Nebraska woman gives birth to her own grandchild for gay son
Matthew Eledge and husband Elliot Dougherty stare at their newborn child. (Elliot Dougherty/facebook)
A woman has given birth to her own grandson to provide her gay son and his husband with a child.
Cecile Reynek Eledge, 61, delivered Uma Louise Dougherty-Eledge on March 25 at the Nebraska Medical Centre in Omaha, Nebraska, according to CNN.
The child was conceived through in vitro fertilisation, using sperm from Cecile’s son Matthew Eledge and eggs from his husband Elliot Dougherty’s 26-year-old sister Lea Yribe—who is the newborn baby’s aunt.
Gay couple delighted to meet child conceived with the help of family members
After seeing his healthy child for the first time, Eledge told CNN: “When you are gay and married and want to have a kid, you go into it with knowledge that you are going to have to create a family in a special way.
“There are creative, unique ways to build a family.”
He added that his mother had come through for him in a way that no-one else had.
“I had a lot of people in college say they would (carry and deliver a child), but when push comes to shove, that’s a huge commitment,” he said.
“This is bliss. Not sure I deserve the joy I’m feeling right now, but I’ll take it.”
— Matthew Eledge
Elledge, a teacher, expressed his gratitude for his mother and sister-in-law, saying: “More than anything, we feel lucky to have women selfless enough to do this.”
On Facebook, he shared a picture of Uma Louise sleeping on his chest, writing: “This is bliss. Not sure I deserve the joy I’m feeling right now, but I’ll take it.”
A week after her birth, Dougherty, 29, wrote on Facebook: “Happy one week earth side, Uma Lu.
The gay couple holds their newborn baby. (Elliot Dougherty/facebook)
“I can’t believe I’ve only known you for a week. My love and bond to you already has deep deep roots in my soul.
“Last night I held the hat we put on you when you were born. I had tears in my eyes as though I was holding a nostalgic belonging from long ago.
“Such profound love. Such deep gratitude,” added Dougherty, who works as a hairstylist.
Cecile Reynek Eledge did not expect to be able to deliver the baby
Matthew’s mum told USA Today that she was joking when she offered to be her son and husband’s gestational surrogate.
But after passing a series of tests on her cholesterol, heart and stress levels, doctors told her that everything was in her favour.
Matthew said “it takes a village to raise a family.” (Elliot Dougherty/facebook)
Her son explained that paying for a surrogate would have been difficult on him and his husband’s salaries, adding that that route seemed “too corporate” to them anyway.
“We also believe it takes a village to raise a family,” he said. “While we may have taken an unconventional approach, we were able to talk about the process and it made everything more exciting and more fun.”
