Jonas and Petra’s Most Eggcellent Adventure

It was only 6 weeks after I moved in with Petra when, following a routine smear test, she received a call from the GP to come back into the surgery as soon as she could. Age 26 Petra was told that she had an aggressive form of cervical cancer caused by the human papilloma virus, and that she would need to have a hysterectomy…within a month. So not much time to think about things… to discuss freezing eggs, to consider what this might mean 5, 10, 15 years later…

We talked around and about pregnancy over the years and she never really said much about what she hoped for. We chatted about surrogacy in abstract terms. Our lives carried on, jobs, boys, friends, travels, the fun stuff. I knew she felt deeply saddened about how little choice she had at the time, the birthdays came and went 30, 35, 40… and she never spoke really spoke about having a baby becoming a reality, as she never even dared dream it could happen.

And so here we are. It’s only taken a global pandemic, a break from work and the love of a great man for Petra to realise that in terms of starting a family, it really is now or never.

In Petra’s situation, where she still has her eggs but needs a surrogate to carry the fertilised embryo to full term, there is no funding for any IVF treatment that would normally be available to couples trying to conceive. This means that Petra and Jonas need to fund ALL of the treatment and expenses involved with a achieving a surrogate pregnancy, even those fertility treatments/tests normally available to couples on the NHS.

Bottom line – surrogacy can be expensive.

To list all the types of treatments and expenses that might be involved in surrogacy via IVF would be difficult because this will change depending on the circumstances and on the results that come from the tests. The challenges will be different at each stage of the journey, but one hurdle we could collectively help with would be the financial one.

I feel so blessed to know Petra, I don’t think there’s anyone quite like her and I’m not quite sure why she took a shine to me but I’m all the better for having her in my life. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way and that there’s so much love for this special woman out there, she has touched so many of us with her compassion, support, warmth, humour, and down right wonderfulness – not to mention those dance moves. I am compelled to reach out to you all – can we collectively support her on this journey in some way?

However much you can donate will be massively appreciated by Petra and Jonas, whether it’s the cost of your next latte or a large Malibu and Pineapple, every penny will count. You don’t have to give straight away, maybe you’d like to raise some funds separately and give later? a cake sale at work, a car boot sale, a sponsored spell, walk around your garden a few times – you know she’d love it!

What happens next? – send the page some money, this really is the time to give and to get this show on the road. Do share the page amongst Petra and Jonas’s friends and family -  there’s no need to keep this fundraiser a secret – I checked in with Petra  who is rather overwhelmed that we are doing this... she is very open to talking about the IVF treatment with her friends and family.

There is no deadline for donations and no requirement for us to reach the target. Petra can withdraw the money that she receives via this page at any time straight into her account enabling her to get started on this adventure.

So let’s show our girl some love on this amazing, magical journey with Jonas to wherever it leads them!

Gina xxx