Tinker
A short story about the American people great society.------------------
Genes that fit: Tulane freshmen discover shared sperm-donor dad
Mikayla Stern-Ellis was looking for a roommate with a compatible personality, not shared genetics.
But last spring, when she logged onto a Tulane University website to help incoming freshmen select suitable roommates, one profile caught her eye. Emily Nappi, of San Francisco, had a similar build and long, wavy brown hair, just like she did. Both also had lesbian parents and were passionate about theater.
So Mikayla, a San Diego native, messaged Emily right away, suggesting they room together. It was too late; Emily already had a roommate. But the girls friended each other on Facebook anyway.
Then on Father’s Day, Mikayla posted a glib Facebook status. “Thank you Colombian sperm donor, for one of my X chromosomes.”
“That’s odd,” thought Emily, whose parents also had selected a donor of Colombian heritage.
She responded by writing, “Not to be creepy. But kinda think we could have same donor.”
The idea was so far-fetched that neither gave it much thought, they said. But when the girls arrived at Tulane in the fall, they met and jokingly referred to each other as “sister.”
They were placed in the same dormitory, one floor apart, and both landed parts in the same theater production, “The Vagina Monologues.” Throughout the first semester, they said hello in the stairwell but were more acquaintances than friends.
Then, over Thanksgiving break, both freshmen were part of a larger group of Tulane students that didn’t go home. They ended up at the Gonzales outlet mall, as part of a Black Friday shopping trip.
Each spent the day shopping with their own friends, then discovered on the bus ride home that they’d bought the same sweater in different colors.
The similarities continued to pile up.
They both sleeptalk and sleepwalk — so much so that their parents used to put an extra lock on the door at night, for fear they’d walk outside. And back in the early 1990s, their parents had gone to the same place, California Cryobank, and selected a Colombian sperm donor with an interest in theater out of hundreds of potential candidates for insemination.
During winter break, both talked with their moms about it and showed them pictures that friends had taken of the two together, with strikingly similar smiles.
Emily said her mother, a scientist, chose the 19-year-old Colombian sperm donor because he was handsome, tall, smart, athletic — he played tennis — and because he was interested in ecology, saying he wanted to save the world from global warming. Mikayla said her birth mother chose the donor for most of the same reasons, though his Colombian heritage was especially appealing to her because she has very light skin and thought it would be nice if her child didn’t have to slather on an entire bottle of sunscreen every time she headed outside.
Lightning struck one afternoon, while Mikayla sat in her dermatologist’s waiting room. She received two text messages, one after another. Both contained four-digit sperm-donor numbers. One was from her mom and the other from Emily.
The numbers matched.
Wanting a child
In the early 1990s, Debra and Heidi Stern-Ellis had been together for six years and were ready to have a child. But “two-mommy” families were still a relative rarity, they said, recalling how friends had had a baby with a known donor and ended up on the Phil Donahue talk show. They had both been active advocates of gay and lesbian rights. They’d sat on panels and marched in parades, they said.But this decision was different and seemed unconnected to politics.
“We really just wanted to be moms,” Stern-Ellis said.
It was the beginning of the lesbian-gay baby boom, but the law was still unclear about whether a known donor had possible custody rights, so the San Diego couple chose to go with an anonymous donor through California Cryobank, one of the nation’s oldest sperm banks and now the world’s largest.
Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Italia Nappi and her ex-partner, Roxane Gruenheid, were also ready to have a baby and wanted to use an anonymous donor.
“We had “x’d out the idea of a known donor because of the fear that the donor might come back and take our child away,” Nappi said.
They also chose to use California Cryobank, headquartered in Los Angeles, which was known for its stringent selection process and its highly educated, young donors, she said. In addition to intelligence and a good medical history, the couple wanted the donor to possess some of Grunheid’s German heritage, so they chose the Colombian young man, whose family was also part German, Nappi said.
Once the babies were born, both sets of parents delighted in their little girls’ curly hair, which obviously hadn’t come from their own straight-haired DNA.
“I would say, ‘Thanks, Mr. Donor Man, for the cool hair,’ ” said Nappi, who also thinks that her daughter may have gotten her temperament from the donor. In his 25-page profile, he had mentioned that the women in his family were fiery, she said.
Of course, the parents also see plenty in their girls that was inherited from their mothers. “But Emily has a special artistic window on the world that I don’t really possess,” Nappi said.
The two families plan to meet in March, when Mikayla’s younger brother Ethan has a soccer match in San Francisco. Ethan pronounces the whole matter “pretty cool” while his moms say, “It’s incredible.”
Nappi, who has watched Emily beam since she got the news, said simply: “I’m so happy for her happiness.”
Since it began in 1977, California Cryobank’s donor sperm, frozen in liquid nitrogen that is cooled to minus 400 degrees Fahrenheit, has helped to create an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 babies, said Scott Brown, director of client experience. Still, until the 1990s, 98 to 99 percent of their customers were infertile heterosexual couples, Brown said. Today, about 40 percent of their customers are lesbian couples.
Although all clients look for good health and intelligence in donors, Brown said, in his experience, lesbian couples seem to be more likely to choose donors of another race or ethnicity, to create a “more worldly-looking baby,” he said.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 percent of all U.S. births each year now use assisted reproductive technology such as sperm donation. In 2011, parents of 61,610 babies relied upon the treatments.
But it was only a generation ago that sperm- and egg-donation banks began to spread across the country. Today, the infants conceived through implantations have reached adulthood and some have undertaken searches for their genetic parents and siblings. The reality show, “Generation Cryo,” stars half-siblings who seek out each other and meet their shared father for the first time.
Emily and Mikayla, who met coincidentally and then figured out they were sisters, may have the most spectacular story yet. “It’s mind-blowing,” Mikayla said. “We live one floor apart on the same college campus, in the same city.”
“I’ve never heard of this happening,” said Brown, noting that one mathematician calculated the chances of donor siblings meeting in New York City were close to one in a million.
‘We are sisters’
These days, Emily and Mikayla act like tremendously happy, newly minted sisters. And the word is spreading.Tulane’s student newspaper, The Hullabaloo, published a story on the girls’ strange discovery last week, and since then, the interview requests have come pouring in.
They talked about it Sunday as they sat together on the same side of a booth in the campus coffee shop. “It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in my life,” Emily said. “Me too,” Mikayla said.
They’ve determined that their sperm donor is responsible for their noses, smile lines and wavy hair. And for sure the cleft chins. No one else in their families has cleft chins.
Giggling, the two recalled that crucial moment, two weeks ago, when Mikayla determined the donor numbers matched.
“Holy shit, we are sisters,” she texted Emily.
“I so much wanted it to be true,” Emily said, because she is the only girl in her family. But she feared Mikayla was joking.
“OMG, what? You’re kidding me,” Emily texted back. “Tell me you’re serious.”
Mikayla texted again in all caps, the text equivalent of yelling: “YOU ARE MY SISTER.”
The two then called their closest friends on the telephone, Emily screaming with joy from her mom’s house and Mikayla “quietly freaking out” in loud whispers from the waiting room.
Neither dialed the other’s number. “If we’d known each other better, I would have called her,” Mikayla said. Instead, they tapped back-and-forth, texting on their phones for hours.
They didn’t talk until after the break, when they saw each other in the Tulane cafeteria and hugged. “We have a lot of catching up to do,” Emily said.
For now, the two sisters are getting to know each other. They text a lot. They talk even more. They borrow each other’s clothes.
And they spend time together. Said Emily, with an enormous grin: “I say it like 20 times a day: ‘I’m going to meet my sister.’ ”
comments
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Christ almighty...The sperm donation bank so people can have children from
sperm donation.
Question, why?
Some people need help to have children because some of the people who desire to get impregnate has a medical repudiation condition that prevents them from doing so. And a sperm donor is necessary to fulfill the desired results.
Or! Because a woman don't like having sex with men, and label themselves lesbians, who limit themselves to only having sex with the same sex. Now the lesbians women can use that sperm donor and then determine to have children anyway. Those children from that couple choice is now dancing in the streets at Tulane University years later.
Because by happenstance they are blood donor sisters in our great progressive society.
Wow! I just can't get over how tribal our great society's now
seems. Abortion on demand, Same sex sperm donor parents, Open border
policy, Supreme Court Chief Justice John convoluted Roberts Obama care,
and some people are still trying to live by the United States
Constitution from a long time ago, ect.Question, why?
Some people need help to have children because some of the people who desire to get impregnate has a medical repudiation condition that prevents them from doing so. And a sperm donor is necessary to fulfill the desired results.
Or! Because a woman don't like having sex with men, and label themselves lesbians, who limit themselves to only having sex with the same sex. Now the lesbians women can use that sperm donor and then determine to have children anyway. Those children from that couple choice is now dancing in the streets at Tulane University years later.
Because by happenstance they are blood donor sisters in our great progressive society.
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It is very nice for the two girls to now have a bloodline relationship with each other as true sisters.
I don't blame the two girls parents for having a child through the sperm bank.
In
a lot of some very practical ways choosing the child's parent from a
sperm donor clinic is much safer than the so called natural way. We can
have a creditable background check and then be better able to choose a
child's heritage better.
Women are taking over these
childbirth choices more and more every day now. There is nothing at all
wrong with these two lovely children becoming sisters because of a sperm
donation. Calm down fellows, good for them.
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Blaze Original story
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Watch
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Betty: comment-
Good for them:---------------
http://www.theblaze.com/
Blaze Original story
Will Prayer for Elected Leaders Revive America? This New Initiative Hopes So
“They had pushed God out of the public square. Does all this remind you of something?”
Read More »-----------------
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Watch
Ted Cruz Wants to Make Sure You Didn’t Miss Brit Hume’s Epic Anti-Abortion Rant Tonight
The
Supreme Court decided “that a woman has a constitutional right to snuff
out an unborn life — a human being with a beating heart.”
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Sports
LSU Football - Geaux Tigers!!!
Watching Mike he tiger on his tiger cam 🐯🐯🐯🐯😂 pic.twitter.com/6ELQq8qV8S
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Ben Simmons
Retweeted by Will Weathers
------------------| Thursday, January 23, 2014 | |
|---|---|
| The Advocate | Four players leave LSU football program |
| Times Picayune | Four LSU players won't return for 2014 |
| ESPN Blog | Fournette can dull sting of Hill's exit |
| The Advocate | Baseball: Houston Astros’ message to LSU - Make the most of your shot |
| NBC 33 | Baseball: Former LSU pitcher Rick Greene to join Southern staff |
| Yahoo! Sports | Which schools are hurt worst by rash of underclassmen declaring for NFL draft? |
| Birmingham Biz Journal | Five thoughts with SEC Commissioner Mike Slive |
| USA Today | Playoff committee begins long process of hashing out details |
| Star-Telegram, TX | Despite advent of playoff, weaklings still on tap for Texas football teams |
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Dandy Don's LSU Report
Good morning, Tiger Fans,
With less than two weeks before National Signing Day, I’ve been hearing from an ever-growing number of you who are concerned about LSU having seven vacant spots, and curious about how this LSU recruiting class might finish. With that in mind, today we’ll take inventory of the remaining Tiger targets who have been making the most buzz lately, sorted by position of need. (The numbers in parenthesis below represent how many additional players I expect LSU to take at that position.)
Defensive Line (2-3) - There’s no question that defensive linemen, especially defensive tackles, are the Tigers’ biggest remaining need. LSU currently has commitments from two D-linemen in DE Deondre Clark and DT Davon Godchaux.
Travonte Valentine (DT, 6-3, 338, Hialeah, FL)
Valentine decommitted from Miami during the UA All-Star game and has named LSU his leader. He will take his official visit to LSU this weekend and will probably announce his decision on National Signing Day.
Trey Lealaimatafao (DT, 6-0, 300, San Antonio)
LSU was in Lealaimatafao’s home last night and had him in for an unofficial visit last week. Tuesday Lealaimatafao stated that his leaders are LSU, UCLA and Oregon and that he will announce on National Signing Day.
Breeland Speaks (DE, 6-3, 270, Jackson, MS)
Speaks is currently committed to Ole Miss but grew up as an LSU fan and was blown away by his official visit to LSU last weekend. Although Arkansas is also in the mix, this one will come down to LSU and Ole Miss. Sources I speak to feel very good about the Tigers’ chances.
Johnny Dwight (DT, 6-3, 300, Rochelle, GA)
Currently committed to Alabama, but seriously considering LSU. According to reports, many in Georgia feel that LSU has a legitimate shot at flipping him.
Lorenzo Carter (DE, 6-5, 232, Norcoss, GA)
Carter is the nation’s top-ranked uncommitted prospect and he had a great visit to LSU last weekend. Georgia appears to be the leader right now, but LSU, Alabama and Florida are very much in the picture. Coach Miles made an in-home visit with Carter yesterday, but as of now I have not heard anything about the visit. Carter will announce his choice at 3 p.m. Eastern (from his high school) on NSD.
Malik McDowell (DT, 6-7, 290, Southfield, MI)
McDowell is another one of the nation’s top uncommitted prospects and is expected to visit LSU next weekend. My hunch is that the long distance will be a bit too much to overcome, but you never know. McDowell’s leaders appear to be Michigan State, Michigan, Florida State and LSU.
Wide Receiver (1-2) - LSU currently has commitments from Trey Quinn, Tony Upchurch, and DJ Chark, but would like to add one or two more after losing Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. to the NFL draft this year.
Malachi Dupre (WR, 6-3, 180 )
Dupre is the top uncommitted prospect in the state and a huge priority for LSU. As I’ve mentioned before, Dupre visited LSU last weekend and reinforced his friendship with many current and future LSU players, including Quinn, and I feel good about LSU’s chances of landing him. Dupre’s decision won’t come until National Signing Day, but at this point things look good for LSU.
Emanuel Porter (WR, 6-5, 190, Lincoln, TX)
Porter originally committed to Texas back in June and then recently flipped to TCU after their coaching change resulted in wide receiver coach Darrell Wyatt not being retained. He will be visiting LSU this weekend.
Frank Iheanacho (WR, 6-6, 220, Houston)
“Nacho,” as he’s known, chose Texas A&M over LSU during the US Army All-Star game, but LSU has not given up on him. He’s probably a long-shot at this point, but stranger things have happened.
George Rushing (WR, 6-1, 180, Fort Lauderdale, FL)
LSU was expected to get Rushing in for a visit next weekend, but according to tweets I saw yesterday that is no longer the case. Rushing’s leaders appear to be Wisconsin and Louisville.
Offensive Line (1-2) - LSU currently has commitments from two outstanding O-linemen in Garrett Brumfield and William Clapp, but would like to add another one or two in this class.
Derrick Kelly (OT, 6-5, 295, Havana, FL)
New LSU Offensive Line Coach and Running Game Coordinator Jeff Grimes met with Kelly yesterday and had a great visit. According to reports, LSU is now Kelly’s stated leader. The Tigers will get a visit from Kelly this weekend, and the Georgia will get his final visit. That is, unless he commits to LSU this weekend and shuts down his recruitment.
Damien Prince (OT, 6-5, 295, District Heights, MD)
Prince is a long-shot, but Grimes is on his trail and hoping to talk him into a mid-week visit. At this point, Florida and Maryland appear to be the leaders.
Bailey Granier (OT, 6-8, 317, South LaFourche High)
Bailey was committed to Vanderbilt until recently, and although I haven’t heard much about LSU recruiting him, I do know that Granier has some interest in his home-state school.
Linebacker (1) - LSU currently has a commitment from Clifton Garrett and Donnie Alexander but would like to add one more.
Kenny Young (LB, 6-2, 225, John Curtis High)
Coach John Chavis met with Young last week and I hear the visit went very well. At this point, Young is still considering LSU, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and UCLA. LSU will get an official visit from him this coming Monday, and then UCLA will get his last visit.
Otaro Alaka (LB, 6-3, 205, Houston)
LSU was scheduled to get a visit from Alaka this weekend, but yesterday reports surfaced that the visit has been canceled. Alaka is considered a heavy lean to A&M.
Cornerback (1) - LSU currently has commitments from several defensive backs, but no true cornerbacks. The position is not a huge need as LSU has two outstanding freshmen corners in Rashard Robinson and Tradavious White, plus players like John Battle and D.J. Chark in this class who could play corner as well. Still, I think LSU would gladly take a cornerback in this class, especially if his last name is Jackson.
Adoree Jackson (5’9.5, 182, Gardena, CA) Jackson visited LSU back in October and Les Miles followed with an in-home visit last week. Reportedly, Miles has a strong rapport going with Jackson and LSU is a serious contender, despite the long distance. Others in the mix are USC, UCLA and Florida.
Russell Gage (ATH, 6-0, 175, Redemptorist High)
Gage does not yet have an offer from Coach Miles, but has been invited to visit LSU this weekend. If the timing and/or numbers work in his favor and Gage receives an LSU offer, look for him to jump on it. Gage is a versatile athlete that could play on either side of the ball.
Speaking of top football prospects, today I have continued revealing my list of Top LA Prospects for the Class of 2015 by posting numbers 36-40.
36. Reggie Walker (DE) 6’3”, 230, Ponchatoula
37. Jaquel Grant (WR) 6’2”, 190, Donaldsonville
38. Carlos Robinson (WR/TE) 6’3”, 190, Ouachita Parish
39. Rickey Preston (WR) 6’1”, 180, Hahnville
40. Terell Chatman (WR) 6’4”, 180, Central of BR
Click here to view the entire list-in-progress, which now contains numbers 36-50.
One more bit of football news: According to this report by NOLA.com, LSU announced yesterday that four players won’t return for the 2014 season. The four are defensive backs Derrick Raymond and Jerqwinick Sandolph, linebacker Lorenzo Phillips and offensive lineman Derek Edinburgh Jr.. Raymond and Sandolph were suspended back in December and didn’t make the trip to the Outback Bowl. None of these players were expected to see much playing time this season. I've updated my projected depth chart accoprdingly.
I’ll close out today with this little baseball tid-bit: Yesterday assistant baseball coach Will Davis tweeted the following practice schedule. If you’re like me and starting to get a touch of spring fever, you might want to head out to Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field to take in a practice. All practices/scrimmages are open to the public.
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Tiger Rant
whodatdude  LSU Fan Member since Feb 2011 210 posts  |
Tiger Stadium Construction Update: 1/22 (Posted on 1/22/14 at 11:18 am)
LINK    This post was edited on 1/22 at 11:19 am |
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