None of us ever expect to find ourselves in a position where carrying a baby to full term is not possible.
This was the predicament for a Melbourne couple, Dannielle and Sean. It took the couple 7 years of miscarriages and failed IVF treatments to finally give birth to a son Aidan.
But 11 days after the birth of Aidan, it was discovered the newborn developed a bowel infection and the couple had to make the tragic decision to turn off Aidan’s life support
The devastated couple turned to IVF via surrogacy to make their parenting dream come true.
A year ago, the couple became the proud parents of Australia’s first “twiblings.”
Twiblings are when two babies are conceived through IVF around the same time using sperm and eggs from the same parents, but the babies are carried by different surrogates.
The twiblings, Ethan and Ava, were born in separate countries, but both share their parents DNA.
Danielle’s best friend gave birth to Ethan and Ava was born by a Thai surrogate 4 weeks later.
The couple split their parenting duties to be at the birth of their children. Danielle stayed home to care for Ethan while Sean flew to Thailand when Ava was born to arrange her Australian citizenship so she could be brought home.
The couple thought tragedy struck again when it was discovered Ava had three holes in her heart after her birth. Sean was able to get back to Australia to meet with a cardiologist to save Ava’s life.
The couple have since shied away from media attention as their story went to air on the nine network show The Embassy. Their family story is one to take courage from, for parents who are struggling with infertility, wondering if they can have the family they dreamed of. Danielle and Sean are proof that you can through surrogacy.
