A mother will do anything for her child, including bear their children if necessary. 46-year-old Theresa Hohehaus gave birth to her own grandson in what may be one of the strangest and most beautiful stories of selfless heroism. Theresa’s 25-year-old daughter Alice has been battling cancer since she was a child and doctors said she would never be able to carry a child.
When Alice was 4-years-old she was diagnosed with leukemia. At age 8 her family rejoiced when the cancer went into remission, but it came back barely a year later. The radiation treatment that saved Alice’s life left her uterus severely scarred and she miscarried her first child at the age of 23. Doctors concluded that she would never be able to bring a child to term by herself, but had a bizarre alternative that would allow her to conceive her own children even if she couldn’t carry them herself.
Having nearly lost her own child when she was a young mother, Theresa volunteered to carry Alice’s child for her. The brave grandmother-to-be was still young enough to give birth after having 4 children of her own. Theresa’s experience fostering more than 50 children left her in a strangely perfect position to handle the emotional turmoil associated with carrying another woman’s child.
Alice’s eggs were already prepared for a donor, and the family felt more comfortable with Theresa carrying their child than hiring an unfamiliar surrogate. All too familiar with the unforgettable sensation of morning sickness, Theresa knew she was pregnant before the doctor’s tests could confirm her suspicion. Alice and Theresa were inseperable throughout the pregnancy as mother and daughter shared a heartwarming experience unlike any other pregnancy.
Little baby Parker was born without complication. According to the Daily Mail, Theresa said “I had the first cuddle while Alice cut the cord.” She’s still involved in her grandson’s life and willing to repeat the entire process should her daughter decide to have more children.