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A 61-year-old grandmother gave birth to her own granddaughter after volunteering to be a surrogate for her son and his husband’s child.

When Matthew Eledge, 32, and Elliot Dougherty, 29, began considering IVF as an option for conceiving a child two years ago, the couple say they were amused by Matthew’s mums offer to be be their surrogate.

Having last given birth more than 30 years ago, Cecile Eledge, who went through menopause 10 years ago, assured the couple that she ‘loved being pregnant’, and, if she could, she’d ‘do it again in a heartbeat’.

Meeting with a reproductive endocrinologist in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, Matthew shared his mother’s ‘crazy’ declaration with Dr.
Carolyn Maud Dougherty, who assured him there was nothing crazy about her idea at all, shares Daily Mail.

After a series of tests doctors confirmed the grandma to be in remarkable shape and fully capable of carrying a baby full-term.

It was Elliot’s 26-year-old sister, Lea Yribe, who then offered the couple her eggs, having just given birth to her second child.

Using Matthew’s sperm, doctors implanted several fertilised eggs in Cecil’s uterus, and remarkably she fell pregnant on the first attempt.

Doctors were stunned when Cecile was able to give birth to Uma naturally, instead of the C-section procedure they’d anticipated.

Photographer Ariel Panowicz captured the emotional moment Matthew and Elliot glanced down at their daughter for the first time, as grandma Cecile clutched the baby in her arms.

Such a beautiful and touching story.

Share your comments below

Images via Ariel Panowicz Facebook

  • what a beautiful story and a true act of love

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  • What a super grandmother it is amazing she was able to give this gift to her boys.

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  • So wonderful that she was able to do this and was unselfish enough to do it too. Children will always love their parents, but this mum has gone way beyond what most mum’s would do.

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  • Wow, I’m going to be WAY to selfish to do that when I’m 60. Twice was enough for me! What an amazing gift for her children.

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  • Wow !! This has to be a first in this way of surrogacy. The 60 year old Mum must be very strong and determined to go though with this

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  • A mothers love….. unconditional

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  • Now that is pretty amazing, congratulations to all.

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  • What a wonderful and loving thing she has done for her son and his partner. I can’t see a problem with this since they did all the right things. Congratulations to the happy couple.

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  • Wow.. so this is amazing that it can happen. Not sure how I feel about it other than wow, it was able to happen.

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  • I’m not sure how I feel about this…

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  • Wow. I’m in awe… But also weirded out.

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  • Wow that’s amazing!

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  • What a lovely gesture for her son. So glad all went well with this.

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  • What a blessing she is to her son and his partner.

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  • Such a beautiful story but weirdly creeped out by it for some reason. Although…. #fitgrandmagoals

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  • Oh my, This is a lovely story. What a gift. 🙂


    • It is a lovely story and their bond will be life long – some people are selfless.

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  • Wow, what a family affair! I’m surprised that she could carry to full term after going through menopause.

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  • Wow i cant believe it was even possible.

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  • What an amazing mum, to physically go through the pregnancy and natural child birth at over 60! Good on her and her daughter to help her son and partner become parents.

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  • I would love to do that but unfortunately my body now disagrees

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