Nationwide — Marissa Calhoun, an African American woman from Southern California, and her partner, Stephen Castaneda, are facing unimaginable heartbreak after their embryos were reportedly discarded by a top fertility clinic in Los Angeles. Their story has become significant as they file a lawsuit, shedding light on the devastating emotional impact of fertility errors, especially within the African American community.According to KTLA, Calhoun, who underwent three intense egg retrieval procedures since 2021, and Castaneda are suing Reproductive Partners Medical Group and Dr. Andy Huang. Nearly a year ago, Calhoun’s fertilized eggs were placed in an incubator, only for the couple to later discover that the embryos were no longer stored. The incident has left her in deep emotional pain.
“The grief was immediate and overwhelming,” Calhoun shared, explaining the devastation she felt upon hearing the news. According to their attorney, Adam Wolf, the clinic admitted that an employee had failed to label Calhoun’s embryos before placing them in the incubator, and the embryos were eventually discarded.
In a public statement, Wolf described the mishandling as egregious, stating, “RMPG literally treated Marissa’s embryos like trash.” During a virtual news conference, Castaneda expressed his anguish upon learning of the loss from Calhoun. “I never heard that much pain in her voice before,” he said, describing her call as filled with unimaginable grief, akin to losing a loved one.
The couple is now demanding accountability and transparency from the clinic, though they acknowledge that no legal compensation can truly mend their loss. “Marissa and I are going through the grieving process,” Castaneda said, adding that they may never be able to have the family they dreamed of. The lawsuit, seeking damages, has been filed in L.A. Superior Court.