Building Families Beyond Blood: One Woman’s Mission to Connect Generations
- Donna Supitilov Skora
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Helping connect grandparents and children across the country—one relationship at a time.
Our grandson recently turned eleven—yet we’ve never met him. The day he was born, our son sent a text: “You have lost a grandson, a son, and a nephew, and grandparents have no rights.” Overnight, we were cut off from our son, daughter-in-law, and any chance of knowing our grandson.
Even more heartbreaking, his half-brother had endured a decade of estrangement from his own paternal grandmother and father’s extended family before eventually reconnecting. Witnessing this pattern twice was devastating.
We reached out repeatedly, but silence prevailed. The emptiness weighed on our home—an empty chair at holidays, a missing name in prayers. I asked God: If I couldn’t change our situation, could I at least change someone else’s?
The Birth of Surrogate Grandparents–USA
What if others were experiencing similar loss? What if older adults longing for purpose could be matched with families in need of care and connection?
With little more than hope, I started a small Facebook group: Surrogate Grandparents–USA. My goal was simple—to help connect one grandparent with one family at a time.
Within months, the group spread across the country. Retirees found renewed purpose. Single parents discovered partnership. Families navigating distance, estrangement, divorce, or loss experienced unexpected healing.
Stories began to surface—so tender and hopeful they made my own heartbreak feel redeemed.
Relationships That Grow Beyond Screens
A widowed grandmother in Texas reads bedtime stories via video chat to a five-year-old in Ohio. What began weekly became nightly, eagerly awaited by both.
A young Florida couple welcomed a local “grandpa” who taught their son to fish and shared lessons from raising his own children. These afternoons became lessons not just in skills, but in love, presence, and care.
A shy boy proudly told his teacher, “I have two grandmas now!” His confidence and calm blossomed through the connection.
Not every relationship was instant. Trust takes time, and boundaries matter. Yet many connections have grown steady and meaningful. Video chats became surprise packages. Occasional calls became weekly rituals. Relationships that began as “new” now feel like homecomings.
The Beauty of Chosen Family
Family isn’t just blood. Sometimes it’s the birthday card that arrives on time. Sometimes it’s the video chat after a long school day. Sometimes it’s showing up and saying, I see you. I care.
Healing Through Helping
Today, Surrogate Grandparents–USA thrives as a community of hope and connection. What began with my own pain has grown into a movement healing the hearts of grandparents without grandchildren, children without grandparents, and families without support.
Parents gain support networks. Children gain mentors celebrating milestones. Grandparents rediscover joy, laughter, and purpose.
Even in a disconnected world, people crave connection. They long to give and receive love—and rise to it beautifully when given the chance.
A Bridge Only Love Could Build
Looking back, this community is more than an idea. It’s a bridge—built from hope, shaped by generosity, and crossed by thousands seeking connection. It reminds us that we belong to one another, even when life separates us from our biological families.
If our grandson learns about us someday, I hope he sees this: His existence inspired something healing, something that helped thousands feel less alone.
Because love doesn’t skip generations—it waits for someone brave enough to build a bridge.
As an added note, CBS Mornings recently featured the group on August 19, 2025. Watch it here: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/family-finds-surrogate-grandmother-through-facebook-group/
Donna Supitilov Skora is the founder of Surrogate Grandparents-USA, dedicated to fostering connections across generations. Through her work, she highlights the power of chosen family, empathy, and shared experiences, inspiring others to build meaningful relationships that transcend distance or bloodlines.
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