Aussie woman ‘cried hysterically’ after her best friend offered a moving gesture – “I was so emotional.”
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Most of us have that one special person we’d willingly take a bullet for if it ever came down to it. They are the ultimate proof that family is more than blood. This isn’t your typical love story – it’s a story about a different type of love that also conquers all odds.
After four years of going through mentally and physically exhausting fertility treatments, Nicole Russell’s chances of welcoming a little one slimmed.
That is until her best friend Lauren sent her a text with an astounding offer.
“It was my life-changing moment.” said Nicole.
The pair have been inseparable since graduating law together in Canberra, back in 2000. Nicole was there to celebrate with Lauren when she gave birth to her first son in 2009, followed by the birth of two more little boys in the next few years.
“I’m like their second mum,” says Nicole, a devoted godmother to all three of Lauren’s children.
Despite Lauren residing in the capital and Nicole in Melbourne, the best of friends both managed to be there for each other through every personal milestone. But one particular event brought their friendship to a whole new level – Lauren’s gift of motherhood.
The best of buddies snuggling together with little Frankie. Image Credit: 7News
Nicole and her husband Andrew started trying to conceive a child in 2013 but Nicole knew from the start they were bound to face some challenges.
At the age of 35, she was classified as ‘advanced maternal age’ and paired with her endometriosis, she expected her pregnancy journey to be quite bumpy (no pun intended). A year later, the couple consulted with a fertility expert who confirmed Nicole’s predictions.
The tests showed that Nicole had a low egg reserve, meaning her ability to form an embryo would be unlikely. She was placed on medication in the hope of stimulating her ovaries, but to no avail.
The specialist along with Nicole, strived to adjust the regime until her body was finally ready for an embryo transfer. But after several failed attempts of both ‘fresh and frozen’ embryo transfers, nothing seemed to be doing the trick.
The couple sought a second opinion.
“It turned out my husband and I had the same genetic match which meant my body was basically rejecting the embryo.” Nicole clarified.
Throughout her difficult reproductive journey, Nicole often reached out to her close friend Lauren for support.
Several more years later, in 2015, Nicole was losing the little hope she had left and doubted if she would ever be capable of conceiving a baby successfully.
That’s when she received a text message from Lauren saying: “If you need me to, I would be your surrogate.”
Nicole was so stunned, she still recalls how her jaw dropped at her friend’s unbelievable generosity.
“Myself and my husband along with Lauren and her husband just sat down to go through everything, all the what-ifs,” Nicole says. “But it was clear Lauren had thought everything through.”
At the time, Nicole wasn’t completely ready to give up the idea of carrying her own child so the best of friends decided to tuck away the idea to revisit it again sometime in the future.
“I was so emotional, it’s such an amazing thing she was offering.” Nicole shared.
Back in Melbourne, Nicole and Andrew consulted with a third specialist, hoping things would work in their favour this time around. For 18 months, Nicole was given rounds of different medications that didn’t work for her. And with a bill totalling $60,000, she was left feeling defeated.
“I was worn down, I had bad anxiety and was having panic attacks,” she divulges. “I was so unwell from a mental health perspective.”
“Lauren just said, ‘That’s it, I’m taking over’.” she explained, fully surrendering to the arms of her best buddy.
Since then, a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. By the end of 2016, surrogacy plans were in the making.
For the first few months, the best of friends went through counselling and they also sought independent legal advice to ensure that this was the right decision to do for both of them.
Lauren had a good history with her pregnancies, all three were smooth, and she didn’t want any more children of her own. However, she was happy and willing to be a surrogate for her best buddy, confirming that she would carry Nicole and Andrew’s baby.
Image Credit: 7News
“I wasn’t that hopeful,” Nicole admits. “But Lauren never had a problem falling pregnant so she was confident.”
Thinking back on her own experiences, Nicole assumed Lauren would have to undergo multiple transfers before a successful pregnancy.
When they left the doctor’s office, she immediately tried to avoid all thoughts of becoming a mother out of her mind but only 10 days after, she received a text from Lauren – it was a pregnancy test showing two pink lines.
“I had never seen two pink lines before,” Nicole was delighted. “It was the most unbelievable feeling of ridiculous happiness.”
Lauren’s pregnancy went by like a breeze and Nicole made an effort to fly over to Canberra for every single appointment.
The seven-week mark was a moment she’ll never forget, saying: “Hearing our baby’s heartbeat, I cried hysterically.”
By week 10, they discovered that Lauren was carrying a baby girl which made everyone even more emotional.
Image Credit: Parents
“Lauren had never had a girl so it was very special.” Nicole shared.
Three weeks before the baby was due, Nicole packed her bags and flew to Canberra. The next time she came home would be with her newborn baby.
Lauren was induced a week before Boxing Day. The surrogate mum’s husband, along with Nicole and Andrew, were all present when she proudly delivered a healthy baby.
Little Frankie was placed on Nicole’s chest before the umbilical cord was removed.
“It felt like I was cuddling her for a very long time.” recalled Nicole. Everyone got their turn at cuddling with the baby before she was handed back to her mum, Nicole.
“It was the most unbelievable feeling of ridiculous happiness.”
Baby Frankie is now four years old and she’s definitely one smart cookie.
“She knows exactly where she came from,” Nicole says.
“She goes, ‘I grew in aunty’s tummy because I couldn’t grow in mummy’s’.”
The adorable four-year-old formed a close bond with Lauren, whose sons treat Frankie like their own baby sister.
The gift that Lauren selflessly gave Nicole still leaves her at a loss for words. Now, Nicole wants fellow hopeful mums to know IVF (In vitro fertilisation) isn’t always the answer.
“Surrogacy is possible in Australia,” said Nicole, who started her own business that aims to help others cope with the typically emotional and rough journey.
Nicole’s company, Russel Walker Surrogacy, assists with legal contracts all the while offering advice and counselling for soon-to-be parents.
She shares that the most fulfilling part of her job is sharing the joy as aspiring parents see proof of new life.
“I love getting clients’ seven weeks scans and hearing the baby’s heartbeat,” she says.
“It’s so special.”
Better Health Victoria also mentions how complex surrogacy arrangements can be stating:
“Surrogacy arrangements are medically, emotionally, financially and legally complex. For some people who previously were unable to have children, including gay couples and women who are unable to carry a pregnancy, surrogacy offers the opportunity to have a child.”
According to the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, there were only a total of 86 surrogacy births in Australia and New Zealand back in 2018.
We all need a friend like Lauren. What are your thoughts on this story? Share it with us in the comments!
Want to learn more about surrogacy? Watch the video below!
Video Credit: Michelle Griffin
After four years of going through mentally and physically exhausting fertility treatments, Nicole Russell’s chances of welcoming a little one slimmed.
That is until her best friend Lauren sent her a text with an astounding offer.
“It was my life-changing moment.” said Nicole.
The pair have been inseparable since graduating law together in Canberra, back in 2000. Nicole was there to celebrate with Lauren when she gave birth to her first son in 2009, followed by the birth of two more little boys in the next few years.
“I’m like their second mum,” says Nicole, a devoted godmother to all three of Lauren’s children.
Despite Lauren residing in the capital and Nicole in Melbourne, the best of friends both managed to be there for each other through every personal milestone. But one particular event brought their friendship to a whole new level – Lauren’s gift of motherhood.
The best of buddies snuggling together with little Frankie. Image Credit: 7News
Nicole and her husband Andrew started trying to conceive a child in 2013 but Nicole knew from the start they were bound to face some challenges.
At the age of 35, she was classified as ‘advanced maternal age’ and paired with her endometriosis, she expected her pregnancy journey to be quite bumpy (no pun intended). A year later, the couple consulted with a fertility expert who confirmed Nicole’s predictions.
The tests showed that Nicole had a low egg reserve, meaning her ability to form an embryo would be unlikely. She was placed on medication in the hope of stimulating her ovaries, but to no avail.
The specialist along with Nicole, strived to adjust the regime until her body was finally ready for an embryo transfer. But after several failed attempts of both ‘fresh and frozen’ embryo transfers, nothing seemed to be doing the trick.
The couple sought a second opinion.
“It turned out my husband and I had the same genetic match which meant my body was basically rejecting the embryo.” Nicole clarified.
Throughout her difficult reproductive journey, Nicole often reached out to her close friend Lauren for support.
Several more years later, in 2015, Nicole was losing the little hope she had left and doubted if she would ever be capable of conceiving a baby successfully.
That’s when she received a text message from Lauren saying: “If you need me to, I would be your surrogate.”
Nicole was so stunned, she still recalls how her jaw dropped at her friend’s unbelievable generosity.
“Myself and my husband along with Lauren and her husband just sat down to go through everything, all the what-ifs,” Nicole says. “But it was clear Lauren had thought everything through.”
At the time, Nicole wasn’t completely ready to give up the idea of carrying her own child so the best of friends decided to tuck away the idea to revisit it again sometime in the future.
“I was so emotional, it’s such an amazing thing she was offering.” Nicole shared.
Back in Melbourne, Nicole and Andrew consulted with a third specialist, hoping things would work in their favour this time around. For 18 months, Nicole was given rounds of different medications that didn’t work for her. And with a bill totalling $60,000, she was left feeling defeated.
“I was worn down, I had bad anxiety and was having panic attacks,” she divulges. “I was so unwell from a mental health perspective.”
“Lauren just said, ‘That’s it, I’m taking over’.” she explained, fully surrendering to the arms of her best buddy.
Since then, a huge weight has been lifted off her shoulders. By the end of 2016, surrogacy plans were in the making.
For the first few months, the best of friends went through counselling and they also sought independent legal advice to ensure that this was the right decision to do for both of them.
Lauren had a good history with her pregnancies, all three were smooth, and she didn’t want any more children of her own. However, she was happy and willing to be a surrogate for her best buddy, confirming that she would carry Nicole and Andrew’s baby.
Image Credit: 7News
“I wasn’t that hopeful,” Nicole admits. “But Lauren never had a problem falling pregnant so she was confident.”
Thinking back on her own experiences, Nicole assumed Lauren would have to undergo multiple transfers before a successful pregnancy.
When they left the doctor’s office, she immediately tried to avoid all thoughts of becoming a mother out of her mind but only 10 days after, she received a text from Lauren – it was a pregnancy test showing two pink lines.
“I had never seen two pink lines before,” Nicole was delighted. “It was the most unbelievable feeling of ridiculous happiness.”
Lauren’s pregnancy went by like a breeze and Nicole made an effort to fly over to Canberra for every single appointment.
The seven-week mark was a moment she’ll never forget, saying: “Hearing our baby’s heartbeat, I cried hysterically.”
By week 10, they discovered that Lauren was carrying a baby girl which made everyone even more emotional.
Image Credit: Parents
“Lauren had never had a girl so it was very special.” Nicole shared.
Three weeks before the baby was due, Nicole packed her bags and flew to Canberra. The next time she came home would be with her newborn baby.
Lauren was induced a week before Boxing Day. The surrogate mum’s husband, along with Nicole and Andrew, were all present when she proudly delivered a healthy baby.
Little Frankie was placed on Nicole’s chest before the umbilical cord was removed.
“It felt like I was cuddling her for a very long time.” recalled Nicole. Everyone got their turn at cuddling with the baby before she was handed back to her mum, Nicole.
“It was the most unbelievable feeling of ridiculous happiness.”
Baby Frankie is now four years old and she’s definitely one smart cookie.
“She knows exactly where she came from,” Nicole says.
“She goes, ‘I grew in aunty’s tummy because I couldn’t grow in mummy’s’.”
The adorable four-year-old formed a close bond with Lauren, whose sons treat Frankie like their own baby sister.
The gift that Lauren selflessly gave Nicole still leaves her at a loss for words. Now, Nicole wants fellow hopeful mums to know IVF (In vitro fertilisation) isn’t always the answer.
“Surrogacy is possible in Australia,” said Nicole, who started her own business that aims to help others cope with the typically emotional and rough journey.
Nicole’s company, Russel Walker Surrogacy, assists with legal contracts all the while offering advice and counselling for soon-to-be parents.
She shares that the most fulfilling part of her job is sharing the joy as aspiring parents see proof of new life.
“I love getting clients’ seven weeks scans and hearing the baby’s heartbeat,” she says.
“It’s so special.”
Better Health Victoria also mentions how complex surrogacy arrangements can be stating:
“Surrogacy arrangements are medically, emotionally, financially and legally complex. For some people who previously were unable to have children, including gay couples and women who are unable to carry a pregnancy, surrogacy offers the opportunity to have a child.”
According to the Australia and New Zealand Assisted Reproduction Database, there were only a total of 86 surrogacy births in Australia and New Zealand back in 2018.
We all need a friend like Lauren. What are your thoughts on this story? Share it with us in the comments!
Want to learn more about surrogacy? Watch the video below!
Video Credit: Michelle Griffin
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