Nathan Yoho and Laura Brammeier wed in August 2011. After Laura was diagnosed with brain cancer, her best friend, Kara, volunteered to be a surrogate mother. Nathan and Laura's daughter, Caralyn, arrived in fall of 2013. In his December 20, 2013 letter to Caralyn, published in The Des Moines Register, reporter Daniel Finney wrote, "Caralyn, your mother died before you drew your first breath. That's not fair. But you will know her. Your dad has videos. Your grandparents have pictures and stories. Nobody will ever take the place of the mom you didn't get to meet. But these kind, selfless people are going to make sure you have everything your mom would have wanted you to have."