This is the only such case in the history of surrogacy so far.
Now little Caspian is a little over a year old. The kid is like two peas in a pod like his older sister: the same blonde hair, the same eye shape. The similarities are obvious, and any casual passer-by will notice it. But he will not know that there is another, deeper and more intimate connection between brother and sister. It was she who gave birth to him and is biologically considered his mother.
“I literally begged my mother to let me do it for her,” 29-year-old Catherine tells the story of their family, which recently shocked the whole of Britain. This is the first such case in the country, this has never happened before. The young woman became a surrogate mother for her own 47-year-old mother and her 48-year-old husband.
Katherine’s own father died five years ago. A year later, her mom Jackie met Paul online. And Paul started talking about the baby.
In fact, the couple had seven children from previous marriages of two. Jackie gave birth to five, and at the age of 34, due to a complication, her uterus was partially removed. So she didn’t want to go through the whole nightmare again. But the husband had a different opinion.
“It’s sad that we can’t go through parenting together,” the man complained.
Paul’s words sunk into Jackie’s soul. And she made up her mind.
But verbally deciding is one thing. And to do, especially at that age and after such an operation, is quite another. At first, the couple hoped that they would be able to find a surrogate mother who could be used to inject mom’s eggs (Jackie had ovaries left after the operation) and dad’s sperm. But it turned out that the woman had already started menopause. Then they started looking for an egg donor.
In search of them, Jackie’s eldest daughter Catherine decided to help. But the longer the young woman browsed specialized sites, the clearer she understood: no one would agree to give birth to a child of an older couple.
“People thought they were too old to be parents again,” says Catherine.
By that time, Catherine herself was already twice a happy mother. And after watching a documentary about surrogacy once, she vowed that she would definitely help some childless couple to become parents. And it so happened that her mother and stepfather became this couple.
“When I shared my idea with my husband, he first tried to dissuade me,” recalls the young woman. – He reminded me that I had a difficult pregnancy, that I myself have young children. But it was important for me to receive his blessing. Not least because we were not allowed to have sex before pregnancy, so that I was sure that the baby was Paul, and not his.
In the end, the couple agreed. And on time. A few days later, Jackie confessed to her daughter that she and Paul were desperate to find a surrogate mother and were abandoning this venture.
“Mom, I’m carrying your child,” Catherine promised.
Jackie was shocked. The first reaction, like any mother’s: “No! In no case! I will not let you take such risks. “
The daughter insisted. Then the woman decided to consult with her husband. And he began to gallop around the room with joy. Everything was decided.
They did not hide the story from friends and relatives. Someone supported them, but the majority, to be honest, did not understand. The woman was accused of using her daughter. The daughter, in turn, listened that she was an insensitive robot, since she was ready to give her blood. It was very hard. It was even more difficult to explain to Katherine’s children that she was carrying them not a brother or sister, but an uncle or an aunt.
There were other concerns as well. In particular, legal: they, for example, were asked to sign a commitment that they take care of the child if he is born with a disability.
Without going into details, let’s say: they succeeded. Caspian was born on May 13 last year.
“Two hours later, I was at home, sipping champagne in the bath, and my mother and Paul took care of my little brother,” Katherine recalls with a laugh.
The parents decided that they would tell the baby how he was born when he grows up a little. In the meantime, they all enjoy his childhood together.
“He is a wonderful little boy who, by his birth, strengthened our relationship even more,” Paul told the Daily Mail.
“And I just feel like a proud older sister,” adds Catherine. – Although sometimes I see my features in him.