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"It's really special": Grandmother volunteers as surrogate for her son's child

<p>The Hauck family is looking forward to welcoming another child into their family later this year, but under very unusual circumstances </p> <p>Jeff and Cambria are parents to four children, who they had through IVF, and wanted one more baby to complete their family. </p> <p>But after Cambria needed a hysterectomy after their last child was born, they had to contemplate using a surrogate. </p> <p>“Cambria needed an emergency hysterectomy after having our boys,” her husband Jeff Hauck told NBC.</p> <p>“We knew if we were going to be able to have any more of our embryos we would have to use a gestational carrier,” he said.</p> <p>Enter: Jeff's mum Nancy. </p> <p>The 56-year-old grandmother stepped up and offered to carry the couple's last embryo, as she became pregnant with her own granddaughter after several appointments with a fertility specialist and a complicated embryo transfer.</p> <p>“Bringing another strong baby girl to our family, it’s just really special,” she said.</p> <p>Despite not being pregnant in 26 years, Nancy said the pregnancy is going well and her body is handling the symptoms with ease. </p> <p>“I am feeling great, surprisingly, and just like I did when I was younger and expecting,” she said.</p> <p>The couple said the experience of getting their daughter here has been an incredible journey, and are eternally grateful to Nancy for her selflessness in carrying their child. </p> <p>“It’s been so incredible to be part of this experience with her. I am eternally grateful,” Cambria said.</p> <p>Just a couple of days after the embryo transfer, Nancy said she woke up in the middle of the night and heard a sweet voice clearly say, “Hi, my name is Hannah.”</p> <p>Because of that experience, the couple has decided to name their daughter Hannah.</p> <p>“Hannah means favour or grace which sums up the whole experience perfectly in every definition of the words! Nancy is doing this eternal ‘favour’ for our family. The way it all came to be has been through the grace of God,” Cambria said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: NBC</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Sally Obermeder’s surrogate speaks out

<p>TV presenter Sally Obermeder has opened up about the emotional birth her second child, Elyssa Rose, who was born via a surrogate in December last year.</p> <p>Channel 7’s Sunday Night followed Sally, her husband Marcus and their daughter Annabelle to the US as they searched to complete their family of four.</p> <p>In 2011, during her first pregnancy Sally was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer. She underwent 16 rounds of chemotherapy after the birth of her little girl and was eventually given the all clear one year after her diagnosis.</p> <p><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/34701/main1_500x375.jpg" alt="Main1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>The cancer meant that Sally could never have a natural pregnancy again, but the TV personality had always dreamed of a large family.</p> <p>“I acknowledge that I’m extremely lucky to have one child... But the yearning and desire to be a mum again is so strong and it has not passed,” The Daily Edition host previously said.</p> <p>“Before I was sick I always pictured I would have two or three children, if I was lucky enough, and I still want that for Annabelle.”</p> <p>Sally still had four embryos remaining from previous IVF treatment and journeyed to the US to find a surrogate.</p> <p>Sally and Marcus met Rachel, a mother to three girls, who had been a surrogate once before.</p> <p>Rachel tells Sunday Night the chance to help the Obermeders complete their family was “priceless”.</p> <p>“It does bring up a lot of questions, like, ‘How are you able to give the baby away?’ And truly, it's not my baby. I'm just babysitting for 10 months,” she says.</p> <p>Sally recalls the moment she first saw her daughter.</p> <p>“I was like, I don't know how to channel all this love and all this emotion and all this gratitude. You feel like you're going to erupt.</p> <p>“I felt like I was going to explode.” </p>

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Nicole Kidman introduces daughter to surrogate mum

<p>Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban have reportedly introduced their youngest daughter, Faith, to her surrogate mum.</p> <p>The meeting took place at Nicole and Keith's Nashville home, coming after the Oscar-winning actress spent months of “soul-searching”.</p> <p>"It was incredibly emotional," a source tells Woman's Day, "Nic and her surrogate had difficulty holding back tears. Faith wasn't fazed by it at all, but she did ask lots of questions afterwards."</p> <p><img width="497" height="385" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33474/article-2532482-1a6168f000000578-496_634x491_497x385.jpg" alt="nicole (1)"/></p> <p>Faith was welcomed by surrogate six years ago. Nicole and Keith have always been open with their daughter about how she was born, but wanted her to meet the woman who carried her for nine months before Faith got older.</p> <p>The woman, known as "Aunty Shelia", reportedly lives near Nicole and Keith.</p> <p>"Nic and the woman are just trying to take things one step at a time... but they are forever tied together by Faith," the source continued.</p> <p>After struggling with fertility issues following her first pregnancy to her oldest daughter, Sunday Rose, Nicole turned to surrogacy. Nicole also has two adopted children with her ex-husband Tom Cruise.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/superstar-grandmas-picture-book-defying-old-stereotypes/">“Superstar Grandmas” children’s book defying old stereotypes</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/the-new-grandparenting-handbook/">The new grandparenting handbook</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2017/01/grandfather-learns-to-draw-to-connect-with-grandchildren/">Grandfather learns to draw to connect with grandchildren</a></em></strong></span></p>

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Website connects families with surrogate grandparents

<p>An ingenious website is connecting young families who have no grandparents with lonely older people looking for company.</p> <p><a href="http://www.findagrandparent.org.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Find a Grandparent</span></strong></a> was set up in 2012 by Cate Kloos, a German-born mother of two who wanted to provide extra support to her children, whose grandparents live far away. After testing out the service for herself, Kloos and her family found a surrogate grandmother, Grandma Irene, with whom they meet at least once a week to share wonderful family experiences.</p> <p>“Find a Grandparent is for whoever feels like a grandparent in their life,” Kloos told <a href="https://news.agedcareguide.com.au/2015/10/06/generations-meet-on-find-a-grandparent/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Aged Care Guide</span></strong></a>. “Older people sign up to become a surrogate grandparent because they are lonely or they miss having contact with children.”</p> <p>Given that many grandparents live far away from their grandchildren or are perhaps too sick to spend time with them, this website could be the ideal solution. “Most [older people using the service] don’t have any grandchildren themselves,” Kloos explains. “Or have some spare time to take on some more.”</p> <p>Would-be grandparents can search for surrogate grandchildren available in their area, send them a message and start bonding, similar to the way online dating works. According to Kloos, there are also measures set up to ensure every member (both grandparents and families) feel comfortable throughout the process. “We send our members guidelines to help them at their first meeting and we are always here to answer any questions they might have along the way.”</p> <p>The oldest surrogate grandparent using the site is 83, but many users sign up in their 50s. To find out more about this wonderful non-profit organisation, <a href="http://www.findagrandparent.org.au/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>Have you taken on the responsibility of a surrogate grandparent for a child before? Tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/08/wheelchair-allows-terminally-ill-patients-to-go-to-beach/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Smart wheelchair enables terminally ill patients to visit beach</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/07/how-to-care-for-ageing-parents-from-far-away/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>How to care for ageing parents from far away</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="/health/caring/2016/07/programs-connecting-aged-care-patients-and-children/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Importance of programs connecting aged care patients and children</strong></em></span></a></p>

Caring

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Pit bulls acts as surrogate mum to blind cats

<p>Not all stories about pit bulls are good ones, but these rescue dogs act as surrogate mothers to three blind cats.</p> <p>Three cats with severe eye problems had their eyes removed in a bid to give them the best chance at living normal and pain-free lives. However, after the operation the cats were having difficulty adjusting to the darker side of life.</p> <p>Sherry Stewart, a volunteer at Faithful Friends who has fostered over 80 animals, decided to nurture the cats at her home where her two rescued pit bulls resided, constantly giving the family special attention and extra doggy love.</p> <p>It was the combination of both pit bulls’ nurturing personalities that helped heal and foster the cats.</p> <p>Stewart says “They kind of act like surrogate moms…they seemed to have sensed they (cats) need little extra TLC.”</p> <p>Ever since the three cats have arrived in Stewarts home, the trio is really thriving, thanks to her pups’ affection which is evident in an adorable picture of the cat having a nap on the dogs back. The cats have shown an immense improvement, one who was shy and reserved has now come out of his shell and doesn’t have trouble finding things or getting around the house and overall Stuart says the animals have all really formed a very special relationship.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/clever-dog-performs-a-handstand/">Watch gorgeous toy poodle perform a perfect handstand</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/alarm-clock-rug/">You won’t believe this new rug that’s an alarm clock</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/01/make-your-smartphone-battery-last-longer/">How to make your smartphone battery last longer</a></strong></em></span></p> <div> <div class="advert"> <div id="adspot-300x250-pos3" class="ad"> <div> <div> <div class="advert"> <div id="adspot-300x250-pos3" class="ad"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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