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| Sister has cancer mother's baby | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A woman has given birth to her sister's baby girl because she could not have children after a cancer operation. | A woman has given birth to her sister's baby girl because she could not have children after a cancer operation. |
| Lisa Mainwaring, 35, of Swansea, had feared her dream of becoming a mother would never come true. | Lisa Mainwaring, 35, of Swansea, had feared her dream of becoming a mother would never come true. |
| But her sister Angela Strannigan, 38, and with two children of her own, volunteered to be a surrogate mother, and gave birth to Evie three weeks ago. | But her sister Angela Strannigan, 38, and with two children of her own, volunteered to be a surrogate mother, and gave birth to Evie three weeks ago. |
| "I wake in the night and tears are rolling down my face because I can't believe she is here," said Lisa. | "I wake in the night and tears are rolling down my face because I can't believe she is here," said Lisa. |
| Lisa and her husband Chris had planned to start a family after he proposed during a holiday in Las Vegas in 2005. | Lisa and her husband Chris had planned to start a family after he proposed during a holiday in Las Vegas in 2005. |
| Because I did not carry the baby I thought I might not have that instant bond, but it was instant love Lisa Mainwaring She was already under observation but later that year tests showed she had pre-cancerous cells in her womb. | Because I did not carry the baby I thought I might not have that instant bond, but it was instant love Lisa Mainwaring She was already under observation but later that year tests showed she had pre-cancerous cells in her womb. |
| Despite a course of hormone treatment she developed cancer of the womb and doctors decided she needed a hysterectomy. | Despite a course of hormone treatment she developed cancer of the womb and doctors decided she needed a hysterectomy. |
| "I knew it meant I would never be able to have a baby," she said. | "I knew it meant I would never be able to have a baby," she said. |
| Eggs were taken from her ovaries before her womb was removed, and then fertilised with her husband's sperm and implanted. | |
| Then the night before Lisa had her operation Angela discovered she was pregnant. | Then the night before Lisa had her operation Angela discovered she was pregnant. |
| "I said to her, 'how can I ever repay you?' and she just said, 'I don't need repaying' because she has given herself a niece." | "I said to her, 'how can I ever repay you?' and she just said, 'I don't need repaying' because she has given herself a niece." |
| Planned caesarean | Planned caesarean |
| "Angela's husband Jason has been fantastic throughout it all because it's a hell of a thing to ask someone to do because it affects all their home life." | "Angela's husband Jason has been fantastic throughout it all because it's a hell of a thing to ask someone to do because it affects all their home life." |
| Angela, 38, gave birth in a planned caesarean at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, three weeks ago with Lisa by her side. When Evie arrived she was handed straight to Lisa. | Angela, 38, gave birth in a planned caesarean at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, three weeks ago with Lisa by her side. When Evie arrived she was handed straight to Lisa. |
| "All I did was cry - the feeling was amazing," said Lisa. | "All I did was cry - the feeling was amazing," said Lisa. |
| "Because I did not carry the baby I thought I might not have that instant bond, but it was instant love. I will never forget that feeling. | "Because I did not carry the baby I thought I might not have that instant bond, but it was instant love. I will never forget that feeling. |
| I was just baby-sitting for nine months - it was always Lisa's baby Angela Strannigan | I was just baby-sitting for nine months - it was always Lisa's baby Angela Strannigan |
| "They discharged Evie on the Wednesday but because Angela had to stay another two nights we stayed in with her - we could never have come home and left her there." | "They discharged Evie on the Wednesday but because Angela had to stay another two nights we stayed in with her - we could never have come home and left her there." |
| Angela, whose own children are Amy, 13, and Lewis, eight, said she was only too happy to act as a surrogate mother. | Angela, whose own children are Amy, 13, and Lewis, eight, said she was only too happy to act as a surrogate mother. |
| "There is only two-and-a-half years between us so it could easily have been the other way around," she said. | "There is only two-and-a-half years between us so it could easily have been the other way around," she said. |
| "I don't see it as a big deal because she is my sister and I would do it again if I could. | "I don't see it as a big deal because she is my sister and I would do it again if I could. |
| "Jason agreed straight away because he said Lisa deserves to be a mother because she is so close to my two. | "Jason agreed straight away because he said Lisa deserves to be a mother because she is so close to my two. |
| "I was just baby-sitting for nine months - it was always Lisa's baby." | "I was just baby-sitting for nine months - it was always Lisa's baby." |
| Since Evie was born Lisa and Chris have received almost 150 cards from well-wishers and friends, including some of the midwives and doctors at the hospital. | Since Evie was born Lisa and Chris have received almost 150 cards from well-wishers and friends, including some of the midwives and doctors at the hospital. |
| Both sisters said they had nothing but praise for the care and treatment they had received. | Both sisters said they had nothing but praise for the care and treatment they had received. |