It looked like a perfect plan – a generous act of love, a selfless gift that could change my sister’s life forever.
But sometimes life doesn’t play as you expect. What began as a deeply emotional decision to help my sister Rachel experienced motherhood, turned into a heartbreaking revelation that shook everything I thought I knew about my family and victims.
My journey as a replacement for my sister took unexpected twists and turns and tested with her a bond with her that I never imagined. Here is the story of how one act of kindness almost tore my family.
My sister, Rachel, has been fighting infertility for years, and at the time she asked me to wear my child, she had lost a large part of her living personality.
When I watched my boys playing the kitchen through the window, I felt Rachel’s deep love for them. I knew she would be a perfect mother if she had a chance.
Then Rachel approached and gently took my hands. “Abby, you are my only hope of becoming a mother. Please think of an incredible gift that might give me.”
That evening my husband and I discussed the possibility that I was Rachel spare. I already had four boys and other pregnancy seemed to be stunning physically and emotionally, but seeing my sister’s pain was difficult to refuse.
I asked my husband to believe me, and with his support I decided to carry Rachel’s Child.
Soon Rachel and Jason’s child began to grow in me. They were incredibly enthusiastic and fulfilled plans for their future as parents.
Then came the day when they arrived at the hospital. But something was gone.
Instead of taking a baby at me, Rachel stared at me and said, “This is not the child we expected. We don’t want it.”
“Are you kidding, right?” I asked, completely impressed.
“She’s a girl. Jason wanted a son,” she replied straight.
Before I could react, my husband entered furiously. “Did you lose your mind?” shout.
“But you’ve never mentioned anything about s*x,” I still said in disbelief.
“Well, you had four boys, so we just assumed it would be the same,” Rachel explained.
What looked like a reasonable decision to be a substitute has now felt as if it broke my relationship with my sister.
A few weeks later, my door was knocked. “Who could be on that day?” I thought when I opened the door.
It was Rachel, she looked different – much more subdued.
Before I could ask, she began to cry and apologized. “I can’t leave my daughter, even if it means leaving Jason.”
When I saw her real regret, I let her in and allowed her to hold Kelly for the first time.
He watched Rachel and her daughter together, and it seemed to me that everything came a full circle. Although her single mother would be difficult for her, my husband, our boys and I were ready to support her in any way.
In the end, the journey let us change forever. Although the initial decision to be spare for my sister looked like a noble and logical choice, unexpected revelations on the s*x of the child broke our bond and my trust. Yet, as painful as it was to confront with this betrayal, he also opened the door of healing and understanding. When Rachel returned, overcome by remorse and determined not to leave my daughter, I saw a flash of sister I once knew. With the support of my husband and our boys, we took the opportunity to help her rebuild her life.
Now that I watch Rachel hold Kelly for the first time, I know that even broken relationships can find a way to fix, provided there is real regret and willingness to start again.