Illume Fertility

06/23/2026

We love seeing our families in the spotlight. 🧡

Marty and Darren always always dreamed of becoming parents, they just weren't sure it would ever truly happen. When they set out to build their family, the people they loved most showed up in the most extraordinary ways, turning their dream of parenthood into something even more beautiful than they imagined.

"It's kind of been a family affair, but it made that experience just so much more intimate and personal to us," Marty told NBC Connecticut.

This Father's Day was their first as a family of three — and Marty says it best: "Sitting here now, a father today, it's my dream come true."

Congratulations, Marty, Darren, and Colton. We're so proud to have been part of your journey. 💛 Check out the full NBC Connecticut feature ⬇️

This Father’s Day, during Pride Month, will be especially meaningful for a Milford family celebrating a major milestone. It will be the first Father’s Day for Martin and Darren Pippitone and their baby boy, Colton. Now, Colton is growing quickly and is already 8 months old. “Sitting here now, ...

06/23/2026

🗓️ Thursday, June 25 • 12 PM EDT

Join Illume Fertility’s Dr. Alexander Kucherov for an informative conversation about egg freezing and fertility preservation. Learn how egg freezing works, who may benefit, and what to expect throughout the process — plus get your questions answered during a live Q&A.

Dr. Kucherov will cover:
✨ When and why to consider egg freezing
✨ The benefits of fertility cryopreservation
✨ What to expect before, during, and after treatment
✨ How to make informed decisions about your future fertility

Whether you’re actively considering egg freezing or simply exploring your options for the future, this event is designed to help you feel informed and empowered.

🎁 SPECIAL OFFER: Register now to receive a FREE 30-minute egg freezing consultation* with Dr. Alexander Kucherov.

*Offer valid for new, self-pay patients only.

Preserving Your Future Fertility Options

06/17/2026

🏳️‍🌈 What an incredible evening at our Norwalk office! We celebrated Pride Month with our LGBTQ+ Family Building event, bringing together community members to learn about the many paths to parenthood.

Dr. Mark Leondires and Dr. Laura Meyer walked through everything from IUI and IVF to reciprocal IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception — answering questions and breaking down what each journey can really look like.

The heart of the night, though, came from our special guests Darren and Marty, who generously shared their surrogacy journey and introduced us to their adorable son, Colton. Hearing their story firsthand was a powerful reminder of why we do this work.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, asked questions, and connected with others on similar journeys. Moments like these are what community is all about. 💙

06/11/2026

What an inspiring morning at HAYVN Greenwich's POWERUp event! 🌟

Dr. Ilana Ressler joined an amazing group of women, including co-speaker Elona Shape of KeyBank and host Penny Goffman, to discuss the intersection of family planning, professional ambition, and designing a life where your career and personal priorities don't just coexist — they thrive together.

Proud to have Dr. Ressler representing Illume Fertility in spaces like this. 🙌

Thank you to every person in that room that showed up, shared their story, and leaned into community. 💛

06/11/2026

We're honored to announce that we've been named an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the 8th year! 🏳️‍🌈

This year's recognition means more than ever. Of the 741 healthcare organizations that participated in the 2026 Healthcare Equality Index (HEI), only 255 opted to be publicly listed as Leaders — a notable drop from prior years, reflecting the very real pressures LGBTQ+ healthcare is facing right now. We're proud to be one of those 255, and the only free-standing fertility center in the Northeast to hold this special designation.

The HEI evaluates facilities across four core areas: non-discrimination protections and staff training, patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and patient and community engagement. Earning Leader status means doing the work year-round, not just in June.

For LGBTQ+ patients, inclusive care isn't just about welcoming language. It means having access to a clinical team that truly understands reciprocal IVF, donor conception, gestational surrogacy, and the complex legal and financial landscape that comes with each path.

We believe that every family deserves an informed, affirming care team. Read the full announcement to learn what this recognition means for LGBTQ+ patients building families this year.

CT & NY-based Illume Fertility has been named an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the eighth consecutive year.

06/10/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Meet Darren & Marty, and their son Colton. 🥹

When these two dads set out to build their family, they had one big wish: for their child to carry a piece of both of them. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary: Marty's sister offered to donate her eggs and a close friend stepped up to be their surrogate. After one IVF cycle, two healthy embryos, and a birth date that left everyone speechless, the family welcomed baby Colton to the world. ✨

We are so honored to share their story and thrilled to announce that Darren, Marty, and Colton will be joining us for a special in-person event this Monday, June 15th!

📅 LGBTQ+ Family Building 101 | June 15th at 6pm 📍 Illume Fertility – Norwalk, CT

Join Dr. Mark Leondires and Dr. Laura Meyer for an evening covering everything you need to know about LGBTQ+ family building — IUI, IVF, reciprocal IVF, surrogacy, donor conception, PGT, insurance, finances, and more. Plus, hear directly from Darren and Marty about what the surrogacy journey really looks like.

🔗 Register via link in bio!

Discover how Darren and Marty became fathers through the love and support of their friends and family, navigating known egg donation and surrogacy.