Every Conceivable Way: One couple's extraordinary journey to parenthood over nine years and three continents

by Despina Meris

Every Conceivable Way recounts one couple’s nine-year quest to become parents, while giving an inside peek into the IVF and surrogacy industries, the fertility merry-go-round, and what it’s like to live for years with uncertainty. After relocating to Australia from New York, Despina Meris and her husband, Bill, settle down to baby-making. What they never expect is a string of heartbreaking unexplained miscarriages, even with the help of IVF. They turn to surrogacy – first in India, then in the Ukraine and finally in Thailand, where their baby is conceived.

But more drama unfolds when, overnight, they are caught up in the Thai government crackdown on commercial surrogacy, leaving them with no way of contacting their pregnant surrogate.

Every Conceivable Way, a real-life story that is stranger than fiction, asks how far you would go before you call it quits, when it seems like all the odds are stacked against you.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2020

Reviews

[Helen Li]

Young couple Despina and her husband’s dream is quite simple, after getting married their desire for a baby was natural. Despina first started trying at 29 years of age, got pregnant however suffered 5 miscarriages over a number of years. It seems unfair and cruel that such a natural phenomenon of having a baby can be such a challenging task for some couples. Their goal to achieve a baby set them into the emotional journey of IVF. Pursing their dream of being a parent involved choosing egg donors, undertaking surgeries and injections and finally travelling overseas for surrogacy – where they went across India, Ukraine and finally to Thailand, where a Thailand woman successfully carried their embryo into full term healthy baby. After 9 years of infertility, they finally achieved their dream of a baby boy.
How far will you go to achieve your goals and dreams? Would you ever give up after so many hurdles, failures and live for years with no answers and no results? How far would you put your body through pain, discomfort and struggles to pursue your dream of being a mother? Despina proves to us in her raw, honest and open book that dreams, no more how big and impossible, can be achieved with patience and hard work and most of all, the ability to remain strong and resilient.

[Sunshine Biskaps · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a beautifully-written book about a young couple’s emotional and daunting journey of infertility and miscarriages, one after another, after another. Despina and her husband are living in Australia and have ventured to India and Thailand to make their dreams of having a child come true. With the help of a surrogate, they are able to create their family!
Despina had fought a fight of cancer, and we are with her though her journey to a child. She’s strong and resilient. Anyone who has had issues getting pregnant or having a live birth should read this book. She’s has done a lot of research in writing this book and writes in a very genuine manner. Highly recommend this book to my friends who have had a difficult time while trying to conceive.

[Stephanie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read about a couple who suffered many setbacks, along with bad luck and bad timing, on their fertility journey.

Main downside is that there is too much description of how amaaaazing their friends and family members are, how they are all sooooo close, and how much they love the author. This would go well in a personal thank you letter to the people in question but isn't interesting to read.

[Karrah Xeros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply written, yet beautiful. Every Conceivable Way will speak to the heart of anyone that has gone through miscarriage or infertility. It is wonderful and raw and completely honest. Despina captures the strange mix of emotions and inner turmoil so perfectly, and offers insight into the hurdles that would-be parents face every day. This book is so utterly genuine and impossible to put down!

[Peti Petunia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally could not put this book down. I went on the emotional roller coster ride with the author in every page. Love her style of writing, love the story and more importantly love the outcome.
Highly rate, favorite for 2020!

[Jasna Drazic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book from start to finish. Such a raw, honest and real story of a family’s journey through trying to conceive. I was a blubbering mess at times, but it’s such a beautiful story of strength and love.

[Anita Burdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing to read Despina I am so happy for you that you got your little baby. For you to write this would’ve been hard for you to endure the heartbreak and pain all over again I thank you for sharing your story.

[Emily Orchard Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in less than 12 hours. I couldn’t put it down.

It’s beautifully written and takes you on an emotional roller coaster. It was the perfect balance of educating the reader on so many facets of conceiving a baby with a raw human heart felt story line that will have you hooked!

[Gulcan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poignant, uplifting and roller-coaster of emotions true story; You find yourself hanging onto Despina Meris’ every word. She is a true story-teller.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Couldn’t put it down. An incredible journey and beautifully written. Highly recommend.

[Marcella Purnama · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 stars. I quite enjoyed this book, and I learned a lot about surrogacy and IVF— things I only knew in passing before.