Mother welcomes healthy baby years after told she would never give birth due to a rare birth defect

Kristy Darken was only 13 years old when doctors gave her life-changing news.

She was one of only 5000 Australian women born with a rare condition which meant she was born without a uterus.

Unable to carry her own child, Kristy, from Newcastle, had accepted the fact she may never have children, something she told her now-husband Craig when they first started dating.

Years later, the couple have now welcomed baby Henry into the world, with some help from their immediate family.

Craig and Kristy Darken had accepted the fact that they may never be parents since Kristy was born without a uterus

It was Kristy’s mother, Cheryl, who first promised her daughter she would carry a child for her. 

But Cheryl is 49 years old and hitting menopause, A Current Affair reported. 

How does IVF work?

During in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, the woman is given fertility hormones to boost the number of eggs she produces. These eggs are then removed and fertilised by their partner’s, or donor’s, sperm.

After several days these eggs are then either placed inside the womb, or frozen for use later on.

The frozen embryos can then be thawed and used. Around 95% of frozen embryos survive.

Source: NHS UK and Extend Fertility 

They tried IVF six times, and got six failed results. 

Kristy and Craig had given up on having children at this point, and packed up their bags to do a 12-month trip around Australia.

They quit their jobs and sold everything, jumping in their car and going on a long drive.

Only a couple of months into the trip, Kristy revealed that she’d been keeping a secret from Craig, that at Christmas her sister Rebecca had offered to be a surrogate.

Rebecca had just given birth to her second child one month before she began IVF treatments.

Kristy's sister Rebecca (pictured left with Kristy right), told her at Christmas that she would be her surrogate

Kristy’s sister Rebecca (pictured left with Kristy right), told her at Christmas that she would be her surrogate

The first two rounds failed.

Doctors told the trio that they had only one healthy embryo left, and if it was unsuccessful, Rebecca could not be a surrogate.

Kristy and Craig had accepted the fact that this might be the end of their journey.

Which is why they were surprised when the treatment was successful, and nine months later, Rebecca gave birth to their son, Henry.

Down to their last healthy embryo, the final of three IVF treatments was successful

Down to their last healthy embryo, the final of three IVF treatments was successful

‘The only way we can repay her is do a good job at being parents,’ Craig said.

Five-month-old Henry is alive and healthy thanks to the family’s efforts and perseverance.

Kristy can hold her son now and says: ‘It just makes all of the eight years worth it.’ 



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