The journey to parenthood is not always a clear-cut path. This was definitely the case for new dad, 33-year-old Rafi Daugherty, who recently gave birth to his daughter Ettie Rose, according to JTA.
When Rafi came out and began transitioning in 2007 as a male. During his transition, Rafi underwent chest reconstruction surgery, but opted out of other procedures, such as a hysterectomy, which he explained in JTA:
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“I have dreamed of being a parent since I was just a small child. It’s something that has been a part of me for as long as I can recall. I remember carrying my baby dolls around and dreaming of the day that they would be real and not just fabric and plastic.
I was created with a body that could create life, and I didn’t want to damage that ability.”
And his dream became a beautiful reality, as Rafi became successfully pregnant by artificial insemination. Rafi’s birth story is a perfect illustration of how life, the giving the gift of life, and living authentically, not only requires us to be courageous, but sometimes happens in unexpected ways.
Read more about Rafi’s story on JTA.
