Holding my nephew, Theo, in my arms, I smiled at my brother Anthony. ‘He’s beautiful,’ I said, kissing Theo’s head, before handing him back to Anthony. Just a few hours old, Theo really was gorgeous, and as I watched Anthony and his partner Ray gaze at Theo in awe and fuss over him, there was no doubt in my mind that giving my brother a baby was the best decision I’d ever made.
Anthony and I had been indifferent to each other as kids. I was four years older so I just saw him as my annoying little brother. But it was when I started a family with my partner, Wayne, that I saw a different side to Anthony – he loved being an uncle to our ve sons and daughter.
Anthony’s relationship with my kids strengthened our own bond. So much so that he even walked me down the aisle when I married Wayne, then 8, in August 2003.
A few years later, Anthony met Ray and it meant so much to me to see him happy. Together, they often looked after my kids, converting a bedroom for them and Anthony, Ray and I even started working together. Their love for each other was clear and their yearning to start a family of their own deepened over the years. In 2017, they joined a surrogacy group, attending events with prospective surrogate mothers. But they never clicked with anyone and came away disappointed.
Then one night, in early 2017, I read a story about a surrogate mother. I thought it was such a selfless thing to do, and it got me thinking. That night, after the kids had gone to bed, I sat Wayne down.
This story is from the May 11, 2021 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 11, 2021 edition of WOMAN'S OWN.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is it ever OK to lie about your age?
Kaye Adams has done it, and even Mel B jokes that she doesn't believe friend Geri Horner is 51. We ask...
‘I DIDN'T THINK.I'D SEE MUM AGAIN'int ICAT AFAR
MelB on rebuilding her life rebuilding her life after her abusive’ marriage
8 WAYS TO BECOME A MORNING PERSON
Improve body and mind with just a few simple tweaks to your daily routine
WHY YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE
(laire Dore, 50, learnt a lot from her first serious relationship
WHAT'S THE NAKED ATTRACTION ?
After a host of celebrities admitted to stripping off behind closed doors, Natalie Brown, 43, decided to bare all to find out just what all the fuss was about
MY FURY AT BEING A GRAN AT 52
Shona Sibary was far from excited when her eldest daughter welcomed her first child
A YEAR IN THE MAKING
Many of us shy away from drastic change but for these three women, it was just what they needed
I LOST 6ST AND FOUND THE REAL ME!
Shay Al-Ajami May, 32, was fed up pretending to be happy, so she decided to make it a reality
WHAT DO YOUR FEET SAY ABOUT YOUR HEALTH?
From heart disease to arthritis, here’s what they might be trying to tell you…
HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CHILDREN?
With more young people facing mental-health crises, we investigate what needs to be done