British Surrogate Mother Now Raising Child With Abnormality

“A British surrogate mother said yesterday that she is raising a disabled baby as her own after the child’s intended mother told her she did not want a ‘dribbling cabbage’ for a daughter.

The girl, who has congenital myotonic dystrophy, is one of twins born to the surrogate.

The healthy boy was taken home by the childless British couple whom the surrogate mother claims then rejected his unwell sister because of her disability

The surrogate – who was paid £12,000 in expenses – said: ‘I’ll never forget what she said on the phone.

‘I remember her saying to me, “She’d be a ****ing dribbling cabbage! Who would want to adopt her? No one would want to adopt a disabled child”.’

The mother – referred to as Jenny to protect her identity – told The Sun: ‘I was shocked. I could not believe what I was hearing.’

She is now raising the baby – identified only as Amy – with her partner and their other children

The case of the British surrogate who has vowed to raise a twin rejected by its intended mother bears a striking resemblance to that of Thai-born baby Gammy.

The little boy, who is now seven months old, was at the centre of an international outcry after his parents were accused of leaving him in Thailand with his surrogate mother after finding out he had Down’s syndrome.

Instead, Australian couple  David and Wendy took Gammy’s twin sister Pipah home with them, prompting accusations from surrogate Pattharamon Chanbua that they had abandoned their son

The disturbing case echoes that of Gammy, a Down’s syndrome baby born to a Thai surrogate who claims he was left behind by his intended Australian parents who kept his healthy twin sister.

Jenny spoke out after Gammy’s birth mother, Pattharamon Janbua, went public with her story, causing anger around the world.

‘We and Amy are living proof what happened with Gammy in Thailand can happen in Britain,’ she said.

‘I got into surrogacy because I wanted to help a mother who couldn’t have children. But I feel very angry because of what they’ve done to her [Amy].

Jenny and her partner – referred to as Mark – were put in touch with a number of prospective parents after getting involved with a surrogacy organisation which helps childless couples.

After choosing the couple, they signed a surrogacy agreement. Commercial surrogacy is illegal in the UK. Surrogacy is only allowed if the surrogate mother is not paid or is only paid reasonable expenses.

Jenny became pregnant after two embryos were implanted in her womb. She soon discovered she was carrying twins.

But six weeks before her due date Jenny was informed she needed an emergency caesarean.

She told The Sun: ‘When I had the epidural I was gone. I came around and they were both there.

‘When I saw Amy she was silvery grey and her legs were just dangling. I wondered if she was alive.’

After a month, the healthy boy was allowed to go home with his intended parents while his sister stayed in hospital.

It was then that Amy was diagnosed with congenital myotonic dystrophy, a rare muscular condition, which meant she needed help with breathing.

Jenny claims that when she phoned the intended parents to inform them of Amy’s disability the mother made her callous comments.

After the conversation, Mark and Jenny decided they had to keep Amy and raise her as their own.

All British surrogates have the legal right to keep the child because contracts are not binding and cannot be enforced by law. The intended parents need to adopt the child or get a parental order giving them legal rights.

The two couples attended mediation meetings with the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, and both agreed that Jenny and Mark would keep Amy and the boy would stay with the intended parents.

Mark has had to change jobs to give flexibility so that he can help with Amy’s care and the family has had to move to a larger house with a bigger mortgage.

Despite the financial strain on the family, Jenny said: ‘Amy is 100 per cent our daughter. I love her as much as my other children.’”

I don’t want a dribbling cabbage for a daughter’: What mother told her surrogate before rejecting disabled baby girl
[Daily Mail 8/26/14 by INDERDEEP BAINS ]

REFORM Puzzle Piece