Introducing Brownstone’s New Director of Surrogate Services!

Brownstone Surrogacy is THRILLED to announce that Yesenia Lemus will be joining full-time at Brownstone’s Director of Surrogate Services.

Yesenia has been helping Brownstone for the past year as a surrogate mentor and, for years now, Yesenia has been a voice of consistent reason and compassion in the many active Facebook groups in the surrogacy community.  Yesenia just wrapped up her job as an administrator for her county’s mental health programs and she officially begins her new role at Brownstone on February 21st.

We recently sat down to ask Yesenia some questions to get to know her better and learn more about her experience with surrogacy.  We hope you love learning about Yesenia as much as we do!

Tell us about your family!

I am so proud of my little family! My husband and I essentially grew up together. This year, we’ve been together for 20 years! He is a mail carrier for USPS and I am so in awe of his work ethic. Together, we have two kids. Ximena is 11 (going on 16). She has such a kind heart but also has a dark edge. She loves to rock out to 90s alternative music (which she considers “classic rock” 🤦🏽‍♀️) and has played the guitar for the last few years. Valentino is 8 and is full of energy! He stays super busy with wrestling, swimming, and music lessons. He plays the drums and has an obsession with The Beatles. He is super smart and loves to share all of his knowledge! Both of my kids have recently started doing Mexican Folklorico dancing. My late mother was a folklorico dancer and it fills my heart with pride seeing my kids keeping this part of their culture alive and following in her footsteps.

As a family, we love to spend time together and take trips any time we can! While we might take the big trips less often, we are always up for a weekend road trip!

How do your friends describe you?

I think they would describe me as a passionate (and maybe a little stubborn) person with a big heart. I can get a little emotional (Yes, I cry watching commercials), but that’s because I see beauty in everything and everyone. I have always been one to fight for the underdog. Back in school, I remember defending other students from bullies. I guess I’ve always been an advocate, especially for those who might be afraid to advocate for themselves. 

That’s where I hope to shine in my new position with Brownstone. I am passionate about surrogacy and hope to help our surrogates feel empowered throughout their journey. I will always advocate for our surrogates’ best interests.

What are you binge watching at the moment?

While I love a good binge session, some of my recent favorites are having us wait week-to-week for new episodes! Abbott Elementary is one of my favorite shows right now! It’s the first show in a long time that has me laughing out loud! Another great show we’ve recently started is Shrinking on Apple TV. I love the mix of comedy and drama!

If you want to know my guilty pleasures… reality relationship shows like 90 Day Fiancé (and all the spin-offs!) and Married at First sight are some of my favorites! I never miss an episode!

How do you find time to answer every new surrogate’s questions on Facebook???

I definitely don’t have time to answer every question in the Facebook groups, but I try where I can. While my kids keep me busy with all of their after-school activities, it does give me some time to scroll through social media from the sidelines. Sometimes it can be intimidating to ask questions to a group of strangers.  I’ve been a new surrogate before, so I try to be the kind voice to provide knowledgeable information where I can.

What do you wish more people understood about surrogacy?

I wish people knew just how good it feels to be a surrogate. After my journey was over, I felt so proud of myself. It boosted my confidence and made me love my body and what it was capable of. It brought so much joy to my heart to see my IPs with their new babies and knowing how proud my kids were of their mama felt wonderful. 

What’s unique about where you live?

I live in the Central Valley of California. We are the ag capital of the nation! Fresh fruits and veggies are always on the table. 

I think one of the coolest parts of where I live is its proximity to everything. We are just a short roadtrip away from the mountains (and snow in the winter!), the beach and the desert! My family loves to take advantage of this as much as we can!

What does your family think about your new career?

My family is super excited for me! They think I’m brave for leaving my long-time job and following my passion. (I’m pretty proud of myself too!)

What are you most excited for about your new role?

Aside from all the beautiful babies we’ll help create?!? I’m extra excited to work with first-time surrogates as they get to experience this whole journey for the first time.  There’s a little bit of nervousness, anxiousness, excitement, and joy… and I can’t wait to share that experience with all of them (and hopefully try and ease the nerves and anxiety).

You love to travel — what’s the next big adventure?

We’ve been lucky enough to travel with our kids to a few different counties so far. I have an ambitious list for the next several years, but we’re hoping to take a trip to Africa next! I’m looking forward to experiencing a new culture, food, and wildlife!