Anita Fiorenza, our Global Support Manager, is bubbly, warm, and endlessly compassionate. She brightens up our team meetings and every working day, bringing positivity and a genuine sense of care to the people around her. With her birthday coming up at this month, it feels like the perfect time to celebrate Anita, not only for the work she does supporting families, but for the journey that shaped her into the person she is today.
Facing Infertility
In July 2011, Anita’s life changed dramatically. In her late twenties, and only a year into a new relationship with the man who would later become her husband, she was diagnosed with malignant adenocarcinoma in the lining of her uterus.
Like many people in that moment, Anita was overwhelmed. Within just a few weeks she found herself navigating hospital tests, surgery, and the terrifying reality of both a life-threatening illness and the possibility of infertility. At a time when most people her age are only beginning to think about starting a family, she was suddenly confronted with the possibility that it might never happen.
Fortunately, the emergency surgery saved her life. But before the operation, her medical team agreed to delay the procedure briefly so she could undergo an emergency egg retrieval. Even though she was still trying to process everything that was happening, Anita and her partner made the decision to create embryos together.
But it was far from simple. There were legal clearances, counselling requirements, and difficult conversations about the future. And all of this was happening while Anita was coping with a cancer diagnosis and being told she might only have five years to live.
But she went through it anyway. Five embryos were created during that emergency IVF cycle. At the time, surrogacy wasn’t even part of the plan. But knowing those embryos existed gave Anita some hope that one day she might still become a mother.
Sadly, that hope was tested again when those embryos were later lost overseas due to poor treatment. The emotional toll was immense, and Anita stepped away from the idea of surrogacy for a time to focus on healing and rebuilding.
It wasn’t easy, and it was a long road. But the desire to become a mother never left her.
Being an Intended Parent
Anita eventually returned to the idea of surrogacy and began engaging with the intended parent community.
For her, being an intended parent meant more than pursuing a medical process. It meant recognising that family can be created in many different ways and finding strength in a community that understands that journey.
Accepting that identity was an important step for Anita and her partner. It helped them feel connected to something larger than their own story. Being part of the community gave them purpose and reinforced their determination to pursue the family they hoped to build.
Being a Mum
Today, Anita is the proud mother of two children, and the transformation from those early years of fear and uncertainty is remarkable. She still remembers the darkest moments. The panic attacks. Crying quietly in workplace back offices. Feeling as though no one could truly help, even though many people tried to comfort her. Those experiences remain part of her story, but they are now balanced by something far greater: Motherhood.
Anita describes herself as genuinely excited by life. The milestones she once feared might never happen are now part of her everyday world. And she’s now helping it make happen for others, too.
Being a Torchbearer
For Anita, sharing her story has never been about recognition. In many ways, she says she never expected anything more than becoming a mum.
Yet her openness has had a powerful impact on others. Friends, colleagues, and members of the wider community often tell her how much they appreciate the honesty of what she shares. Some even pass her story on to others, helping more people understand what surrogacy and alternative family building can look like.
That willingness to speak openly is part of what makes Anita such a strong advocate within the surrogacy community.
In her work at Growing Families, she now supports intended parents facing some of the most complex and emotional situations imaginable. Many of the families she works with arrive feeling like they’ve reached the end of the road. Helping them plan and navigate the often-complicated global landscape of surrogacy has become an aspect of her work that she finds most fulfilling.
Some of Anita’s Happy Clients
Some families are with us for six months. Others for several years. Through it all, Anita is there helping guide them forward. For her, the greatest reward comes at the end of the journey. Seeing parents return home with their children.
“I love seeing families succeed in their journey. Maybe it’s because I’ve been through it myself and understand the grief and sadness… it can completely overwhelm you. And then there’s the other side of it. The relief, the overwhelming joy and love when you finally get to hold your baby. I love being able to help intended parents leave that grief behind and reach that moment. It’s truly the most rewarding part of what I do.“
Anita Fiorenza
Global Support Manager
Anita’s journey is a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty, there are paths forward.
If you’re navigating your own journey and aren’t sure what the next step looks like, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Having the right support can make all the difference. And Anita, along with our team, is here to help guide you through it. Reach out to us.
