Surrogacy after cancer diagnosis
Donation protected
Charlotte 38 & Ken 43 married in 2006 and began trying for a family within a year of marriage. Ken originated from Nigeria and Charlotte in the UK.
After 18 months of trying nothing was happening so they were sent to the hospital for tests. It was then found that Charlotte had numerous cysts on her ovaries and some of them were very large. The decision was made to have the ovary removed as when they began to remove the cysts the ovary was too damaged. Charlotte wasn’t aware that she had one ovary removed until she came out of surgery. The ovary was sent for biopsy and it was found that she had a borderline diagnosis of Ovarian cancer.
At that present time Charlotte had always struggled with her weight and was told that to go ahead with IVF she would need to lose a significant amount of weight. She began slimming world and a strict diet and change of lifestyle to pursue her dream of becoming a mother. After 18 months she achieved the goal losing 6 stone in weight. The Jessops clinic in Sheffield accepted her and Ken for funding of 2 cycles of IVF. Together they began the next chapter of their story.
Embryos were finally created and one was implanted into Charlottes womb. The 2 week wait was an emotionally hard time waiting for the news if it had worked. A pregnancy was confirmed, however when they had the first scan they were informed the pregnancy had miscarried.
After a period of grieving they made the decision to try again however once again we were disappointed as this didn’t implant.
Charlotte had started to feel unwell and was having regular checkups with her oncologist and on receiving the tests results it was confirmed she had borderline tumours in the other ovary. The decision was made to harvest as many eggs as possible before removing the only ovary that she had left to give her and Ken and hope of becoming parents. Numerous embryos were created and frozen in readiness for further treatment. This cycle had to be funded by Charlotte and Ken as the NHS ones had been used already.
Within 6 months another tragedy struck and after Charlotte feeling unwell and losing all sensation in her legs she was rushed to hospital. At this point she was unable to walk and it was confirmed after the scan that a cyst had grown on her spinal cord and was compressing therefore causing paralysis from the waist down. The cyst was removed and then she was informed she may never walk again. Utterly devastated she began rehabilitation and after 3 months of been in hospital she went home to continue her rehabilitation with physio therapists coming into her home.
This changed all the hopes of Charlotte been able to pursue carrying her own child due to the fragile state of her legs and back and the complications a pregnancy was likely to bring her. Once again family and friends were around to support Charlotte & Ken.
Overtime Charlotte gained strength and determination and gained use in her legs with aids and adaptions and much support from Ken and family and friends.
Discussions began on the next steps to take with the pursuit of becoming parents.
Charlotte & Ken decided after much thought that they would pursue the Adoption route. The process was a long and hard one both emotionally and mentally, however together they continued to press on in hope that this would bring them there hearts desires.
After 18 months of scrutiny and people delving into there lives in so many ways they finally were approved and a match was made with a beautiful little girl of 18 months called Lexi. They were over joyed as a family and everything was ready and prepared for her arrival.
Charlotte had been feeling unwell for a few months however it had been suggested it was stress and then impact of all they had faced together as a couple. She was extremely bloated. However she went to see her GP out of concern and blood tests were taken. Due to her ongoing issues of the borderline diagnosis the cancer indicator test was done and unfortunately her Ca125 levels were elevated.
Once again tragedy came in abundance as Charlotte had a scan and numerous nodules were found in her peritoneum, along with 9 litres of ascites this time it was confirmed and the diagnosis had become much worse she was diagnosed with Low Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma.
Numerous visits to the hospital and the decision was made that she would begin treatment as it couldn’t be removed surgically.
The Adoption agency then struck them with the devastating news that they were no longer going to allow them to take lexi home with them and be a family. The decision was appealed however they still wouldn’t allow Lexi to have a new mummy and daddy.
A year of emotional and physical stress took its toll on Charlotte and eventually things began to some what settle down as much as it possibly could in the circumstances.
Ken discussed with Charlotte the fact they had 4 embryos that were frozen and maybe surrogacy was an option. After much thought Charlotte agreed that however stressful it may be they had to try to pursue the last chance and hope of becoming parents.
Information was gathered from clinics locally and the costings were given to them to consider.
Charlotte & Ken just dream and hope so much to become parents one day however were told they would have to raise between 15,000 - 25,000 for the treatment and expenses of a surrogate. Someone who Charlotte knows has offered to be a surrogate and they have been getting to know her more and she’s said she would love to be able to give them such a wonderful gift after nearly 14 years of pursuing this dream and hope. We hope that our story reaches out to anyone willing to help us pursue and achieve our hearts desire.
Thank you for your time reading about Charlotte & Ken and we appreciate any help and support given to us
xxxx
After 18 months of trying nothing was happening so they were sent to the hospital for tests. It was then found that Charlotte had numerous cysts on her ovaries and some of them were very large. The decision was made to have the ovary removed as when they began to remove the cysts the ovary was too damaged. Charlotte wasn’t aware that she had one ovary removed until she came out of surgery. The ovary was sent for biopsy and it was found that she had a borderline diagnosis of Ovarian cancer.
At that present time Charlotte had always struggled with her weight and was told that to go ahead with IVF she would need to lose a significant amount of weight. She began slimming world and a strict diet and change of lifestyle to pursue her dream of becoming a mother. After 18 months she achieved the goal losing 6 stone in weight. The Jessops clinic in Sheffield accepted her and Ken for funding of 2 cycles of IVF. Together they began the next chapter of their story.
Embryos were finally created and one was implanted into Charlottes womb. The 2 week wait was an emotionally hard time waiting for the news if it had worked. A pregnancy was confirmed, however when they had the first scan they were informed the pregnancy had miscarried.
After a period of grieving they made the decision to try again however once again we were disappointed as this didn’t implant.
Charlotte had started to feel unwell and was having regular checkups with her oncologist and on receiving the tests results it was confirmed she had borderline tumours in the other ovary. The decision was made to harvest as many eggs as possible before removing the only ovary that she had left to give her and Ken and hope of becoming parents. Numerous embryos were created and frozen in readiness for further treatment. This cycle had to be funded by Charlotte and Ken as the NHS ones had been used already.
Within 6 months another tragedy struck and after Charlotte feeling unwell and losing all sensation in her legs she was rushed to hospital. At this point she was unable to walk and it was confirmed after the scan that a cyst had grown on her spinal cord and was compressing therefore causing paralysis from the waist down. The cyst was removed and then she was informed she may never walk again. Utterly devastated she began rehabilitation and after 3 months of been in hospital she went home to continue her rehabilitation with physio therapists coming into her home.
This changed all the hopes of Charlotte been able to pursue carrying her own child due to the fragile state of her legs and back and the complications a pregnancy was likely to bring her. Once again family and friends were around to support Charlotte & Ken.
Overtime Charlotte gained strength and determination and gained use in her legs with aids and adaptions and much support from Ken and family and friends.
Discussions began on the next steps to take with the pursuit of becoming parents.
Charlotte & Ken decided after much thought that they would pursue the Adoption route. The process was a long and hard one both emotionally and mentally, however together they continued to press on in hope that this would bring them there hearts desires.
After 18 months of scrutiny and people delving into there lives in so many ways they finally were approved and a match was made with a beautiful little girl of 18 months called Lexi. They were over joyed as a family and everything was ready and prepared for her arrival.
Charlotte had been feeling unwell for a few months however it had been suggested it was stress and then impact of all they had faced together as a couple. She was extremely bloated. However she went to see her GP out of concern and blood tests were taken. Due to her ongoing issues of the borderline diagnosis the cancer indicator test was done and unfortunately her Ca125 levels were elevated.
Once again tragedy came in abundance as Charlotte had a scan and numerous nodules were found in her peritoneum, along with 9 litres of ascites this time it was confirmed and the diagnosis had become much worse she was diagnosed with Low Grade Ovarian Serous Carcinoma.
Numerous visits to the hospital and the decision was made that she would begin treatment as it couldn’t be removed surgically.
The Adoption agency then struck them with the devastating news that they were no longer going to allow them to take lexi home with them and be a family. The decision was appealed however they still wouldn’t allow Lexi to have a new mummy and daddy.
A year of emotional and physical stress took its toll on Charlotte and eventually things began to some what settle down as much as it possibly could in the circumstances.
Ken discussed with Charlotte the fact they had 4 embryos that were frozen and maybe surrogacy was an option. After much thought Charlotte agreed that however stressful it may be they had to try to pursue the last chance and hope of becoming parents.
Information was gathered from clinics locally and the costings were given to them to consider.
Charlotte & Ken just dream and hope so much to become parents one day however were told they would have to raise between 15,000 - 25,000 for the treatment and expenses of a surrogate. Someone who Charlotte knows has offered to be a surrogate and they have been getting to know her more and she’s said she would love to be able to give them such a wonderful gift after nearly 14 years of pursuing this dream and hope. We hope that our story reaches out to anyone willing to help us pursue and achieve our hearts desire.
Thank you for your time reading about Charlotte & Ken and we appreciate any help and support given to us
xxxx
Organizer
Charlotte Chinyereugo Yvonne Sanko
Organizer