Families are there for us through thick and thin. Without expecting much in return, they help us through the hardest situations in life. It’s no doubt that many of our parents would do anything to help us out. But in the case of one 61-year-old woman, she went above and beyond expectations to make her son happy!
The woman, named Cecile Eledge, volunteered to be a surrogate for her beloved son, Mathew, and his husband Elliot.
Because they wanted a child of their own so badly, they had been going through the motions to begin IVF treatment for a few years. However, they got the surprise of a lifetime when Mathew’s mother volunteered to be their surrogate! Cecile had a wonderful experience with her past pregnancies and knew that her body would be able to handle the task.
But the family was unsure that a doctor would allow the grandmother of the child to carry it. When they finally met with a reproductive endocrinologist, they were delighted to hear that the doctor would be happy to help out with their mission. Although Cecile hadn’t been pregnant in over 30 years and had gone through menopause over a decade ago, the process began.
Before the pregnancy was initiated, Cecile had to undergo some testing, such as a pap smear, blood work, cholesterol testing, mammograms, and ultrasounds. Her health had to be in tip-top shape in order to carry her grandchild. While testing was ongoing, Elliot’s sister decided to make a contribution of her own: her eggs!
Once Cecile passed all of her testings, hormone treatments began and Elliot’s sister’s eggs were fertilized with Mathew’s sperm. Despite the challenges that seemed to be facing her, Cecile became pregnant on her very first try with implantation. Although the pregnancy wasn’t easy because of her age, she handled it with grace.
She went through morning sickness and blood pressure spikes, but despite all of the odds, the baby girl was finally born and named Uma. Uma was even born without the need for a C-section! Naturally, the fathers of the child were overcome with emotion during the birthing process, letting their tears flow without shame.
“I don’t know how to describe her; she’s remarkable. I have such deep respect for her and am so gracious that even as a grown adult she continues to go above and beyond for me,” the 32-year-old Matthew told Daily Mail.
He’s in disbelief at the lengths his mother would go to in order to make him happy and help him start a family. He also credits her with shaping him into the person he is today, to him she is incredible, strong and a warrior of a woman.
When asked about the birthing process, Cecile told Daily Mail that it wasn’t hard for her to give the baby to her son. She felt like the baby was her grandchild all along, and pregnancy had worn her out so much that she was happy to hand over the infant to her loving parents!
What do you think about this story? Would you offer to help somebody in your family out this way? Let us know in the comments and be sure to spread the word about this one of a kind pregnancy!
