This Surrogate Gave Birth To Twins, But No One Expected The Truth About The Babies
“No woman in the world should have to live their life without experiencing the love and the bond from a mother and a child,” Jessica Allen told ABC News in 2017. Jessica had two sons when she offered to help a couple who was trying to have a baby. She was a surrogate for them. Things started without a hitch, but unforeseen problems that involved everyone occurred after the delivery. In an interview with People, Jessica said, “I’d never do it again. I’m not the only one with a nightmare story, but I am the only one with a story like this.”
Jessica Allen Was Only Trying To Help
Jessica Allen was a mother of two boys who lived in California. She thought she was doing a good deed when she agreed to be the surrogate for a Chinese couple. The couple flew thousands of miles to the United States to find someone to help them because their country does not allow surrogacy.
Jessica Allen Was Only Trying To Help
She only agreed to have one embryo implanted, and the first scan confirmed the pregnancy. However, a subsequent scan revealed two embryos. Allen was told that the first had split in two, implying that she was carrying identical twins.
A Difficult Decision
People who have experienced the frustration of failing to conceive would understand why the Chinese couple decided to have a surrogate instead. Allen was definitely generous when she offered her help to the couple. Surrogacy is not an easy decision for any couple and the surrogate mother as well. Usually, it’s the last attempt after failing to get positive results from alternative methods such as IVF.
A Difficult Decision
It’s always fascinating to hear miraculous stories about unusual pregnancies and births, especially if they end happily. And here’s one that fits the bill perfectly. Jessica Allen, a gestational surrogate, gave birth to twins and later discovered something that surprised them.
A Good Candidate
For someone to be considered a surrogate, she must undergo several tests and procedures in a long screening process. One has to be sure that they are more than willing to be a surrogate. They also have to choose if they’ll be doing gestational surrogacy or traditional surrogacy. The surrogate mother has to get in contact with a surrogacy lawyer and a surrogacy agency.
A Good Candidate
Because the practice is illegal in China, the Chinese couple whose baby Allen carried hired an American surrogate. Surrogacy laws vary by state in the United States, with Allen’s home state of California being one of the most favorable for surrogacy arrangements.
All For The Baby
Allen was employed by a San Diego-based business called Omega Family Global at that time. They were the ones who got her in contact with the couple. Through in-vitro fertilization, a male embryo was implanted in her uterus in April of 2016.
All For The Baby
She needed to consume progestogen and estrogen to prepare her womb for the implant. Allen followed all the doctor’s instructions before and after the IVF procedure to make sure that it was successful. Six weeks later, however, the doctor discovered something surprising.
The Unthinkable Happened
The six-week scan revealed that Allen had conceived two babies inside her. Medical professionals informed her that although it was a rare chance, it still did occur. Allen was filled with relief when she found out that it was nothing dangerous, and the couple was more than happy about the discovery.
The Unthinkable Happened
Because the babies were in breech position at 38 weeks, a cesarean section was planned. The intended mother was present in the delivery room. The intended mother was able to take a photo of the babies being born before taking them out of the delivery room with her. Allen didn’t see them at all.
Making Adjustments
Allen received $30,000 for being a surrogate along with payments for other additional expenses. When they discovered she was having twins, the couple added $5,000 to her monthly payments. Things were going very well until her due date.
Making Adjustments
Allen asked the intended mother if she could see a photo as she recovered. “They had beanies on with their head turned to the side, so it was just a little side shot, and I said, ‘Wow, they look different.'” However, the agency’s caseworker assured Allen that identical twins could be born with different appearances.
Something Was Off About The Babies
After 38 weeks of pregnancy, Allen went under a cesarean operation on December 12, 2016. Although she could not see them because of the opaque screen that separated them, the twin babies were successfully delivered. They were immediately taken away after delivery, but she could look at the twins that night when resting.
Something Was Off About The Babies
The mother visited her room and showed a photo of the twin babies. Allen told People, “One looked full Chinese, the other didn’t look full Chinese. It was clear that they were not identical… but I didn’t ask questions.” But why is this so?
An Important Message
Once the babies were finally delivered, Allen and the couple went back their separate ways. She returned home to spend her recovery period there. She and her husband had also purchased a new home. After a month, Allen and her family were about to move into their new house when she received a text message from the babies’ mother.
An Important Message
There was a picture of the twins along with a skeptical message. In an interview with the New York Post, Allen explained that the mother asked, “Have you thought about why they are different?” and “They are not the same, right?”
Very Rare But Not Impossible
In the weeks that followed, the babies went under DNA testing, and the results of their tests were beyond belief. It seems that the twins were, in fact, not twins at all. One was Allen and her husband’s biological child.
Very Rare But Not Impossible
The embryos of the twins had different gestational ages. This rare event was called superfetation. It is a process where the woman continues to ovulate while pregnant. You read that right. Allen conceived another human while an embryo was already implanted inside her. No one expected things to turn this way.
Unfortunate And Unexpected Developments
All the people involved were shocked upon hearing the news. It was not a part of their original arrangement. According to the doctor’s instructions, they were supposed to refrain from intimate activities until it is confirmed that the embryo has already taken root inside the womb.
Unfortunate and Unexpected Developments
Allen told the New York Post, “As per my contract, Wardell [Allen’s husband] and I did not have intercourse until we were given permission by the IVF doctor, who recommended the use of condoms.” It was a rare phenomenon that resulted from the failure of contraception.
A Complete Surprise
Allen and her husband were stunned to find out that now they have their third child. “I was panicking. My husband and I were panicking. We had no idea how this came about, and we had no idea how we would prepare for a child overnight. We just moved into a new house; we didn’t have any more money,” Allen explained to People. They were still trying to come to terms with the news when they were taken aback by another news. What might that be?
A Complete Surprise
Allen claims that the surrogacy agency offered them an option at one point: if they gave up custody rights to the boy and agreed to have him adopted out, the bills would be paid by the adoptive parents. They demanded an immediate decision.
More Bad News In-Store
After learning that they were the biological parents of one of the twins, Allen, and her husband realized that they needed to bring the baby home. Things were already out of control by that time, and it was not easy to bring their son home.
More Bad News In Store
The Chinese couple definitely did not want the baby when they learned that it was not their child. Then, Allen found out that an employee from the surrogacy agency was taking care of her son. According to a statement sent by the company’s lawyer, Allen’s version of events distorts the truth.
Adding Insult To Injury
To make things worse for her, Allen was hit by another surprising news. The Chinese couple was upset with what happened, and they wanted Allen to pay them back $22,000 for the compensation that she earned. Allen was in a sticky situation.
Adding Insult To Injury
No one will ever be able to describe the agony they felt after that. This is the world’s only known case of its kind. However, there is no way of knowing if there are additional cases because babies are not routinely DNA-tested at birth.
The Unbelievable Demands They Received
“We’d already spent most of the money we earned from the surrogacy contract, but now we were apparently on the hook for thousands of dollars,” she told the New York Post. There was an addition to the Chinese couple’s $22,000 demand.
The Unbelievable Demands They Received
The surrogacy agency also claimed thousands of dollars for taking care of her son. She and her family have just bought and moved to their new home, so they had no resources to pay back what the agency and the Chinese couple were demanding from them.
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare
Allen heard one of the things that no parent would ever want to hear in their life. She found out that her son was being put up for adoption. Nothing could be more alarming than the news, and she knew she had to act quickly if she wanted to save her son.
A Parents Worst Nightmare
Jasper, the baby’s father, was furious. “Know our decision? I’m sorry, didn’t you just say the DNA test came back positive that he’s our son? Give us our son. Of course, we want him back,” he says. The surrogacy agency declined to be interviewed for this story, citing concerns about confidentiality.
The Search For Foster Parents
Allen narrated to the New York Post, “To my disgust, a caseworker from the agency lined up parents to adopt him and ‘absorb’ the money we owed to the [couple]. Or, if that didn’t work out, the [couple] were thinking of putting [my son] up for adoption, as they were still his legal parents.”
The Search For Foster Parents
Clearly, the couple was in a tight spot. If things didn’t go south, their son would be handed over without an issue. However, the agency that handled the surrogacy process was fighting them for the child. They wouldn’t let the couple have their baby unless they received the money that they demanded.
Adopt Or Buy Your Own Son
Allen and her husband almost lost hope after hearing that the Chinese couple would put up their child for adoption. She told People, “I thought I wasn’t going to get him back because they were pressuring me to pay this money back first.”
Adopt Or Buy Your Own Son
He continued, “Then they were saying that the intending mom was thinking about giving him up for adoption… I thought I had a child out there that I was gonna be forced to let go of all because I couldn’t buy him or because I couldn’t adopt him.”
Determining Who Was At Fault
The real battle was just unfolding in their struggle to get back their son, Allen, and her husband accumulated debts. They needed to have legal representation so that they could negotiate with the surrogacy agency. Someone must be responsible for the way things turned out.
Determining Who Was At Fault
They’re at a loss for what to do; they were concerned after discovering that they were the true parents; they couldn’t let their baby be taken away, especially since they were their own blood.
Who’s To Blame?
Some people agreed that Allen and her husband should have completely abstained during the course of the pregnancy, while others pointed their fingers at the doctor who gave the couple the green light to be intimate. However, some people figured that the Chinese couple was at fault.
Whos To Blame
Although we have to remember that they provided additional compensation when they found out they would be having twins. In this situation, they are also the victim, if not the perpetrator. It was tough to pinpoint who was at fault.
The Agency Might Have Been Manipulating Them
Allen hired an attorney to help her get back her son from the agency. Allen believed that the Chinese couple had no fault in the situation and instead blamed the agency for manipulating them. When asked about the intended mother, she told People, “It’s not her fault….”
The Agency Might Have Been Manipulating Them
She continued, “The agency put it in her head that I was going to try to sue her. I never said those words. Since she was scared that I was going to sue her, she started sending me all kinds of text messages.”
Sprouting Excuses Left And Right
It was a long and costly legal battle against the agency, but it was finally agreed that Allen owed nothing to them. However, there was still the problem of gaining custody of their child. It almost felt like they were just running around in circles.
Sprouting Excuses Left And Right
During the interview with People magazine, she said, “We tried to get him on numerous occasions, but one excuse they gave us was the intended parents didn’t want to sign over a power of attorney, so we didn’t get him… We got another call, and we were supposed to get him, then we didn’t because they were thinking about giving him up for adoption.”
What The Surrogacy Agency Had To Say
Are you thinking why the surrogacy agency made Allen and her family go through an incredibly lengthy and painful process despite having proof that she is the biological mother? Omega Family Global refuted claims made against them and released their own statement.
What The Surrogacy Agency Had To Say
The agency’s statement was published by the New York Post and read, “By its very nature surrogacy is a complicated journey which necessitates the support and care of agencies, parents, surrogates, psychologists, lawyers, and a host of other professionals. As with any pregnancy, issues do arise which require great care, attention to detail, and respect for the process and the emotions of all involved.”
Two Months Before She Got To Meet Her Child
Allen gave birth to the twin babies on December 12, 2016. Two months later, after failing three times to get back her son, she was finally able to see him for the first time. She narrated her interview with the New York Post.
Two Months Before She Got To Meet Her Child
She said, “And so, on [February] 5, I finally met a caseworker from Omega in a Starbucks parking lot in Menifee, [California], where she handed over our son, whom we’ve renamed Malachi. The moment was incredibly emotional, and I started hugging and kissing my boy.” Allen wants her experience to serve as a warning for others.
Turning Her Experience Into A Cautionary Tale
Allen noted that she wouldn’t want to work as a surrogate ever again after this experience, but she has no regrets about it. She said, “[My husband and I] weren’t planning to expand our family so soon, but we treasure Malachi with all our hearts.”
Turning Her Experience Into A Cautionary Tale
“I don’t regret becoming a surrogate mom because that would mean regretting my son. I just hope other women considering surrogacy can learn from my story. And that a greater good will come out of this nightmare,” she continued to say to the New York Post. Still, it wasn’t completely a happy ending for them.
Who Were The Victims?
After the unfortunate story was published, readers pointed out that the Chinese couple who paid for the surrogacy were actually victims of what transpired. According to one commentator, “To comprehend this story, we must also see it from the parents’ side.”
Who Were The Victims
The commenter went on to say, “I can say that virtually no one turns to surrogacy before suffering a tremendous amount of heartache — miscarriages, stillbirths, failed IVFs, failed adoptions, emergency hysterectomies, etc. And because it costs tens of thousands of dollars, no one approaches surrogacy lightly.”
Dealing With Another Legal Beast
Allen and her husband still have their legal battles to fight even after losing custody of their son. They now have their debts to deal with. She said, “It’s very stressful financially; it’s put us in debt. We’re barely getting by right now, and it stressed me out emotionally because this agency turned its backs on me….”
Dealing With Another Legal Beast
“Knowing that for the first two months of [Malachi’s] brand new life that he was in the arms of strangers, that breaks my heart. It’s really heartbreaking,” Allen went on to express to People. What can be more heartbreaking than that?
Breach Of Contract
Several theories, some more far-fetched than the other, were brought to light. One theory claimed that Allen and her husband were the ones who breached the contract. The accusation claimed that it was because they had sexual intercourse before they were allowed to.
Breach Of Contract
But it may not be right because they were a couple, and even if they don’t want to, if the baby is already there and someone asks her to be their surrogate, she can’t say no when she doesn’t even know she’s pregnant herself. As a result, this is a highly subjective issue in which both parents are at fault and the victim.
Malachi Is Finally Where He Should Be
One thing to be happy about is that Allen and her family are finally reunited with their newest member. Almost a year after everything that happened, their story garnered the public’s attention. By this time, Malachi is completely adjusted to his true family and home.
Malachi Is Finally Where He Should Be
Allen described her son to People, “He’s a little man. He’s like 10 months going on 10. He’s walking around already. He’s trying to talk. He has an attitude, and he’s funny, and his personality is just goofy and bossy all at once. He walks around like he runs the world.”
Surrogacy Is No Joke
This is a surrogacy story that went awry. Even though this particular experience is terrifying and painful, there is always hope for people interested in having or being a surrogate. Kevin and Nicole Barattini are the perfect examples of the miraculous things that surrogacy might bring. Their experience is one tear-jerking story.
Surrogacy Is No Joke
This one is a heartfelt story that may cause you to cry like both new parents. Well, who wouldn’t? Once you hear their story, you’ll just start bawling. It’s crazy! We wish everyone were like them!
She Was Carrying The Baby For Her Friend When Everything Changed
Kevin and Nicole Barattini knew that they wanted to start their own family immediately. The couple was excited to have their own children, and they were ecstatic when thinking about being pregnant. However, it didn’t happen right away, just like for some people in the same situation. The couple kept on waiting for the good news, but it never arrived. Still, Kevin and Nicole didn’t give up on their dream of having a family and sought alternative ways.
She Was Carrying The Baby For Her Friend When Everything Changed
Then, a friend suggested something that sounded so good to the point that it was unbelievable. At this time, the two had been married for several years already, and they were still unable to fulfill their dream of a family. Although no one could predict how things might go, the couple was very open to other alternatives if it means they can get closer to their dreams. Nicole and Kevin listened to what their hearts wanted and did not stop until they had it.
Lianna and Shaun Are The Parents Of Five Kids
The Barattinis had friends Lianna and Shaun from East Moriches, New York. Just like Kevin and Nicole tried to have a baby right after their wedding, Lianna and Shaun were also ready to have their own family. They now have five kids together, and they are more than happy with their big family.
Lianna and Shaun Are The Parents Of Five Kids
Lianna was even considering having more kids after their fifth child, but she had no clue that she would be carrying another baby soon. This time, it was vastly different from all her other pregnancies since the baby wouldn’t carry her genes.
Helping A Friend In Need
Kevin and Nicole were still trying to conceive but to no avail. The two agreed that perhaps it was time for them to look into surrogacy. Although they were completely new to the whole process, the couple knew that trusting their surrogate is one of the more important things for them.
Helping A Friend In Need
Lianna surprised everyone when she volunteered to be the surrogate for Kevin and Nicole and carry out the pregnancy for them. since they were good friends, Kevin and Nicole realized that Lianna as their surrogate would be the best choice despite their initial shock.
Love And Support From Everyone
Surrogacy is obviously a special process and a unique experience for all camps involved. Dr. Richard Klein was the obstetrician who performed the procedure. The doctor claimed that it was “so much fun” to see the two couples during their appointments as it showed their desire to have the baby.
Love And Support From Everyone
The implant procedure was carried out in July of 2016. The two couples were present to see if it was a success. Did Lianna get pregnant with Nicole and Kevin’s baby? If you want to find out, then keep on reading!
Fingers Crossed For Good News
Both couples were anxious as their appointment date came closer. However, Kevin and Nicole were reasonably more restless. After all, they had wanted a baby for several years now. Lianna was careful to follow all the directions she was given before, during, and after the embryo was implanted.
Fingers Crossed For Good News
All they could do now was wait and hope that a baby comes soon. Everyone was excited when the day finally arrived to find out the result. They were ecstatic that there was now another member of the family who could brighten their lives.
Beginning A Family Of Their Own
Kevin and Nicole have wanted to start their own family ever since they got married in 2010. They were extremely excited to start a new chapter with their baby in their home in Smithton, New York. At the time, they felt as if nothing could make them sad.
Beginning A Family Of Their Own
Sadly, the two found no luck, and Nicole was yet to get pregnant. They decided to get medical advice from a professional, and the news they were given was not what they were hoping for. Something was thwarting the couple’s plans.
Health Problems As A Teen
Nicole started to notice tiny bumps on her skin when she was 16 years old. At first, they were just small spots that later multiplied to spread across her whole body. She paid a visit to her doctor when she started getting fever and fatigue as well.
Health Problems As A Teen
The doctor found out Nicole’s were jaundiced. They took blood samples and discovered that her platelet level was alarmingly low. A normal platelet count would fall somewhere between 140,000 to 150,000, but Nicole only had 8,000.
A Dangerous Autoimmune Disease
Nicole was diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or TTP after the doctor’s appointment. TTP is an autoimmune disease that could be fatal. She was only 16 years old when she received the diagnosis, and it must have scared her to hear about it.
A Dangerous Autoimmune Disease
Her disease led blood clots to form all over her body. After the diagnosis, she had to spend some time in the hospital for recovery. It was a good thing Nicole decided to go to the doctor in time. Things could have turned out completely different if she didn’t.
An Uncommon Blood Disorder
You’re most likely curious at how risky Nicole’s condition was. The mortality rate of the blood clots formed due to TTP is 95% if not treated immediately. The disease increases the blood glycoprotein in hemostasis and triggers the formation of blood clots in different parts of the body.
An Uncommon Blood Disorder
All of Nicole’s symptoms with bruises, fever, and fatigue confirmed this. One out of 100,000 people is affected by TTP, and most of those who suffer from the disease are women. 10% of the people who have TTP also experience it while they are young.
Lasting Effects
Thankfully, Nicole’s condition was diagnosed early, and the doctors were able to provide her medication to manage the disease. Nicole was able to live a normal life without the fear of experiencing life-threatening blood clots. Because of this, Nicole doesn’t think much about her illness.
Lasting Effects
Yet, the doctor told her that the TTP medication could prove to be harmful to the baby. Nicole couldn’t stop taking medication, and it seems that there was no way around their dilemma. She is concerned not for herself but the baby she is carrying.
The Bearer of Bad News
After finding out the dangers that pregnancy could bring to her health, Nicole returned home with a heavy heart. Kevin instantly realized that something wasn’t right when he came home. He described, “I got home from work, and Nicole had that look on her face like something was wrong, and I’m never going to forget it.”
The Bearer of Bad News
He went on to say, “I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said, ‘The doctor doesn’t think we can have children.’ And you know, nobody wants to hear that.” He understood when Nicole further explained the risks of a pregnancy.
A Risky Pregnancy
It was difficult to think that she could have a child, but the pregnancy would be dangerous for her and the baby. Nicole said, “I was able to conceive, but I wouldn’t be able to have a healthy pregnancy.
A Risky Pregnancy
And it would result in the death of myself or the baby.” Obviously, carrying a child would be too dangerous for Nicole. The only choice they have left was to look for a different way to fulfill their dream.
Nicole Was Willing To Risk It
Nicole was completely heartbroken once she found out that there was no way she could carry out a pregnancy. It took her a while before the realization finally sunk in. It was frustrating for her that although it was possible to get pregnant, she was told not to push through with it.
Nicole Was Willing To Risk It
She even told Kevin that she was willing to go through the pregnancy, but he was the one who turned down that thought. Nicole was distraught, and they tried to overcome the grief. They did everything they could to overcome it.
Looking For A Safer Alternative
Although they felt all kinds of emotion because of the news, Kevin and Nicole refused to give up. Eventually, they put a stop to their plans to conceive and faced their situation head-on. They needed to clear their heads and think calmly about the gravity of the situation.
Looking For A Safer Alternative
Nicole decided to freeze her eggs and search for a surrogate. It was the safest option for them to be able to have their own family finally. The couple also considered adopting a child. They deliberated for a long time before deciding what to do.
The Cost Of Adoption
When Kevin and Nicole were listing out their options, one of the first things that came to their mind was adoption. It did not matter to the couple if they have a biological child; what was important for them was to have their own family at last.
The Cost Of Adoption
However, they found out that the process of adoption can be pretty expensive. The cost of the adoption process made them turn the option down. Aside from the cost of raising the kids, other fees in the adoption process would put a dent in their finances.
The Legal Fees Cost An Arm And Leg
We are all aware that there are many children in need and waiting to find their own families. Unfortunately, for the children and the aspiring parents, the system requires families to pay a huge amount of fees if they want to adopt. It is a process that can rack up bills due to the legal fees that must be handled.
The Legal Fees Cost An Arm And Leg
According to a report by Adoptive Families, the cost of international adoption in 2015 and 2016 averaged about $42,000. For domestic adoption, the average cost of adopting newborns is $37,000. It’s clear to everyone that the process does involve huge sums of money, which Kevin and Nicole didn’t have the funds for.
Looking Into Surrogacy
Since adoption was now an unlikely choice, the couple checked their next option, which was surrogacy. Nicole and Kevin started researching to find out more about the surrogacy process. They were met with disappointment at the start when they discovered it would cost $75,000.
Looking Into Surrogacy
The cost was even higher than the adoption process. They continued to stay positive and came up with people who might be willing to do it for free. Nicole narrated, “We had heard stories that sisters carried and mothers carried, but I don’t have a sister, and my mother is over the age.”
Surprising New York Surrogacy Laws
Kevin and Nicole were completely surprised when they discovered New York state laws on surrogacy. The couple was not expecting that hiring someone within the state would be illegal. If they wanted to pursue the surrogate option, they had to find someone who lived outside the state.
Surprising New York Surrogacy Laws
Their situation became more complex since traveling to and from a different state for hospital visits would be more expensive. The couple was hoping that they would have a surrogate who lived close to them. They hoped they’d be willing to help them in any way.
Still The Best Option
Nevertheless, Kevin and Nicole were determined, and they were aware that finding a surrogate was the best option for them. The process requires an embryo made up of the mother’s egg and father’s sperm, created through IVF. This embryo would then be implanted into the surrogate.
Still The Best Option
Because of this, the mother and father are still the biological parents despite having a different woman carry the child to term. Kevin and Nicole agreed that it was their best choice, just like many other couples in the same situation. However, they had to find a way to accomplish the process while considering the laws that involved surrogacy.
Support From Her Friends And Family
Everyone in their families knew that to try and get pregnant would be incredibly dangerous for Nicole. The couple revealed their dream to find a surrogate for their first child. Kevin and Nicole received overwhelming support from their family and friends.
Support From Her Friends And Family
Some even offered to be a surrogate for them. Things were starting to look better once they shared the news with everyone. However, it was not as easy and simple when the initial testing results showed that many of the volunteers could not be surrogates.
Lianna Had Just Given Birth
Lianna was a good friend who they have known for more than 20 years already. Lianna has five kids with her husband, Shaun. She loves being a mother and can’t imagine her life without any of her kids.
Lianna Had Just Given Birth
When she learned about Kevin and Nicole’s situation, she immediately felt sympathetic towards them. She thought about volunteering, but since she had just given birth, she wasn’t sure if her body was capable of handling another pregnancy.
Need To Be In Perfect Health
A woman needs to be in perfect health if she wants to become a surrogate. A woman’s chances of getting pregnant decreases as she gets older. Aside from the process of surrogacy being expensive, several other factors must be considered.
Need To Be In Perfect Health
Being a surrogate is not easy, and not everyone will be up for it. However, once a medical professional gives the woman the signal, there is a high probability of getting pregnant in three attempts.
Discussing Plans Over Dinner
The two married couples met for dinner in December 2015. It was clearly a distressing time for Nicole and Kevin, and Lianna and Shaun wanted to help raise their spirits while trying not to intrude on their friends’ situation.
Discussing Plans Over Dinner
However, a conversation about children was a topic that was difficult to avoid, and they were soon talking about it. Nicole was noticeably upset about not being able to get pregnant. That was when Lianna extended her help.
The More The Merrier
After Nicole talked about the difficulties that pregnancy will bring, Lianna told them something shocking and unexpected. Kevin described that dinner conversation, “Lianna goes, ‘You know I have five children, Shawn and I want to have maybe one or two more.'”
The More The Merrier
He continued, “And [Nicole and I] looked at each other with a puzzled look, like, ‘You have five kids, why would you want any more?’” Lianna’s answer to that question moved everyone to tears. It was so moving that even Kevin was taken aback.
The Best Offer They Have Ever Received
Lianna talking about her plans to have more children when they knew Kevin and Nicole’s problem almost seemed like an insult. They were dumbfounded. However, Lianna continued to explain her thoughts. Kevin said, “And she goes, ‘No, not for me, for you guys- I’d like to carry a child.'”
The Best Offer They Have Ever Received
Kevin and Nicole were completely shocked by the offer. He went on, “The two of us, just forget about it. We just, we all started crying.” Finally, they found the solution to their problem. They were reassured because they didn’t have to think about it any longer.
Helping A Friend Out
It was clear to Lianna that she had to do it. She shared, “I was blessed to have five kids, and they are all amazing, and I couldn’t picture my life without them. And to see this family so deserving, it broke my heart.”
Helping A Friend Out
After having experienced the incomparable happiness brought about by motherhood, she wanted other people to feel that joy as well. This pushed Lianna to help out a truly deserving woman who was incapable of having her own child.
A Huge Decision For Lianna and Shawn
For Lianna and Shawn, their family was already complete back in 2015 when they had their fifth child. Lianna was filled with happiness from the love that she showered her children with, yet it seems that there is still more for her to give.
A Huge Decision For Lianna and Shawn
It was the reason she decided to be the surrogate for Kevin and Nicole. She talked to Shawn about it after making her decision, and Shaun was onboard with the plan she constructed. They were ecstatic when they heard the news.
All Going According To Plan
With their emotions running high, Kevin and Nicole could not be more grateful to Lianna when they accepted her offer. It was unbelievable how generous and selfless the proposal was, and the couple was overjoyed to become parents at last.
All Going According To Plan
Lianna passed the required exams without a problem. It was finally official. Everyone agreed to the plan, and the timing could not be any better. Kevin and Nicole were absolutely ecstatic about how their future was developing before their eyes.
Not Just Yet
Once Lianna passed all the medical exams, she made an appointment with the doctor to implant the embryo. It would take a week for them to find out if it was successful, but the wait must have felt like an eternity.
Not Just Yet
Although the plan was slowly falling into place, Kevin and Nicole tried not to get their hopes up too much. Nothing was set in stone and the only thing they could now wait. At the next visit, the two couples were both in attendance to learn that Lianna was not pregnant.
Another Shot
Although the first attempt failed, no one wanted to give up. It helped them a lot that their doctor was just as positive. The doctor told them that the chances of getting pregnant would be higher if they planted more embryos.
Another Shot
They had to wait for another week to find out if they were successful in the second attempt. Everyone was anxious while waiting and hoping for the good news. They couldn’t sit still and be constantly concerned about her health.
The Best News
A week finally passed after the second procedure, and they went to revisit their doctor to find out the results. Everyone was ecstatic when the doctor shared the results. This time, the embryo had been taken, and it was confirmed that Lianna was pregnant.
The Best News
To add to that, they also found out that she was pregnant with twins. The happiness that surrounded the couples were overflowing when they received the news. For Nicole and Kevin, who have wanted to start their family for years, it seems surreal that they were expecting twins.
Letting Everyone Know
Kevin and Nicole shared the news with their friends and family on Labor Day weekend. The couple invited friends for a Labor Day party where they would also reveal the big news they’ve been keeping. The couple stood asked for some silence since they had announcements for everyone.
Letting Everyone Know
No one was expecting what the couple revealed. Since it doesn’t happen to everyone, the idea initially seemed impossible to believe. However, they were overjoyed when they learned that it had happened to them.
Welcoming A Pair Of Twins
On February 10, 2017, Kevin and Nicole welcomed their twins to the world. They were finally parents, and they named their twins Dominic and Luciana. Lianna’s pregnancy sailed by with no issues, and the babies were healthy when they came out.
Welcoming A Pair Of Twins
The couple’s happiness soared as they held the babies in their arms. It wouldn’t be possible, of course, without their dear friend Lianna. According to Kevin, “It’s probably the most amazing thing because you think it’s the end of the road, now here we are with two beautiful children.”
A Bond To Last A Lifetime
It’s no surprise that Lianna and Shawn were also asked to be the twins’ godparents. They were the ones, after all, who was present from the start of this parenthood journey. When Nicole spoke about Lianna, she said, “I don’t have a sister, but I’d consider her like that.
A Bond To Last A Lifetime
We don’t hold back, we are open, honest, and I am constantly turning to her for guidance.” Everything worked out in the end. Nicole was still taking her medication for TTP, but now she’s finally the mother of two children.
An Advocate For Surrogacy
Kevin and Nicole’s story doesn’t end there. When the twins arrived, the couple wanted to share their journey of surrogacy with the whole world. They are advocating to have surrogacy legalized in New York.
An Advocate For Surrogacy
The couple is working with legislators and reproductive specialists to learn how the situation could be better. Kevin said, “We are happy that our story went public to help others in the time of need.” It’s amazing how open and sincere they were about their journey.
Would Not Change A Thing
Kevin and Nicole would always remember the generosity Lianna had shown them. If it weren’t for Lianna, it would be almost impossible for their dream of a family to come to life. Nicole hopes for women in a similar situation to realize that the trouble of finding their surrogate or asking for help is all worth it in the end.
Would Not Change A Thing
“There are people out there, like Lianna, that will do it out of kindness. It’s easier to find them than it seems. It’s never the end of the road,” Nicole said. The couple is continuing to fight for surrogacy to be legalized.