Hi, we're Elana & Daniel from sunnyLos Angeles, California. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to know you are considering us as potential parents for your child. We understand that this must be a very difficult decision that requires strength and courage, and we appreciate and admire you for it.

We hope our profile will give you a glimpse into the love, warmth, and joy that we are ready to share with your child. We are grateful for this opportunity to open our hearts and share our journey with you.

Our decision to adopt was shaped by Elana’s amazing relationship with her own birthmother, Cindy. Elana was adopted as a baby, and her adoption story is one of love and honesty. Her parents shared her adoption story with her from a very young age, and she never felt like her adoption made her any less a part of the family.
In fact, she felt extra-loved, knowing that her parents had gone through great lengths to make her a part of their family, and that her birthmother had made such a difficult sacrifice to give her a life she didn’t feel ready to provide.

Elana is a cancer survivor. She is now completely healthy, but because of the treatment we cannot have biological children. Because Elana was adopted, we always knew our plan would be to pursue adoption. We know it is not biology that makes a family, but unconditional love.

It was a spring day in May 2016 when we went on our first date to a small Mexican restaurant in Santa Monica after meeting on the online app Bumble, and we've been two peas in a pod ever since. We had only been dating a few weeks when Elana had a chemo appointment. She mentioned it to Daniel, who immediately said, “Well I’ll take you of course!” Elana was shocked that he was willing to do something so generous when they had just met.

Not only did Daniel take Elana to the appointment, but he brought a picnic so we could make a date out of it! Going through cancer treatments together has shown us how strong we can be in the face of life’s challenges.

I grew up in the Bay Area, California with my parents and my younger brother, Zach. I also have a close relationship with my birthmother, Cindy, and her three sons (my half-brothers). I loved school and focused a lot on my studies, especially biology and English.

I was very lucky to study at Harvard University for college and then USC and UCLA for medical school and residency. Now I work from home in my own part-time telepsychiatry private practice. I love my work because I get to help people every day. And because I make my own schedule, I will be able to go to appointments, school activities and field trips with our future child.

In my free time, I like to read, play with our cats, and spend as much time as possible with my best friend – my husband, Daniel!

Elana is the most inspiring person I know. Her ability to help others shows in everything she does. Even though she went through a tough time with cancer, Elana chose to share her story on her blog, Zen Psychiatry. hoping it might help others. The blog was read by tens of thousands of people. One day, Elana got an email from a blog reader who lived in London but was visiting our area. The reader was so moved by Elana’s story that she wanted to stop by and bring her flowers to say thank you!

Elana loves adding surprises and adventures to our lives. One day, I came home and saw her writing French words on note cards. I asked her why she was learning French. With a smile, she revealed her big plan. She had arranged a trip to Europe to meet her birthfather, Rachid, and decided to learn French beforehand. But it wasn’t just her trip -- she invited me, her birthmother, Cindy, and Cindy’s sons to join in. Elana looks forward to infusing our child’s life with new surprises and adventures.

I grew up in Los Angeles, California with my older brother, David (yes, I’m one of the few people actually from Los Angeles).

I love science and studied biology at UCLA, but after graduation, my interest switched to computers and I became a software developer. Now I’ve started my own healthcare company that combines both of my interests and focuses on helping people live longer.

Like Elana, I also work from home (although Elana has claimed our home office, so I’m in the garage). Because I’m my own boss, I get to set my own schedule and can always make time for family.

I can't wait to help our future child explore their interests and be a steady presence in their life.

Every day with Daniel is an absolute blast. He’s the jokester of the family. Family events usually turn into him cracking jokes, making up song lyrics, and doing impressions that leave us all keeling over in laughter. His sense of humor is contagious and brings people together. Daniel will definitely be a fun dad who is always entertaining (and maybe embarrassing) our future child.

Not only is Daniel funny, but he is also very kind and thoughtful. When I turned 35, I told him we could just have a small get-together with family to celebrate. I did notice him making a lot of phone calls as the date got closer but didn’t think much of it. When I arrived at the place for our “small dinner,” about 40 friends jumped out and yelled, “Surprise!!” He had planned a surprise party for me!

Our family loves being active. Both of us grew up as athletes – Elana played water polo, and Daniel played tennis. Elana enjoys surfing and snowboarding, while Daniel still loves tennis and plays several times a week with his dad, who taught him when he was little. We look forward to encouraging a passion for sports and fitness in our child.

We love hiking. We hike trails near our home every weekend, take yearly hiking trips to Mammoth Mountain, and try to find local trails whenever we travel, especially if we get to see a beautiful view at the end. Recently, we even went to Italy for a six-day hiking trip to the coast of Italy – it was the perfect combination of amazing views and even better food!

We love reading and learning new things. One of our favorite weekend activities is hiking in the morning, then relaxing on the sofa in the afternoon, reading books. Elana loves fiction and is always looking for the next great novel, while Daniel enjoys reading biographies of presidents and historical figures.

We live in sunny Southern California, in a quiet beach town steps away from a major city. We feel like we get the best of both worlds – a safe, suburban environment where children play on the street, but with all of the educational and cultural opportunities of big city living. The last time we had family visiting from out of town, we hiked in a state park, visited the famous Getty Museum, sat by the beach and went to a big movie premiere in a new IMAX theater – all in one weekend!

A beautiful beach is just a short five minute drive (or fifteen minute walk) away. You can even see the ocean from our street.

We have a beautiful garden in the backyard. In the mornings, we sit outside together sipping coffee, and on the weekends, Daniel loves to use the BBQ to make burgers. Your child would have the best view in the house, with a bedroom overlooking the garden.

We have big, blended, ride-or-die families. We are very lucky to have a large, loving, and supportive family network, many of whom live nearby. Our child will be surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who will be there to celebrate their achievements, offer guidance during tough times, and provide a sense of stability and belonging. They will have a tight-knit group who will love, support and protect them no matter what.

Daniel’s brother and his wife just had their first child, Teddy, and we feel extra grateful to be close by. Recently we babysat Teddy – we were told we were naturals!

Elana has a close relationship with her birthmother, Cindy. They’ve celebrated holidays together, vacationed together, and Cindy even helped take care of Elana when she was sick with cancer. Last year, we even took a family vacation with Cindy and her three kids to Elana’s parents’ house in Hawaii.

We believe when a child knows they are loved completely and unconditionally, they will blossom into their best selves. We will teach our child that you should shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars!

• Education: Follow your curiosity, explore what you love and grow your skills
• Stay Active: Have fun with physical activities and stay healthy
• Have Fun: Enjoy life and make room for laughter every day
• Live with Passion: Pursue your dreams, take risks, and have adventures!

Thank you so much for getting to know us and considering us as potential parents for your child. We truly believe adoption can be a beautiful way to join two families, and we hope to maintain an open and honest relationship with you, just as Elana’s parents and birthmother have done with her.

Elana’s birthmother, Cindy, was at our wedding and gave a toast. She thanked Elana’s parents for raising her, and turned to Elana’s mom and said, “Thank you for being the mother of my child.” Elana’s mother stood up, and with tears in her eyes gave Cindy a hug. She said, “Thank you for being the mother of my child.”

If you choose us, we will forever cherish you, because you will always be the mother of our child. Thank you sincerely for considering us, and we hope to start this journey with you.