Why I Chose Surrogacy After My Brain Disorder Diagnosis ft. Jordana Brewster
· 52 min · Episode 150
Episode Why I Chose Surrogacy After My Brain Disorder Diagnosis ft. Jordana Brewster
For years, Jordana Brewster quietly lived with a life-altering diagnosis that few people knew about. After suffering a seizure at 28, she learned she had a cavernous malformation (CVM), a rare vascular condition in her brain that made carrying a pregnancy dangerously high-risk. While continuing a successful acting career, she privately managed her condition, navigated fertility treatments, and ultimately chose gestational surrogacy to grow her family.
In this candid conversation, Jordana joins Mary Alice Haney to share the emotional realities behind IVF, infertility, surrogacy, and the difficult decisions that come with protecting both your health and your dream of becoming a parent. She also opens up about undergoing awake brain surgery, overcoming the stigma of living with a neurological condition, healing from disordered eating, and how divorce, blended family life, and finding love again gave her the courage to embrace a completely new chapter.
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What You’ll Learn
• What a cavernous malformation (CVM) is and how it can affect pregnancy and neurological health • How Jordana's first seizure led to a diagnosis that changed the course of her life • Why doctors advised her against carrying a pregnancy • The emotional and physical realities of IVF that aren't often discussed • What the gestational surrogacy process actually looks like, from choosing a surrogate to legal agreements and delivery • Why infertility evaluations should always include both partners • Common misconceptions and stigma surrounding surrogacy • What it's like to undergo awake brain surgery while doctors monitor language and brain function • How Jordana managed a seizure disorder while building a demanding acting career • The long-term impact of disordered eating and learning to build a healthier relationship with food and exercise • How becoming a mother reshaped her perspective on control, trust, and vulnerability • Navigating divorce, blended families, co-parenting, and finding love again after major life changes • Why speaking openly about women's health experiences helps break stigma for future generations
Key Timestamps
00:00 Why Surrogacy Is Only Legal In 3 Countries
01:03 Meet Jordana Brewster, Actress, Mom And Survivor
03:39 When Jordana Decided She Wanted To Be A Mom
04:36 The Brain Diagnosis That Changed Everything
06:30 Living With A Seizure Disorder In Hollywood
09:03 The Breakthrough Seizures That Forced A Decision
10:11 What Awake Brain Surgery Actually Feels Like
12:08 Six Years Seizure Free After The Surgery
12:36 Overhauling Her Entire Life In 2020
15:43 The Stigma Around Surrogacy And What People Get Wrong
17:02 Finding The Right Surrogate And Trusting Your Gut
19:36 The IVF Journey And Why It Is Never A Slam Dunk
22:08 The Hardest Part Of Surrogacy Nobody Talks About
24:44 The Birth Story And Being In The Delivery Room
26:29 Why She Didn't Take Maternity Leave And Regrets It
27:37 Stop Ignoring The Man's Role In Fertility
31:43 Finding Love Again And Blending A Family Of Six
34:34 How To Successfully Navigate A Blended Family
46:37 Losing Paul Walker And How She Honors His Legacy
48:19 What She Would Tell Her Younger Self
Key Takeaways
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