It wasn’t an easy journey but it was worth it!
Dan Lester Dabon worked very hard to get to where he is now. Working overseas in Abu Dhabi, UAE, away from his family, made it even harder. He persevered and he succeeded, providing for his family and even supporting five scholars who are now working as professionals. He also finished his master’s degree, invested on properties, traveled around the world, and can purchase everything his heart desired. “In short, I was blessed,” the 33-year-old Healthcare Management Professional told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle.
He also received an award as part of the Top 100 Healthcare Leaders by the International Forum on Advancements in Healthcare (IFAH) for 2020-2021, the youngest of the batch to receive this prestigious award.But Dabon felt there was something missing—he wanted to be a father. And he started working on this lifelong dream in October 2018. With his experience working in an infertility treatment center as a quality and risk manager back in 2014, he realized that he had sperm morphology where his sperms are mis-shaped and can cause infertility. He also learned other things and options from working in that facility. The knowledge he got from working there equipped him on his journey into becoming a father.
In April 2019, Dabon ventured into this dream. “I started looking for facilities and had consultations in many countries such as Mexico, USA, Columbia, Spain, Czech Republic, Australia, India, Thailand, and Philippines where having a baby is possible for a single parent,” explains Dabon.
He started with the process of selecting the eggs from over 500 donors. “The selection process started with identifying the most beautiful donor by reviewing their physical attributes such as height, eye and hair color, nose shape, etc. The next part was screening the donor with good genetics. The second to the last phase was reviewing their full portfolio which includes their educational attainment, interests, talents, etc. Finally, I gathered my top 20 donors and reassessed their credentials and arrived with the best three which were selected based on the healthy genetics because I prefer having a healthy baby rather than having a beautiful one.”
The whole process took 10 months, leading to the first in-vitro fertilization attempt in March 2021 but was unsuccessful. The second transfer of two embryos was done in May 2021, reporting that only one survived in July 2021.
All throughout the pregnancy, Dabon made sure the woman carrying his child was in good health—emotional, spiritual, and psychological support. He also made sure that she gets to eat healthy food at all times, lives in a safe and secured environment, is examined by doctors at least twice a month, and even supports her as she gives birth. “It was unimaginable and exciting because I knew I was ready to become a father,” he adds.
In January 2022, a baby girl was born, and the first people he shared the good news with were his grandparents back in the Philippines who raised him. “ They met virtually and it stirred them knowing that they knew all my struggles. All they want is to see Danaya in person at the soonest possible time.”
He also decided to share the good news of having baby girl Danaya Liyah around his arms on his Facebook account. “I was hesitant to share this in the beginning because I thought I was going to be insulted or humiliated. I realized, later on, that I just want to share a message of hope that whatever challenges we may face, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. While we allow society to dictate us to who we should become, it should stop. Because, in the end, we can never compromise our own happiness for others. For as long as I am not stepping on someone’s shoe, I will pursue.”
Dabon turned 33 years old last Feb. 21 and wasn’t planning to celebrate. Much to his detest, his friends planned one for him. “I am blessed that I am surrounded by beautiful people and insisted on a celebration because it is something worth celebrating, especially now that I have Danaya.”
When asked how fatherhood has been like for Dabon? “I thought I was already fulfilled, but when Danaya Liya was born, she brought a whole new meaning to my life. Tangible things did not fulfill me, Danaya did.”