A mum-of-one has shared how she chose to conceive “naturally” with “famous” sperm donor Kyle Gordy – after numerous attempts to get pregnant through a sperm bank.
Alina Iakushyna, 30, a swimming coach from Ukraine, first moved to the US in 2015 after winning the Green Card Lottery, a competition that grants a “lifetime” visa.
The following year, her then-partner also relocated and for months the couple tried starting a family but were sadly unsuccessful in their attempts to conceive.
Unfortunately, their relationship soon broke down.
Longing for a baby of her own, Alina decided to go it alone and visited a local sperm bank.
However, after two failed attempts, she was left feeling “hopeless” – until she came across Kyle Gordy (@kylegordy1234) on Instagram.
Kyle is known for being the world’s most notable sperm donor, fathering over 53 children across the globe at just 31 years old.
The match was a success, with Alina giving birth to her son, David Matthew, nine months ago on 23 February 2022.
“I was a bit worried at first, as I wanted to get to know him better, but we talked for a long time and I really liked him,” she told NeedToKnow.Online.
“However, one of my main questions, which sealed the deal, was if my child could know about him.“
He replied: ‘Of course, we can see each other’ and this reassured me as a mother – so after a few more conversations, we decided to meet up in Miami.
“I was desperate for a positive result, so instead of using a cup and syringe, we chose to go down the traditional route instead.
“At first, I was nervous, but after meeting Kyle and talking for some time, I was made to feel very comfortable and it was such a positive experience.
“We did it again the next day and afterwards, we chatted for a few hours while propping my hips up on some pillows as that’s meant to help the process.
“He’s such a funny guy and while I was unsure I was going to be pregnant [at the end], I felt so confident with him, as he knew exactly what he was doing.
“It’s been enjoyable from start to finish and it’s been an absolutely joy getting to know him.”
During her previous tries through a sperm bank, Alina splashed out $3,000 (£2,500) for the first time and an additional $3,600 (£3,100) for the second round in February 2021.
She said: “I spent weeks researching the history of donors at a sperm bank. “[For the second round], I used the same donor and this time, I did the insemination through the clinic with the help of a doctor.
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t pregnant and this completely shocked me because I had prayed so much for a long-awaited baby
“I dropped my hands, cried a lot and it also hit me financially, where I fell into depression and there was no way out.
“In my heart, I didn’t give up and continued to look for ways, where a few months later, my friend told me about Kyle Gordy.
“All of his children were beautiful and soon I wrote to him and video-called.”
Seven days after their rendezvous, Alina claims to have received a positive pregnancy test.
She said: “I can’t convey the feeling I felt, as I experienced new sensations in my stomach – but I kept this a secret from everyone apart from Kyle.
“I remember how surprised he was and it was the happiest day of my life.
“It was really a shock for me and I tried to pull myself together, despite some nerves, since I experienced the threat of a miscarriage twice.
“I informed my relatives I was pregnant and they didn’t ask questions since they knew I was doing this alone – but I had a plan of action to fly back home and give birth.”
On 22 February 2022, Alina had one last ultrasound before being due to board a flight to Ukraine on 3 March.
But she had to cancel the trip as doctors told her the baby was on the way.
Along with her friend, Tatyana, the mum recalls crying tears of happiness as she gave birth in the US.
Meanwhile, she had no idea the horrors that would follow in her home country of Ukraine.
She said: “I remember hugging him and crying, but I didn’t know how many tears of misfortune would follow after this.”
While she welcomed her bundle of joy into the world, her family were suffering the consequences of Putin’s war.
Soon, the new mum learned about the traumatic ordeal and now, while she tries to piece her family’s life back together, she’s grateful for Kyle and her little boy.
She added: “My baby is beautiful and a miracle.
“He sleeps all night and I use this time to speak with my family.
“I woke up after giving birth and saw my phone was empty, without any congratulations, so I asked my grandmother and in short, she said they were losing connection.
“I had mixed feelings, insanely joyful yet in so much pain, because I had a lack of understanding about how much trouble they were in.
“I admired my baby and looked at how handsome he was, counted all his fingers and tried hugging him in order to recover a little from all the trauma.
“It’s a terrible feeling when you know that it’s your family in danger and not knowing if they’ve survived.
“David helped me cope with all of this, I constantly hugged and kissed him, saying everything would be fine.
“I hope I will one day go to Ukraine with David and be with my family – but for now, I’m thankful to Kyle for making my dreams come true.”
