry is more than a memoir. It’s a call to compassion and a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to give the gift of life.
“A few months ago, I began an important application process. My application has been accepted,” I paused, “and I am going to become a surrogate.”
“You mean like have a baby for someone else?” my stepdad replied, with confusion.
“Yes. Now I know you all probably have a lot of questions and concerns, so I want to reassure you upfront that I have done hours of research, and I am working with a surrogacy agency to ensure everything goes smoothly. I—”
My mom interrupted me. “What if you die?”
— Jennifer Hansen, Courage to Carry
About Jennifer
Jennifer Hansen graduated with a B.A. from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2004, with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Ethnic Studies. She homeschools her children while travelling all over the United States, having lived in Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. In 2019, she completed the annual Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference at the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing, given by Arizona State University.
Jennifer knew since she was a teenager that she wanted to become a surrogate. In 2008, as a gestational surrogate, she delivered twins; in 2017 she was a gestational surrogate again, for a single baby. Her desire to become a surrogate encompassed giving back something to the world that was bigger than herself.
Jennifer enjoys being pregnant, taking care of children, and volunteering for humanitarian non-profit organizations that support military members, the homeless, and human trafficking victims.
Courage to Carry is her first book.
This book is the book I wanted to read when becoming a surrogate.
— Jennifer Hansen
Available in paperback and ebook
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