For many, starting a family is a calling, a path walked generation after generation. But that path doesn’t always have to follow tradition. Dani Pratt understands this firsthand. “Doing things the traditional way is beautiful,” she says, “but the traditional family unit doesn’t always work out for everyone.” Motherhood was a calling Dani could not ignore but the loving relationship her parents shared was difficult to find for herself. With or without a partner, she knew having a child was a milestone she was determined to reach and felt free to pursue it on her own terms.

As an attorney specializing in family law, Dani has spent years witnessing how fragile family systems can become when they are built on the wrong foundation. While the work gives her insight into resilience and responsibility, it also makes it clear that starting a family with the wrong person can be deeply tumultuous and difficult to navigate. Inspired by the example set by her own mother, Dani approached the idea of parenthood with intention and passion. At 37, she began to explore freezing her eggs, giving herself time rather than pressure. By 39, her path had come into focus. “Why wait for a man when I can have a whole life on my own?” she says. Surrounded by a rich network of supportive friends and family, Dani felt confident choosing to take the next step and began the process of becoming a mother on her own.

That decision led Dani through the IVF process, beginning with the selection of a donor at the Seattle Sperm Bank and continuing at a fertility clinic, where the procedure was completed. Shortly after beginning the process, an embryo was successfully transferred, and the pregnancy took hold. “When women in movies say they love being pregnant, that was me. I had the dream pregnancy,” Dani recalls. In those early months, she was full of joy and anticipation, confident in the future she was building for herself and her child. Everything seemed to be falling into place. 

Then, at a routine ultrasound at 32 weeks, that sense of ease was interrupted. 

Dani’s baby was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare birth defect in which the diaphragm does not fully develop, allowing abdominal organs to move into the chest and interfere with lung and heart growth. “Getting the diagnosis was a very hard thing,” Dani says. The dream pregnancy had taken an unexpected turn. Her doctors acted quickly, offering clarity and reassurance in a moment of shock. A C-section was planned, followed by a transfer to Seattle Children’s Hospital, a regional leader in treating CDH. In October 2025, Emmett Pratt entered the world weighing 10 pounds, 5 ounces. “He was a very big baby,” Dani says with a smile. Soon after his birth, Emmett was transferred to the NICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital to begin the next phase of his care. 

Dani, meanwhile, faced a journey of her own. Recovering from surgery, she remained at UW Medical Center while her newborn underwent treatment. “I was very motivated and worked closely with the wonderful nurses at UW on what I could do to make my recovery as expedited as possible,” she says. Within 24 hours, she was cleared to leave and finally able to see her son again. Supported by a dedicated medical team, Dani stayed strong as Emmett underwent surgery and recovery. After a few scary setbacks, he exceeded doctors’ expectations, gaining strength quickly, and was discharged nearly a month earlier than anticipated. Despite the uncertainty along the way, Dani had reached the milestone she had decided to pursue: motherhood.

Motherhood, Dani has learned, comes with a steep learning curve. Still, surrounded by a steady network of family and friends, she feels supported as she navigates the daily decisions that come with raising a child. Baby Emmett is surrounded by a loving family eager to watch him grow up. Today, Emmett continues to recover and grow stronger, on track for a full and healthy life. What once felt uncertain has given way to a new rhythm; one shaped by resilience, determination, and optimism.

Dani hopes her story offers reassurance to other women who feel called to motherhood but hesitate because their path looks different. “Girls today can be inspired in knowing that they don’t have to settle,” she says. “There are so many ways to create the life you want outside of certain expectations.” For women considering solo motherhood, adoption, or fostering, Dani’s message is simple: explore your options, trust yourself, and know that it’s possible. The rush to parenthood seen in previous generations no longer applies.

Today, Dani and Emmett are home, settling into life together. “So far, he’s been a good sleeper,” she says with a laugh. A small, ordinary victory that once felt anything but guaranteed.