Oosterhout, Netherlands – A Dutch woman is expecting a child thanks to an extraordinary act of familial love: her mother is serving as her surrogate.
Noëlle Deleij, 27, learned at age 18 she was born without a uterus, a condition known as MRKH syndrome. Despite the diagnosis, Noëlle and her partner, Ferri Kastelijns, 27, remained determined to start a family. The couple explored options, including seeking a surrogate, but faced challenges due to strict regulations in the Netherlands.
“We wanted a surrogate in the Netherlands, but that’s difficult due to the rules,” Ferri explained, according to Omroep Brabant. Dutch law stipulates that surrogates must already have children, have had uncomplicated pregnancies, and be under 45 years old.
After consulting with a lawyer specializing in surrogacy, the couple considered options abroad, where regulations are less restrictive. Cyprus, where surrogacy is permitted up to age 55, emerged as a possibility. It was then that Noëlle and Ferri turned to Noëlle’s mother, Angela, 51.
“Of all the people in my circle, my mom is the most elegant option,” Noëlle said. “She has experienced my story from the beginning and has seen and felt my sadness herself.”
Angela readily agreed to help. “I have four children myself and think it’s wonderful that my daughter and son-in-law can also experience what it’s like to have a family,” she stated. “But it was also important that my husband and other children were on board.”
The family traveled to a clinic in Cyprus to begin the process. Angela is now pregnant and the couple anticipates welcoming their baby in September. Noëlle first shared her diagnosis publicly on Facebook after experiencing hurtful gossip in her village, as reported by AD.nl. She recounted instances of people making insensitive comments, questioning her suitability for marriage.
“When I asked my mother, she immediately said, ‘Oh, I’ll do it, I’ll take my IUD out,’” Noëlle recalled, as detailed in LINDA.nl. This extraordinary arrangement underscores the lengths to which families will go to fulfill a dream of parenthood.
