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Tuesday, 05 December 2017 13:00

‘Knowledge is power:’ Gaucher initiative spotlights world of Jewish genetic testing - Available to increase success in Ukrainian Surrogacy

Our program of surrogacy in Ukraine, allows us to test for any type of disease that might be relevant from you background. In addition to testing embryos preimplantation, we can test donors for any unique concerns. Our exhaustive donor testing includes a large range of potential genetic and health issues, and sometimes there are unique concerns. We are hear to help. Enjoy the article.

Joseph Tessel doesn’t have any strong candidates—yet. But when he does meet the woman he wants to marry, he’s ready for her.

In part, that’s thanks to the fact that, on Oct. 17, this City College of New York student got himself tested on campus for a slew of Jewish genetic diseases.

“I heard about the screening from our Hillel and thought, why not?” says Tessel. “I’ve always been curious about what genetic conditions my family and I are predisposed to, anything that could affect my children someday. When I heard that here was a chance to take a pretty expensive test free of charge that would tell me that, I could think of absolutely no reason not to do it.”

The recent testing campaign and others like it, often on campuses with high Jewish populations, are run by JScreen, an organization whose mission is to screen for and raise awareness about Jewish and other genetic diseases. Among the 200-plus diseases JScreen tests for, the most common among Jews is Gaucher disease. In partnership with the National Gaucher Foundation, JScreen ramped up efforts to raise awareness about Gaucher during October, designating the month as Gaucher Disease Awareness Month.

Gaucher occurs when there is insufficient glucocerebrosidase, an enzyme that breaks down a fatty substance called glucocerebroside. When the body can’t break down the enzyme, Gaucher cells get backed up in the spleen, liver and bone marrow. This can result in low blood counts (anemia), easy bleeding and bruising, fatigue, an enlarged spleen or liver, and bone problems.

Though fairly rare in the general population (one in 40,000), Gaucher is far more common for Ashkenazi Jews—about one in 450, with one in 12 being a carrier; carriers do not show the disease’s symptoms.

Many people who have the disease are so minimally affected that they barely realize it, while early screening is reducing the damage that Gaucher inflicts. For those who are more symptomatic, a range of treatments is available when medically necessary.

“We now have five FDA-approved treatments for Gaucher and more are in development,” says Amy Blum, who heads the National Gaucher Foundation. “And that’s unusual for such a rare disease.”

Current research includes gene therapy, which is poised to enter clinical trials in the next year, as well as new forms of enzyme replacement therapy. An apparent link of Gaucher to late-onset Parkinson’s disease is being studied by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, among others.

Although the disease has a high prevalence in the Ashkenazi population, that applies mostly for type 1 Gaucher, which has far fewer devastating neurological symptoms than types 2 and 3, says Dr. Neal Weinreb, who teaches human genetics and hematology at the University of Miami’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine.

“One of the mysteries is you can have two siblings with the same mutation with very different cases,” Weinreb, the southeastern U.S. regional coordinator for the International Collaborative Gaucher Group. “That’s why they need to be evaluated and followed by people who know about Gaucher.”

To spread the word, JScreen and others reach out to rabbis and gynecologists to encourage engaged couples to be tested. Testing advocates say that even couples with mixed religious backgrounds need to be screened.

Many couples in which both partners are carriers choose to undergo pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, followed by in vitro fertilization (IVF), thereby assuring that their children will be Gaucher-free. Paige and Alan Guy of Ocean, N.J., who both tested positive for the Gaucher mutation, are now in the midst of the IVF process and, despite its complexities, are “grateful that the testing and the technology exist to allow us to have healthy children,” Paige says.

“Knowledge is power,” says JScreen Executive Director Karen Grinzaid. “Whether you’re single, engaged, newlyweds or already parents, having the knowledge allows everyone to take steps and make informed decisions to have healthy children and live healthy lives.”

“We got tested and turned out to be carriers for different things, but nothing overlapped,” says Yocheved Ferstenberg, who became a first-time parent four months ago along with her husband, Alex. “We know we are lucky.”

It’s too soon for Tessel, the City College student, to know the screening results, which typically take a month to arrive. But it’s not too soon for him to think carefully about the conversation that he plans to have with his future wife.

“To not talk about it would be not fair to either of us,” he says, “or to the children I hope we will have someday.”

For the best Ukrainian surragacy service, medical facilities and affordable surrogacy with strong legal protections for the intended parents from inception, contact us at Delivering Dreams. Learn if we can help you grow your family through Ukrainian Surrogacy. 908-386-3864 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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I am very satisfied with the medical services. Coordinator Lyubov was always in touch, answered any questions quickly and clearly, and helped in any difficult situations. The level of personal support and genuine concern for my health and well-being was 100 percent. I am very pleased that I am going through the surrogacy program with this agency. I feel protected and confident. I really like the attitude of the agency, timely payments, and the curator and manager make sure that pregnant girl...
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Olga T.
I am very pleased to meet such beautiful and kind people Hello everyone, I'm Myroslava and I'm going through my SM program at the Delivering Dreams agency. I want to express a big thank you to the girls who cooperate with me, who worry about my condition, who are always in touch, and who always support me - Omelchuk Lyubov and Anna Levchenko. I've already been to a program and therefore I have something to compare it with, this agency and the staff are at the highest level. And also the doct...
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Myroslava
Hallo Oksana,  vielen Dank für Deine ausführliche Erklärung. Wir haben alles gut verstanden. Das zeichnet due Arbeit von Euch und Eurem Ärzteteam aus. So kann man gut vertrauen. Hello Oksana, Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. We understood everything well. This is what distinguishes the work of you and your medical team. This is a good way to trust.
German couple
One of the best teams and my program! Hello! I want to share my experience and my impression of my program, one of the best programs, and the team from the Delivering Dreams Agency! Great attitude, attentive staff, responsible! Always in touch 24/7! Lyubov Omelchuk is a wonderful person, she was with me from the first minute of implantation until the end of the entire program! I am grateful that Lyubov was always with me! People of their word! Staff who never let you down! I highly recommend...
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Anna Priazhnikova
DD is outstanding We have just returned home to California with our beautiful daughter who was born in Lviv. The Delivering Dreams team made our trip so easy and straightforward. From our arrival to Ukraine to our departure, they had everything covered. The constant communication from the team is amazing. All of our paperwork for the embassy was properly prepared and organized. I cannot recommend them enough, we are even thinking about having another baby with DD!
Andrey Frenkel
Thank you very much Dear Oksana, Thank you very much for the great news. We still can't believe it and are totally speechless. The work you do under these difficult conditions cannot be put into words. Thank you very much for that. Liebe Oksana, vielen Dank für die super schöne Neuigkeit. Wir können es noch gar nicht glauben und sind total sprachlos. Was Ihr für eine Arbeit leistet, unter den schweren Bedingungen,  kann man nicht in Worte fassen. Vielen herzlichen Dank dafür.
Couple from Germany
Very friendly, pleasant team I am very grateful to the international surrogacy agency Delivering Dreams for such a short period of experience that dispelled all doubts and the remains of incomprehensible questions that were before and during this program, but I had a wonderful curator Lyuba who did not leave me for a second even on distances?❤️ This is how experienced, pleasant, kind woman you want to go to the program at least immediately after finishing the first one! Very friendly, pleasa...
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Angelina
Thank you for the wonderful experience and the opportunity to help future parents. I also want to thank Lyubov Omelchuk (Delivering Dreams) for her kindness and empathy, she was always in touch throughout the program, especially since the rehabilitation course is based on the supervision and advice of the curator. My worries about the procedure were in vain because everything went perfectly, thanks to the 24/7 support of the curator and qualified doctors Дякую за чудовий досвід, та змогу...
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Angelina
I recommend this agency. I was a surrogate mother in this agency, I really liked everything. The doctors treated me well and explained everything clearly. Curator Lyuba and Anya are always in touch and answer all questions, always supporting. I recommend this agency. Я була сур мама в цьому агентство, мені все дуже сподобалося лікарі гарно відносяться, розповідають все доступно. Куратор Люба і Аня завжди на зв'язку і відповідать на всі запитання, завжди підтримують. Рекомендую це агентство.
Yuliia
Thank you very much for worrying about me.  I really want to start the program at Delivery Dreams agency. The doctors here are extraordinary. Coordinator Lyubov is also extraordinary, always in touch and worries about me. After the hysteroscopy, Lyubochka is on the phone with me 24/7. Thank you very much for worrying about me. I hope that my program will start soon and I will present the baby to the biological parents. Thank you for being there!?? Я дуже хочу почати програму в агенстві De...
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Nastya

Under Ukrainian law, surrogacy is a legal affordable option for traditionally married couples to have children using their own embryos, or with either an egg or sperm donor. There must be a medical reason you can’t carry a child. You are also able to participate if you have had 4 unsuccessful IVF attempts.

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Under Ukrainian law, surrogacy is a legal affordable option for traditionally married couples to have children using their own embryos, or with either an egg or sperm donor. There must be a medical reason you can’t carry a child. You are also able to participate if you have had 4 unsuccessful IVF attempts.