White parents who had Asian baby after alleged mixup at N.J. fertility clinic speak out – NJ.com

The white parents who sued a New Jersey fertility clinic saying they had a daughter of Asian decent after a sperm mix-up at the clinic told CBS Today the situation was “upsetting” and confusing.”

Kristina Koedderich gave birth to a girl in 2013 after receiving in vitro fertilization at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at St. Barnabas. But she and her now ex-husband, Drew Wasilewski, say they eventually started to notice their daughter had Asian features after she turned 2 years old.

The parents said a DNA test showed there was 0% probability that the daughter was related to Wasilewski, 49.

“You want to have a child and you can’t have one, and then you’re finally able to … and it was upsetting,” Wasilewski told CBS during an interview that aired on the network’s morning show. “Very confusing.”

Koedderich said their daughter does not look like Wasilewski, but they haven’t discussed the issue with the girl.

A Superior Court judge in Essex County ordered the clinic to hand over a list of men and women who used the clinic around the same time as the couple. The parents said their daughter inherited a genetic disorder that neither of them carry, and they would now want to know if there are any other medical issues her biological father may have.

Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science spokesman Robert Ford said the court order could affect many more people than just the parents.

“We are an organization comprised of passionate, dedicated medical professionals whose singular mission is to help our patients build their families,” Ford said in a statement. “The integrity of our treatment processes are paramount and we are taking this matter very seriously.”

“As such, we are thoroughly examining the alleged incident, which is said to have occurred in 2012. As patient privacy is core to what we do, we do not comment specifically on individual patient matters.”

The couple claimed to have spent $500,000 on treatment at the clinic, but Ford said they “probably” spent about $50,000.

The civil suit filed by the parents said the alleged mixup was a major contributing factor to their divorce. Wasilewski would also like to know if he is the biological father to any other children, and if so, wants a relationship with them.

“I would very much like to be involved,” he said in court records. “I think, as children, you want to know who — who and where you came from. And — I believe I’m a very good person. And I’d like them to know who I am, as a person, learn about me as much as I learned about my mother and father.”

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.