A woman so desperate to have children she turned to her best friend to be a surrogate mother was shocked when she ’miraculously’ fell pregnant just weeks before her friend’s due date。
Lauren Lichtnauer and her husband, Myron, had tried to have children for years, even undergoing 21 unsuccessful IVF treatments - including four miscarriages。
After watching her friends struggle, Rosie Luik - a Brisbane model and mother-of-four - decided to step in and be a surrogate for the Lichtnauers。
I just blurted it out, I said, ’look, we’ll discuss it later, but basically I’m going to have your baby’,’ Ms Luik told 60 Minutes。
I knew I was good at it。 I’d had three babies。 I had never had a complication。 I just wanted to help Lauren。’
Ms Lichtnauer told 60 Minutes she was conflicted at different times during the surrogacy, but ultimately was thrilled her best friend was able to help her。
It was surreal - I was jealous she got to carry these babies, but I was also in complete utter amazement and awe that someone would love me and find me special enough to do that for me,’ she said。
Throughout her struggles to conceive, Ms Lichtnauer - who is also a model - said she doubted herself and whether she would ever have children of her own。
I would question myself and berate myself over whether it was nature’s way, or the higher powers telling me that I wasn’t meant to be a mum,’ she said。
As much as I love Rosie and loved her then there was part of me that would look at her and secretly hate her。’
Amazingly, just weeks before Ms Luik was due to give birth to the twins, Ms Lichtnauer fell pregnant。
I started to cry and said [to Rosie], ’I have something to tell you and please don’t be mad and please don’t hate me’,’ Ms Lichtnauer told 60 Minutes。
She said, ’What?’ and I said, ’I’m pregnant’, and she burst into tears。’
I was just over the moon,’ Ms Luik said。
I was just like, ’Oh my god, you did it!’’
Ms Luik added the twins she carried for her best friend call her their ’tummy mummy’。
Both Ms Luik and Ms Lichtnauer agreed the amazing scenario strengthened their friendship and brought their families closer together。
Seeing my best friends face when they were placed in her arms was just magical and it’s something I will never forget,’ she said。