Daddy and Papa's Missing Piece

Hope & Love: Expanding Our Family

Hi! We’re Tanner and Michael, a couple from Winnipeg, Manitoba, on an incredible journey to expand our family through surrogacy.

We met in 2016 and, after living abroad for several years, happily put down roots in Winnipeg. Michael is an eye surgeon at a children’s hospital, and Tanner is a stay-at-home dad. From the moment we met, we dreamed of having a family, though we never let ourselves believe it could be possible. That dream became reality in 2023 when we welcomed our son, Lachlan, thanks to the kindness of an incredible surrogate.

Parenthood has been the greatest joy of our lives. Lachlan fills our days with laughter, curiosity, and endless energy. Watching him grow has made us realize how much more love we have to give—and how wonderful it would be for him to have a sibling. Though our first surrogate felt called to the journey only once, we remain hopeful that another generous woman is out there, ready to help us complete our family.

A little more about us: Michael’s work at the children’s hospital is deeply meaningful to him, but his greatest joy is coming home to family at the end of the day. He also has a green thumb and takes great pride in our garden and ever-growing collection of houseplants. Tanner, with a background in music, fills our home with the sounds of piano, violin, and viola. He is also an avid home baker—having even competed on The Great Canadian Baking Show!

We’re both originally from southern Ontario and, coincidentally, we’re both the youngest of three boys. Our shared love for adventure has taken us across the world—we’ve lived in both Australia and England before settling down in Winnipeg, a place that now truly feels like home.

We adore animals and nature—our home is in a hotspot for birds, and Tanner volunteers at a wildlife rehabilitation center, helping care for animals in need. We are members and frequent visitors to our local botanical garden and zoo!

We are surrounded by an incredible support system—loving grandparents, lifelong friends, and a community eager to welcome a new little one. The holidays are especially magical, and we can’t wait to share those traditions with another child.

This journey isn’t without its challenges, but we face them with hope, excitement, and gratitude. If you or someone you know is interested in helping us on this path, or learning more about the surrogacy process, we would love to connect.

Thank you so much for reading and sharing in our journey,

With love and hope,
Michael & Tanner