• Latest news

Woman, 44, gives birth to her own GRANDCHILD

December 8, 2016  20:15

A woman has become the mother of her own grandchild - by having a surrogate baby for her daughter. 

Jessica Bradford, 21, was left infertile and had her eggs frozen three years ago as a result of cancer treatment.

But in May, one of her embryos was inserted into her mother's, Julie, 44, womb in a desperate attempt to have a child.

Pregnancy proved to be healthy and successful and baby Jack was born earlier this week weighing 6lb 10oz. 

Jessica, from Rhymney, Gwent, said: 'My mum is the most brave and amazing woman in the world. I love her so much for giving me my son.

'From a young age I longed to become a mother and our dream has come true.

'Jack is perfect in every way.'

Jessica, who is married to Rees Jenkins, was taken to hospital in 2013 when doctors informed her that she was too young to have cancer.

Initially they thought she had a sexually transmitted disease - but further testing revealed the truth.

It took doctors two weeks before they realised how far the cancer had spread.

A scan confirmed it had reached her lymph nodes and she was told that she would never have children.

She was given the chance to freeze her eggs to keep her chances of having a baby sometime in the future - and her mother offered to be her surrogate.

Some 21 of her eggs were took before she began chemotherapy, but only 10 managed to survive.

They were then made into embryos and grown for two weeks before being frozen to store them.

Then in May this year, one of the embryos was defrosted and implanted into Mrs Bradford's womb.

Jessica announced the birth of Jack, who was born on December 2, on Facebook, telling her friends: 'We are very proud parents.'

She is now in remission and attends regular check ups and scans to ensure the cancer has not returned.

While she is also campaigning for smear tests for young women to spot health problems earlier.

Julie, a hairdresser, who has three children of her own, said: 'The last three years have been the absolute worst.

'But I was lucky enough to have been given the chance to put things right.

'I watched Jess in such agony and so full of fear and I just wished I could take her place.

'There was nothing I could do to help and it felt like the cancer was in control and I felt useless.' 

She said it was an 'honour' to be their surrogate and added: 'I’ve always known from a young age Jess has longed to become a mother just like I did. 

'When cancer took the chance away for her to carry her own child away we were all heartbroken.

'I decided that if I could be Jess’ surrogate then I would have the control again. 

'We’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals and it has become normal to us. I’m just so happy that this last visit was for such a wonderful reason.'

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter


 
  • Video
 
 
  • Event calendar
 
 
  • Archive