Marisa Peñaloza

Carrying 'Dreams': Why Women Become Surrogates

Marisa Peñaloza — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:28:00 +0000

Last in a four-part report

Surrogacy is an idea as old as the biblical story of Sarah and Abraham in the book of Genesis. Sarah was infertile, so Abraham fathered children with the couple's maid. Today, there are many more options for people who want to grow their families — and for the would-be surrogates who want to help.

Macy Widofsky, 40, is eager to be a surrogate.

"I have very easy pregnancies.

Gifting Birth: A Woman Helps Build Other Families

Marisa Peñaloza — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:03:00 +0000

For most mothers, there is no event in life bigger than giving birth to a child. Charity Lovas has given birth to eight children, yet only three of those children are her own.

It all began in 2002, when she and her family were living in Indianapolis. She says she was reading the Sunday newspaper and spotted an ad for ovum donors. She had never heard about it. She was curious.

She called the number in the ad. A woman at the other end of the line explained the egg donor program, and said they had a surrogate program, too.

"I couldn't wrap my own brain around the idea," she says.

U.S. Rhythmic Gymnastics Star Readies For London

Marisa Peñaloza — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:04:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A4vBYDfNHg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2ctzsPJZZA

The Challenge Of Measuring Relief Aid To Haiti

Marisa Peñaloza — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

After Haiti's devastating earthquake two years ago, Americans donated large sums of money. This helped charities and aid groups save live immediately after the disaster. But it's been much harder for them to help Haitians rebuild their devastated country. In the second of two stories, NPR's Carrie Kahn and Marisa Penaloza report that its difficult to get detailed information about how organizations spend their money.

NPR surveyed 12 of the largest and best known U.S. charities about their work in Haiti.

Two Years After Quake, Many Haitians Await Aid

Marisa Peñaloza — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

First of a two-part report.

It was two years ago this month that a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving more than a million people homeless. Through U.S. charities, Americans donated more than $1.8 billion, but some in Haiti haven't seen much of that yet.

Charles Giiagliard, his wife and their five children live in a tiny one-room shack in downtown Port-au-Prince.

His oldest daughter lies lifeless on a small bed, sick with a fever.