No matter if a child is 3 or 53, a loving parent should always be there to be a loving parent. In some cases, though, parents go above and beyond the normal call of duty to make the lives of their kids as full as possible. Case in point: 61-year-old, Kristine Casey, a woman who acted as her daughter, Sara’s, surrogate when she couldn’t get pregnant on her own.
The incredible story, which was featured on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel, details the many highs, lows, and unbelievable modern medical miracles that brought grandson and son, Finn, into the world. Although we don’t want to give away too much of the story before you have a chance to watch the video, we do have to share with you that the journey, from the first few visits with the OB/GYN to the delivery room, was a success.
“The surgery itself was uncomplicated, and the emotional context of this delivery was so profound,” Dr. Susan Gerber, obstetrician and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
Bill Casey, Sara’s husband was, at first skeptical of the idea of post-menopausal Kristine acting as a surrogate for his wife and child.”I just wanted to make sure the science was there,” he said. “I didn’t want us to subject ourselves to another very risky, possibly devastating, scenario. Infertility is one thing, but putting your mother-in-law in danger kicks it up to another level altogether.”
“What made the difference for me was when Kris said it was a calling from deep within herself,” Bill continued. “You can’t get any more compelling than that.”
We’re all, of course, familiar with the idea of dealing with an overly-insistent mother-in-law, but in this case, it’s quite clear that Bill could see the passion in Kristine’s offer. This was a woman who would do anything to help her child experience a motherhood that she herself so much cherished.
So, the IVF process began, and 9 months after Kristine became pregnant, baby Finn was born. Unsurprisingly, the birth was a monumental moment for all parties involved.
“From the very beginning, the moment I’ve wanted is the moment the baby is in their arms,” Kris said, weeks after giving birth to Finn. “I’ve been clear since after my third child that I didn’t need to have any more children, and as much as I will be delighted to be a grandmother, I don’t want to take a baby home.”
Kristine’s daughter Sarah, echoed her mom’s enthusiasm. “It grew beyond the two of us having a child,” Sara said. “It was about the closeness with my mother, and our family having this experience that was unique and special.”
How’s that for an amazing birth story? We’ve covered quite a few over the years, and though all birth stories are certainly special in their own ways, this one might just take the cake!
To see Oprah Winfrey cover Kris and Sara’s amazing journeys in motherhood and surrogacy, be sure to watch the video below. Inspiring stuff!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this one-of-a-kind surrogacy story. Are you surprised that this was a healthy birth? Would you and a family member ever consider a similar situation? Do you have a special surrogacy story of your own that you would like to share?