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Themes explored
coming soon on the website, but I encourage you to follow on socials in the meantime!
Blood Cancer & Understanding CML
Learn about CML, treatment, monitoring, management and support
Fertility After Cancer
Fertility preservation, IVF, onco-fertility and your options after treatment
Surrogacy
Our surrogacy journey, the South African process and key resources
Resources That Helped Me
One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “Who helped you?”
From my haematologist, who guided me through my CML diagnosis, to the onco-fertility specialists who helped me preserve future options, the fertility clinic and specialists who cared for us through IVF, the fertility lawyer who guided us through surrogacy, and the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), this page brings together the people and resources that made a difference.
I hope having everything in one place makes it a little easier for others to find trusted information, ask informed questions, and know where to start.
Helpful Organisations & Professionals
One of the greatest gifts we received throughout our journey was finding the right people.
Behind every appointment, every difficult decision and every milestone were professionals who took the time to answer our questions, explain our options and guide us through unfamiliar territory with kindness and compassion.
This page is my way of saying thank you.
The people and organisations featured here all played a meaningful role in our own journey. While every family’s circumstances are different, I hope sharing these trusted resources provides a helpful place to begin if you’re navigating a similar path.
This isn’t intended to be a directory of every clinic or organisation available. Rather, it’s a collection of the people who walked alongside us and helped shape our story.
Fertility Specialists
The fertility specialists who guided us through IVF, embryo creation and our surrogacy journey.
Dr Danie Botha
Speciality: Fertility Specialist
Clinic: Fembryo Fertility Clinic
Location: Gqeberah (Port Elizabeth), South Africa
Why They Matter to Me
Dr Botha became part of my journey long before IVF or surrogacy. He was the first fertility specialist to assess my ovarian reserve after years of treatment and helped me connect with the team in Cape Town who would go on to become such an important part of our story.
More than anything, he made me feel like more than just another patient. At a time when I questioned whether cancer had taken away part of who I was as a woman, he reminded me that I wasn’t broken, and that my worth had never changed. That conversation gave me hope when I needed it most, and it’s something I will never forget.
Dr Joanne (Jo) Pottow
Speciality: Reproductive Medicine Specialist
Clinic: Cape Fertility
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Why They Matter to Me
Dr Pottow helped us navigate the medical side of our fertility journey with warmth, compassion and clarity. Every appointment left us feeling more informed than when we arrived, and her ability to explain complex information in a reassuring way made an enormous difference throughout our journey.
Reproductive Attorneys
Experienced legal professionals who specialise in fertility and surrogacy law.
Robynne Friedman
Speciality: Reproductive & Surrogacy Law
Practice: Robynne Friedman Attorneys
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Why They Matter to Me
Robynne came into our journey at a time when we needed both guidance and hope. After a turbulent experience that had left us feeling uncertain about the path ahead, she was recommended to us by several people we trusted, and reaching out to her turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made.
Her honesty, experience and practical advice gave us clarity when we needed it most. Within days, our journey had begun moving in a completely different direction. More than helping us navigate the legal side of surrogacy, she restored our confidence in the process and reminded us how much the right person can change a journey.
Haematology Specialists
Dr Danie Kotze
Speciality: Clinical Haematologist
Practice: Constantiaberg Haematology
Location: Mediclinic Constantiaberg, Cape Town
Why They Matter to Me
Dr Kotze has played an incredibly important role in my long-term care, helping me navigate life with CML while always looking at the bigger picture. His expertise, reassurance and collaborative approach have given me confidence to pursue dreams that once felt impossible, including our journey towards growing our family.
Psychology
The emotional side of fertility and surrogacy is just as important as the medical and legal process. The professionals who support this part of the journey help ensure that everyone feels informed, prepared and supported.
Mandy Rodrigues
Speciality: Clinical Psychologist (Infertility, IVF & Surrogacy Counselling)
Practice: Medfem Fertility Clinic
Location: Intercare Medfem Clinic, Bryanston, Johannesburg
Why They Matter to Me
Mandy created a safe and welcoming space to have some of the most important conversations of our journey. Her warmth, compassion and thoughtful guidance helped us approach the psychological aspects of surrogacy with confidence, while ensuring we felt heard, understood and supported every step of the way.