When Tracey Smith was 15, she went to the doctors as she hadnβt yet started her period. She was told she had working ovaries and fallopian tubes but sadly did not have a womb.
Tracey, now 31, π€ππ πππππππ ππ π€ππ‘β ππ πΎπ» (πππ¦ππ-π ππππ‘πππ ππ¦-πΎπ’Μπ π‘ππ-π»ππ’π ππ ππ¦ππππππ) β π πππππ‘ππ ππππππ‘πππ π‘βππ‘ πππ’π ππ π‘βπ π£πππππ πππ π’π‘πππ’π π‘π ππ π’πππππππ£ππππππ ππ πππ πππ‘, π‘βππ’πβ πππππ‘πππ πππ£ππππ ππππππππ¦. That meant she couldnβt have children.
The nursery worker from Coventry confided in her own mother Emma after learning she wouldnβt be able to become a mother, something she had always desired since she was 15 years old. Emma promised Tracey that she would do whatever to help her become a mother at the time, and she has kept her word.
The 55-year-old agreed to have Traceyβs child for her meaning she would be giving birth to her own grandchild. She has now given birth to granddaughter Evie and the family is delighted with their newest addition.
Tracey and her husband Adam now have to adopt Evie as per UK law which says the surrogate mother has legal custody.
βI was βππππ‘ππππππ at the idea that I wouldnβt carry my own child. Iβd always known that I wanted to be a mum, even at 15,β said Tracey.
βStraight after my diagnosis mum made an offer to do what she could to help. I knew that she meant one day sheβd carry my child for me.
βOver the years she mentioned it in passing but we never really made a firm plan.β
After struggling with laws surrounding surrogacy, Tracey and Adam decided to approach Emma to see if she still meant her offer.
They were delighted to hear she did and had been waiting to be asked.
π΅ππππ’π π πππ . ππππ‘ββπ ππ£πππππ π π‘πππ π€πππππ ππππππππ¦, π βπ π’π ππ πΌππΉ π€ππ‘β βππ βπ’π ππππ, π΄πππ, 40, π‘π πππππ‘π ππ πππππ¦π π€βππβ π€ππ π‘βππ πππππππ‘ππ πππ‘π πππ . πππππ . Her womb was healthy enough to carry a child, though she needed to shed six stones (38kg) to reach a healthy weight and needed βπππππππ Β to ensure the pregnancy took.
It was successful on the first try, despite the odds. After a normal pregnancy, Evie was delivered via πΆπππ πππππ π πππ‘πππ.
Surrogate mother Emma said she was ππ’π‘π‘ππΒ when her daughter was first diagnosed.
βI remember sitting on her bed and saying, βIβm here if you need meβ,β she said.
βDespite my age, I wasnβt worried about giving birth at all. All of my focus has been on doing this special thing for my daughter.
βI donβt feel any more attachment to Evie than any other proud grandmother.
βTracey is my baby and I did it all for her to be a mother. Iβm glad to be back to work and getting back to normal, but I have offered to do it all again if they ever want a little brother or sister for Evie.β
Smithβ said: βIt was such an incredible, emotional moment [when Evie was born]. I was so nervous that everything would go well for mum and for the safe arrival of our baby.
βI just waited to hear that cry and burst into happy tears.β
Smith added: βEvery moment of heartache was so worth it just to have our little bundle in our arms. I am so grateful to mum for her amazing gift to usβ.
