What do you think?
Rate this book
Triple Helix: My donor-conceived story
‘Now you’re over twenty-one and back from overseas, I’ve decided it’s time to tell you something.’
When Lauren Burns learns she is donor conceived she begins a turbulent journey to discover the identity of her biological father. Battling outdated legislation and a medical culture of silence, she enters a political campaign to pass world-first laws overturning decades of donor anonymity. She must also grapple with the radical rewriting of her history and sense of identity when she finally finds her biological father and discovers she’s part of a well-known Australian family.
Lauren’s extraordinary story traverses the many moral and legislative dilemmas of assisted reproductive technology: the rights of the child and the donor, and the strange terrain to be navigated if and when the two parties ever meet.
More than a memoir, Triple Helix is also a detective drama and a critical examination of the fertility industry. It will open eyes, hearts and minds to the complexities of donor-assisted conception from the other side of the crib.
As seen on Australian Story.
When Lauren Burns learns she is donor conceived she begins a turbulent journey to discover the identity of her biological father. Battling outdated legislation and a medical culture of silence, she enters a political campaign to pass world-first laws overturning decades of donor anonymity. She must also grapple with the radical rewriting of her history and sense of identity when she finally finds her biological father and discovers she’s part of a well-known Australian family.
Lauren’s extraordinary story traverses the many moral and legislative dilemmas of assisted reproductive technology: the rights of the child and the donor, and the strange terrain to be navigated if and when the two parties ever meet.
More than a memoir, Triple Helix is also a detective drama and a critical examination of the fertility industry. It will open eyes, hearts and minds to the complexities of donor-assisted conception from the other side of the crib.
As seen on Australian Story.
- GenresNonfiction
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 28, 2022
Lauren writes a compelling story taking the reader on a journey through the upheaval of discovering she was donor-conceived. This journey involves the destruction of the world and identity she thought she knew and the trauma this causes. Then on to self-discovery and determination to change the law in Victoria for all donor-conceived people so that they too could find out the identity of their biological father (or mother), the donor, as she was eventually able to do so herself. There are twists and turns, heartbreak and elation in a story that is beautifully woven.
March 13, 2022
I’m exceedingly glad for Burns that she found the answers she needed, but I came away from Triple Helix with more questions than answers myself. The legal rights of donor-conceived people, and the ethical ramifications of assisted reproduction, are fascinating topics, but the view of them that Burns presents is one-sided and deeply personal.
If you’re looking for a subjective account of one donor-conceived person’s experience, Triple Helix is the perfect choice, but if you’re looking for a more comprehensive understanding, you may need to look further afield.
My full review of Triple Helix is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
If you’re looking for a subjective account of one donor-conceived person’s experience, Triple Helix is the perfect choice, but if you’re looking for a more comprehensive understanding, you may need to look further afield.
My full review of Triple Helix is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
August 11, 2022
Burns’ book commandingly transcends overlapping genres to present an insightful testament to the complexity of the donor conceived experience. She delicately muses upon the difficulty of reconciling one’s known family from one’s unknown family – and the profound and unseen influence which genetic progenitors continue to exert on the lives of their offspring – even when they are unaware of each other’s existence. Lauren sleuths her way through the trail of deception and saccharine platitudes of bureaucrats and ‘biotechnocrats’ with evocative and pristine depictions of her travels throughout the world – synthesising these opulent and stark expressions of nature with the existential angst she experiences in her quest for genetic truth. With the determination borne of her genetic lineage and familial tenacity, Burns smashes through. This work is a clarion call for honesty and openness in an industry all too eager to profit from the next generation of would-be parents experiencing the dilemma of infertility.
March 27, 2022
Lauren’s journey from discovering her family history was not as she’d believed it to be is a compelling one and a timely reminder that In the rush to satisfy the desire of adults to have a baby, the rights and needs of the child have very often been forgotten.
Lauren’s writing is beautiful. She takes us to the heart of what it is to be human.
And what she managed to find still astonishes me.
Lauren’s writing is beautiful. She takes us to the heart of what it is to be human.
And what she managed to find still astonishes me.
April 22, 2022
When Lauren Burns turned twenty-one her mother decided to tell her that her father was not her biological father and that she was donor-conceived. This memoir follows her on a journey to discover the identity of her biological father.
Donor-conceived children born before 1988 in Australia (this book is mainly based in the state of Victoria) had no legal right to find out who their biological father was, so this is the story of her battle to change that. She had to fight outdated legislation to get the information she wanted.
Burns and others urged for a bill to pass where they could receive more information about donors and emphasised the difference between anonymity and privacy in their proposals - donors would still have privacy.
It is not only a memoir, it's an examination of the fertility industry and the medical culture of silence. We see that laws are inconsistent depending on what hospital and what year you were born.
Burns is a resilient woman who refused to give up despite facing repeated roadblocks along the way. “I was exhausted from the nervous build-up and the mental dance of always trying to put my best foot forward. This is what it's like to be donor-conceived; we are constantly questioning and interpreting everything, and nothing can be taken for granted. It's tiring”.
Burns is repeatedly asked “Why do you need to know? “Your dad is still your dad.” But of course, we all like to know where we come from. We see cases in this memoir where there are genetic cancers that had the donor-conceived children known about, that could have potentially helped prevent deaths or increase the longevity of life.
A theory bought up in this memoir is the idea of ‘historical consciousness’ - that we all need to know where we come from because our past, present and future are thought to be connected.
Overall, it was an interesting book to understand what donor-conceived people have to experience and the toll this takes not knowing your genetic history. It also highlights the ethical and legislative difficulties faced to get answers. At times I found some of the metaphors slightly forced or unnecessary, but it was still worth reading.
3.5⭐️
Donor-conceived children born before 1988 in Australia (this book is mainly based in the state of Victoria) had no legal right to find out who their biological father was, so this is the story of her battle to change that. She had to fight outdated legislation to get the information she wanted.
Burns and others urged for a bill to pass where they could receive more information about donors and emphasised the difference between anonymity and privacy in their proposals - donors would still have privacy.
It is not only a memoir, it's an examination of the fertility industry and the medical culture of silence. We see that laws are inconsistent depending on what hospital and what year you were born.
Burns is a resilient woman who refused to give up despite facing repeated roadblocks along the way. “I was exhausted from the nervous build-up and the mental dance of always trying to put my best foot forward. This is what it's like to be donor-conceived; we are constantly questioning and interpreting everything, and nothing can be taken for granted. It's tiring”.
Burns is repeatedly asked “Why do you need to know? “Your dad is still your dad.” But of course, we all like to know where we come from. We see cases in this memoir where there are genetic cancers that had the donor-conceived children known about, that could have potentially helped prevent deaths or increase the longevity of life.
A theory bought up in this memoir is the idea of ‘historical consciousness’ - that we all need to know where we come from because our past, present and future are thought to be connected.
Overall, it was an interesting book to understand what donor-conceived people have to experience and the toll this takes not knowing your genetic history. It also highlights the ethical and legislative difficulties faced to get answers. At times I found some of the metaphors slightly forced or unnecessary, but it was still worth reading.
3.5⭐️
Read
March 28, 2022A great read of Lauren’s life and her drive that has brought Donor Conception to to the public attention it deserves, from the security, silence , back rooms, and sworn secrecy established by the initial medical researchers/masters
Thank you Lauren for your work to bring donor conceived people and donors together, to provide forums for counselling, sharing and to provide a path to true identity for DCPs
As donors we didn’t know other donors, we had no support, we had to live our lives not knowing if any children were born of our donations, were they; happy, safe, secure, had they been told of their conception, do they need assistance?
Go well. Strength to you
Thank you Lauren for your work to bring donor conceived people and donors together, to provide forums for counselling, sharing and to provide a path to true identity for DCPs
As donors we didn’t know other donors, we had no support, we had to live our lives not knowing if any children were born of our donations, were they; happy, safe, secure, had they been told of their conception, do they need assistance?
Go well. Strength to you
February 23, 2023
There were things I didn't tell him that were even more personal. How strange it felt to be created by splicing together genes from two people who were never in love, never danced together, had never even met one another.
Read
March 31, 2022WOW! Lauren Burn's eagerly awaited book exceeds expectations as it explores and lays bare the complexities of donor conception for all involved, donor conceived child/adult, donor and extended family. This book unashamedly focuses on the best interests of the donor conceived child/adult. It also presents a fair and balanced account of the views of all parties and demonstrates why the legislation to protect the rights of donor conceived children/adults to know their own personal and genetic history is very important, and indeed a human right.
And who knew Lauren could write so exquisitely?! I can not recommend this book highly enough; in fact if donor conception features in your life it really is essential reading. A big thank you to Lauren, her mother Barbara, her Father, Sister, donor and all her family - old and new, for their bravery in sharing this story of confusion, hurt, love and ongoing joy. If you are considering donor conception - please read this book. Coleen Clare ex Manager VANISH, Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self-Help.
And who knew Lauren could write so exquisitely?! I can not recommend this book highly enough; in fact if donor conception features in your life it really is essential reading. A big thank you to Lauren, her mother Barbara, her Father, Sister, donor and all her family - old and new, for their bravery in sharing this story of confusion, hurt, love and ongoing joy. If you are considering donor conception - please read this book. Coleen Clare ex Manager VANISH, Victorian Adoption Network for Information and Self-Help.
April 2, 2022
Triple Helix: My donor-conceived story
The uniquely human ability to rationalise a decision that has been made or an action taken lies at the very heart of the practice of third party reproduction.
Anyone who has engaged in the decision making process of proceeding to use donor gametes, embryos or surrogacy to create a family may find Burns' uncompromising scrutiny of the prioritisation of adult desires to "have" a child over the right to know ones own family confronting and even distressing.
However, the perspectives of people created via donor conception and surrogacy are vital and only increasingly important in a world that seems so keen to normalise, even celebrate these forms of assisted reproduction.
Triple Helix is a deeply thoughtful consideration of the complex issues inherent to such practices and what it means, and how it feels, to be created by them.
The uniquely human ability to rationalise a decision that has been made or an action taken lies at the very heart of the practice of third party reproduction.
Anyone who has engaged in the decision making process of proceeding to use donor gametes, embryos or surrogacy to create a family may find Burns' uncompromising scrutiny of the prioritisation of adult desires to "have" a child over the right to know ones own family confronting and even distressing.
However, the perspectives of people created via donor conception and surrogacy are vital and only increasingly important in a world that seems so keen to normalise, even celebrate these forms of assisted reproduction.
Triple Helix is a deeply thoughtful consideration of the complex issues inherent to such practices and what it means, and how it feels, to be created by them.
April 11, 2022
This book is equal parts a lyrical journey of self-reflection, a treatise on how to grapple with your sense of self-identity and call to action to improve the laws and ethical discussions around reproduction. Lauren Burns's memoir-plus (it seems reductive to call it simply a memoir) is a challenging and thoughtful exploration of how we see ourselves and come to know who we are, and how some can struggle to knit together the most basic of questions if their genetic identity is revealed to not what they thought it was, but an unknown. It is a book of youthful hope and hard-earned wisdom that questions what happens when science gallops ahead of social, moral, legal and ethical quandaries around very basic foundations of our society - our family, our relationships, blood and otherwise.
At times challenging, at times joyous, always unique - a read well worth your time.
At times challenging, at times joyous, always unique - a read well worth your time.
March 28, 2022
Lauren Burns' first book, Triple Helix, is an absorbing read that made me consider subjects I had never considered before. Lauren learned in her early 20s that she was donor-conceived, and so began a search to find her biological father and solve the jigsaw of her genetic identity. Part memoir, part detective novel, part philosophical essay, there are some surprising twists along the away. It's also a warning on the global assisted reproduction industry and the wounds it will leave on progeny in the future as they seek answers.
March 28, 2022
Reading this book I was placing myself in Lauren’s shoes as best I could, imagining the determination and strength required to once again get to know self faced with such barriers. Heartfully engaging, I hope that no one else has to battle through such circumstances to know their families… or their own background.
I am grateful to have been able to read such a personal story and better understand the most integral perspective in the donor conceived story …the perspective of the life created. Everyone deserves a full sense of identity.
I am grateful to have been able to read such a personal story and better understand the most integral perspective in the donor conceived story …the perspective of the life created. Everyone deserves a full sense of identity.
April 15, 2022
A captivating and inspiring story about Laurens incredible journey that began when she found out she was a donor conceived child. How lucky we are as readers to have an insight into Laurens raw and deep emotions as she navigates her way through life. It certainly opened my eyes to the perspective of donor conceived children and how society need support these individuals.
March 31, 2022
A wonderfully written and compelling book offering intimate access to the profound consequences of disconnection from one’s biological roots. Lauren is an important voice in a era where the ways by which we can share our genes increases exponentially.
April 11, 2022
Wonderfully written book, from a first time author, taking us on her deeply personal journey to discover the truth of who she is. I loved how she has woven her connections with the people she has met on her journey with her connections to the world at large into a rich tapestry.
June 22, 2022
This book is incredibly written! It opened my eyes to the perspectives of donor-conceived people and the complexities that they're faced with. Triple Helix is a deeply embodied story, with the use of beautiful metaphors of nature to describe Lauren's journey.
April 8, 2022
Beautifully written. I was sucked right in to her journey. Highly recommend for anyone who has ever wondered where they came from.
July 13, 2022
Laurens book is a must read for anyone part of the Donor Conception Triad.
March 25, 2022
I’m fascinated by this genre. I feel that in ten years or so we’ll be watching the donor version of Long Lost Family, how we look back and say how could adoptions be kept so secret? Having said that I think I’m more interested in how advances in DNA technology are reshaping the donor program as it’s quite clear that most people don’t want to think about the rights of the children conceived, or any of the associated moral or philosophical dilemmas.
It sounds shallow (but this is my review) but although this threw Lauren’s world into a turmoil, she actually has it pretty easy comparatively. Found dad, well connected lovely found family, no hundreds of siblings. So the story lacks a bit of tension. The snippet about her Irish grandfather was much more intriguing to me.
It sounds shallow (but this is my review) but although this threw Lauren’s world into a turmoil, she actually has it pretty easy comparatively. Found dad, well connected lovely found family, no hundreds of siblings. So the story lacks a bit of tension. The snippet about her Irish grandfather was much more intriguing to me.
January 12, 2023
I've spent the last 24 hours reading Lauren Burns' "Triple Helix" from cover to cover. Like me, Lauren is donor conceived.
This is an astounding book, an astonishing piece of writing. It's the "story" (but so much more than that) of Lauren's search for her anonymous biological father, woven into the story of her life. It's the story of Australian DCP activism and the fight for legislative change in the state of Victoria.
Lauren tells some of the absolutely heartbreaking story of Australian DCP Narelle Grech who died from a cancer caused by a gene she likely inherited from her then anonymous biological father.
I have met a number of the people who played a part in Lauren's book. l had heard of others such as Rel. So, somehow, this book feels more personal than some of the other DCP testimonies l have read. I KNOW these people personally and some of the battles they have been through. I have witnessed their anger, their laughter, their steely determination to work for change.
As usual when l read a DCP testimony l resonated with so much of what Lauren said. Honestly l could fill pages with quotes which say "this is me". As usual it left me amazed at DCP resilience and angry with the industry and society that put us in this position and which where possible our rights are denied. We have to climb mountain after mountain to obtain the sort of change which should be, unquestionably every individual's straightforward human right.
I want to end with a few points Lauren made.
1. DCP'S die when they are denied knowledge of their "donating" biological and updated medical history.
2. Donor conception is "more accurately a system of assisted reproductive substitution". It isn't a treatment. It never cures infertility.
And a quote that Lauren took from a book she read: "Historical consciousness is the unique and universal human compulsion to remember and make sense of the past.... Being a link in a chain, not just a person in isolation reveals a sense of gaining the immortality and timelessness of being part of a bigger story."
When DCPS do not know from whom they come, they are effectively human beings in isolation. We do not possess the means to make those links. We forever have to painfully say that we do not know our medical heritage.
We deserve better. And we should NOT have to fight for it as Lauren did and I did and countless others have done.
This is an astounding book, an astonishing piece of writing. It's the "story" (but so much more than that) of Lauren's search for her anonymous biological father, woven into the story of her life. It's the story of Australian DCP activism and the fight for legislative change in the state of Victoria.
Lauren tells some of the absolutely heartbreaking story of Australian DCP Narelle Grech who died from a cancer caused by a gene she likely inherited from her then anonymous biological father.
I have met a number of the people who played a part in Lauren's book. l had heard of others such as Rel. So, somehow, this book feels more personal than some of the other DCP testimonies l have read. I KNOW these people personally and some of the battles they have been through. I have witnessed their anger, their laughter, their steely determination to work for change.
As usual when l read a DCP testimony l resonated with so much of what Lauren said. Honestly l could fill pages with quotes which say "this is me". As usual it left me amazed at DCP resilience and angry with the industry and society that put us in this position and which where possible our rights are denied. We have to climb mountain after mountain to obtain the sort of change which should be, unquestionably every individual's straightforward human right.
I want to end with a few points Lauren made.
1. DCP'S die when they are denied knowledge of their "donating" biological and updated medical history.
2. Donor conception is "more accurately a system of assisted reproductive substitution". It isn't a treatment. It never cures infertility.
And a quote that Lauren took from a book she read: "Historical consciousness is the unique and universal human compulsion to remember and make sense of the past.... Being a link in a chain, not just a person in isolation reveals a sense of gaining the immortality and timelessness of being part of a bigger story."
When DCPS do not know from whom they come, they are effectively human beings in isolation. We do not possess the means to make those links. We forever have to painfully say that we do not know our medical heritage.
We deserve better. And we should NOT have to fight for it as Lauren did and I did and countless others have done.
December 3, 2022
Touching memoir about a woman finding her biological father, and building a relationship with his family.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews