‘Millie is the most precious gift ever!’
A Christmas card changed Hayley’s life – with her best friend offering to carry the baby she always dreamed of!
On Christmas morning, the present Hayley Penno will love the most won’t be wrapped under the tree, but rather in her arms, giggling and squealing with delight as Jingle Bells plays on repeat, and the tree lights flash and twinkle.
“Our daughter Millie is the greatest gift, and one that just k keeps giving,” laughs this 3 34-year-old mum-of-two, w who just a few years ago t thought she might never h have another baby.
Hayley and husband N Nick’s long journey to p parenthood started w when, aged just 17 and i in Year 12 at school, H Hayley was diagnosed w with a potentially l life-threatening condition c called ulcerative colitis.
“Nick and I had only b been together for three o or four months when I started getting a lot of p pain in my stomach,” says H Hayley, who met Nick w while they were working a at the local IGA. “One m morning I went to the b bathroom and lost a lot of blood. I was rushed into hospital.”
Over the next five years Hayley had numerous surgeries and at one stage was taking 17 tablets a day, just to stay alive. Through it all, Nick, now 36, was her rock.
“He never left my side,” says Hayley. “When my parents were with me in hospital, he’d look after my younger sisters, cooking them dinner and bringing them to visit me. It was obvious he’d make a great dad one day.”
Hayley, who is a teacher, always wanted a big ig family and after getting married ed Hayley and Nick started trying rying to get pregnant. But the scar tissue left from her r surgeries meant IVF VF was their only option. ion.
After a complicated ated pregnancy, baby
Mason was born.
“The pregnancy was horrific, but even then I knew it would be worth the risk to try again,” says Hayley. “But 17 rounds of IVF later and we were still trying. rying.
HEARTBREAK
“Each time it didn’t ’t work it was like a punch in the stomach. There were so many tears. s. It was heartbreaking. g. Some days I’d think, ‘What hat am I doing?’”
After seeking advice vice from their fertility specialist, alist, Associate Professor Kate Stern rn from Melbourne IVF, Hayley ayley and Nick were approved to try surrogacy. Hayley’s egg and Nick’s sperm would be combined, ed, and then
put into a “carrier” who gives birth to their biological child.
“We were so excited that this w was an option for us, but how do y you ask someone to have a baby for you?” asks Hayley.
On Christmas Eve 2016 she found her guardian angel in the shape of her friend Jo.
“Jo and I have been friends for more than 10 years, and she’s the most caring, big-hearted and generous person,” says Hayley.
Opening a Christmas card from Jo, Hayley was speechless when she read the message. “Jo offered to be our surrogate – I just burst into tears. It was unbelievable.”
Jo, who has two children, said she wanted Mason to have the kind of sibling bond her kids have and, with the support of her husband, wanted to give this gift to Hayley and Nick.
After a lengthy legal process and counselling, Jo was implanted with Hayley and Nick’s embryo.
‘Jo offered to be our surrogate – I just burst into tears’
“It was a little weird to be having a baby, but not actually be pregnant,” admits Hayley, who went to every doctor’s appointment. “We told Mason that my tummy is broken, so the baby had to grow in Jo’s tummy.”
Baby Millie was born in February this year. “The first time I held her I refused to let her go,” laughs Hayley. “Even Nick had to ask if he could have a turn!”
Today, the family of four are planning Millie’s first Christmas and Hayley admits her little princess will be spoiled rotten.
“I’ve bought a lot of presents,” laughs Hayley, who says big brother Mason, now eight, who is smitten with his baby sister, will have something special under the tree for Millie, too.
“She’s such a happy, smiley baby, and she’s got all of us wrapped around her little finger,” says Hayley. “She’s our little miracle.”