A would-be surrogate gave us a gift. It wasn't the one we were expecting
When a stranger offered to be a surrogate for Sashi and her husband, they were cautious but hopeful. Finding out it was unlikely to help was a complete surprise.
Five years ago, the author began sharing her fertility struggles after being bombarded with questions about her lack of children. At first, she anticipated advice and even resentment from strangers when she admitted to miscarriages and failed IVF attempts, but instead, she discovered an outpouring of support from those in similar situations.
Unbeknownst to her, a complete stranger also offered to be a surrogate. After weighing her options, the author and her husband decided to pursue surrogacy within their own city. Despite the complex legal process and initial discouragement from her IVF clinic, they decided to proceed. The clinic informed them that the issue likely lay with the embryos, not her body, which left the author feeling guilty.
After extensive testing and treatments, she found herself relieved to have a functioning surrogate body. The author's perspective on life and fertility shifted, leading her to focus on enjoying the journey rather than trying to control the outcome. She now leads a comedy tour with her husband, grateful for the unexpected gift of a surrogate.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
