Something’s Not Right
Amy hardly believed it was finally the big day. She was in a room full of doctors and nurses. Between them stood the baby’s parents, their eyes welling up with tears. It was, at long last, time for them to meet their baby girl.
Everything was blurry until she heard the wails of the newborn baby. She had finally arrived. Amy sat up in the hospital bed but was unexpectedly met by expressions of despair on the parents’ faces. Something had gone horribly awry.
Nine Months
It had long been a dream for Amy Long to be a surrogate for someone. Now that it was finally the moment for the infant to come into the world, she was sure it was going to be a wonderful day. She had spent the entirety of the past month preparing for her time in hospital.
The baby had been growing inside her for nine months, and it was finally time for her to be welcomed into her new family.
Surrounded
Amy looked at Jack and Alice, the baby’s parents, through the swarm of nurses around her. They had been eagerly awaiting this moment for months. “How are you, Amy?” Alice asked her, reaching over with a cup of ice water.
Sweat covering her forehead, the pregnant young woman took the cup with a smile. “The contractions are pretty intense, but I’ll be fine,” she assured the mom-to-be. She was trying to stay positive, but she didn’t have a clue what was about to happen.
Comforting Her
Jack and Alice stayed at Amy’s side through every contraction, holding her hand for comfort. The couple was charming and wonderful, and Amy looked forward to contributing to their happiness.
Before long, the doctor arrived to see how many centimeters Amy had left. Alice still didn’t leave her side, making conversation to distract her from the painful contractions. “We’re ready,” the doctor announced.
Ready To Go
Amy’s bed was rolled into the delivery room, Jack and Alice hot on her heels. They were eager to be present for the birth of the child they had hoped for their whole lives. This was meant to be the most perfect day they’d ever have.
Soon enough, they reached the room full of more doctors and nurses. “Okay, Amy,” the doctor said. “Are you ready?”
You Can Do This
Amy tried to be upbeat as she nodded, but she was well aware that she’d soon be in the worst pain of her life. Jack and Alice were on either side of her, each grasping one of her hands.
“You can do this, Amy,” Jack reassured her with a big smile. “All the pain will be over soon.” But he didn’t know that his whole life would be turned upside down only half an hour from now.
Push!
“Okay, push!” a nurse urged. Amy obeyed. She shrieked as tears of pain ran down her face. “Come on!” the doctor added in. “Just one more big push, and you’ll be done!”
The moment Amy heard the screams of a newborn, she sighed in relief that it was over. At long last, Jack and Alice had become parents. But when she saw their expressions, she quickly realized that something wasn’t right.
A Seattle Native
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Amy Long was just a normal 28-year-old woman. She had graduated from college at 23, and moved out of her parents’ house one year later.
She loved the first few years of living on her own. However, when she lay in bed at night, her mind always came back to one particular thing.
Inspired By Her Aunt
Amy had been dreaming of becoming a surrogate her whole life long. It had become her biggest hope ever since she found out about her aunt’s inability to carry her own child.
Eventually, her aunt was matched with a surrogate, and Amy would always remember the pure happiness on her face the first time she held her son. From then on, Amy vowed to do the same kindness for another family.
Doing Her Research
Amy waited until she was 26 before starting to do some deeper research into surrogacy. She tracked down an agency and ended up signing up with them. Only days later, she had been entered into their system.
She was buzzing with anticipation, eager to begin the process at long last. Yet, she couldn’t have predicted that her first try would go terribly off course.
The Holdens
When she learned that a young couple from Olympia, Washington State, had chosen her, she was over the moon. “Their names are Jack and Alice Holden,” She told her friends.
That night, she looked up their social media accounts, and she was impressed, to say the least. Jack was an engineer, and Alice worked as an English teacher at a local high school. She couldn’t wait to meet them.
Meeting Up
Just a few weeks later, they finally decided to meet up and discuss the matter. They met at the agency, and as soon as Amy laid eyes on the couple, she knew they would be perfect parents.
“We’ve been trying for years. A few months ago, we learned that I’m the problem. My body just can’t do it,” Alice said, her voice thick with emotion. Amy knew that she was made to help them become parents. If only she had known how it would all end.
She Was Sure
That day, Amy spoke to Jack and Alice for hours. The more time they spent talking, the more sure she was that she had to help them. By the end, she’d made up her mind. “So, what do you say?” Jack asked, his eyes filled with hope.
“I would love to help you become parents,” Amy said with certainty. She couldn’t wait to make their dreams come true.
A Big Step
Just a month later, Amy found herself in the hospital with Jack and Alice. She was impregnated through the use of in vitro fertilization. It was a big step, but Amy never doubted her decision for even a second.
Jack and Alice remained by her side for the next few months, paying for doctor appointments and even delivering a few baskets of muffins.
Lucky
Throughout the pregnancy, Amy was lucky enough not to stumble into any issues. She was healthy, and her body was made to carry a child. She spent many evenings having dinner with Jack and Alice.
In a strange way, it felt like they were becoming a little family. She had a connection with them that she’d never felt with anyone else before. But before she knew it, her due date was coming up.
Getting Ready
“How are you feeling? Are you ready?” Alice asked. She had come over to Amy’s house, and together, they were packing her hospital bag. A sense of excitement lingered in the air.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” Amy grinned. Although she was excited, she would never admit that she was also super nervous. She’d heard horror stories about giving birth, and she was praying that everything would run smoothly.
It Was Time
It was just a week later that her water finally broke. She called Jack and Alice the second it happened. Although they weren’t together, they all made their way to the hospital and arrived at the same time.
Alice held Amy’s hand as she led her down the long halls. The younger woman was taking deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves. But she had no idea how bad it would truly be.
Waiting For The Big Moment
They were quickly escorted to Amy’s hospital room, and now, all they could do was wait. At first, the contractions were uncomfortable, but they weren’t too bad. “Deep breaths,” Alice would say each time it happened.
But after the second hour, they became rather painful and intense. “It hurts,” Amy said, a thin layer of sweat appearing across her forehead.
Anticipation
She was surrounded by nurses and the baby’s parents, Jack and Alice. They had been waiting in anticipation for this moment. “How are you feeling, Amy?” Alice asked, handing Amy a cup of ice.
The younger woman took it from her grasp, smiling as sweat poured down her forehead. “The contractions are really bad, but I’ll be okay,” Amy said. She was being optimistic, but she had no idea what was to come.
Comforting Her
She was lucky enough to have the couple by her side, comforting her as she prepared to do something she’d been dreaming of for so long. Over the months, she had learned to love them, and she couldn’t wait to make them the happiest people on earth.
Soon enough, the doctor came in to check how many centimeters she had left. Alice remained right next to Amy, talking to her in an effort to distract her from the pain. “It’s time,” The doctor said.
On Their Way
Before she knew it, she was being wheeled off into the delivery room. Her heart raced as Jack and Alice followed. They wanted to be there while Amy gave birth to the baby they had dreamed of for so many years.
The room was filled with doctors and nurses. Amy was in good hands. “Alright, Amy. Are you ready?” The doctor asked.
Holding Her Hands
Amy nodded optimistically, but she knew that she was about to be in more pain than she had ever experienced before. Jack and Alice stood on either side of her, each holding a hand.
“You’ve got this, Amy. It’ll be over before you know it,” Jack said, a wide grin on his face. But in just half an hour, his entire world would come crumbling down around him.
Pain
Finally, it was time. The world seemed to stop spinning as Amy began pushing harder than ever before. The pain was awful, but she kept reminding herself that this was what she was made for.
She held onto Alice’s hand, her palms wet with sweat. Jack wiped a cool cloth over her forehead, trying everything in his power to help. But Jack and Alice were about to receive devastating news.
Tears Pouring Down Her Face
“And, push!” The nurse said, and Amy did as instructed. She was whaling as tears poured down her cheeks. “Come on! One more big push, and it’ll all be over!” The doctor chimed in.
The second Amy heard the baby cry. She knew that it was all over. Finally, Jack and Alice were parents. But when she looked at their faces, she could tell that something was terribly wrong.
The Problem
“Wh- what’s wrong?” Alice asked in a shaky voice, worried about the expressions on their faces. But no one said a word. Alice ran out of the room, leaving Jack to explain the situation.
“It’s not our baby. She’s a different race,” Jack said, his voice a whisper as he stared in shock and sorrow. All along, Amy had been carrying someone else’s child. But what would they do about this?
Waiting
It was hours later, and Amy was sitting in her hospital bed, her cheeks wet with tears. Alice and Jack sat beside her, speechless. They were waiting for the doctor to get back to them. They needed an explanation.
But soon, the door to Amy’s hospital room swung open, and the doctor walked in, wheeling a bed with a baby inside of it.
An Explanation
“Mr. and Mrs. Holden, Amy, I have to apologize. The day we did the in vitro fertilization, I made the biggest mistake of my career,” He sighed sadly to himself.
“That day, two sets of girls came in for the in vitro fertilization, and there was a mixup. The other girl received your embryo, while Amy over here received the embryo meant for that girl,” He said.
Stunned
Jack and Alice sat there, stunned by what the doctor had revealed. Where on earth was their baby? Alice was about to say something when the doctor began talking again.
“About two hours ago, the other girl came in, and she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. Your daughter is right here,” He said, revealing the baby in the tiny bed.
Meeting Their Baby
Tears poured down Alice and Jack’s faces as they got up and scooped the tiny baby into their arms. All along, their daughter grew inside someone else’s stomach, but there she was, happy and healthy.
“We have taken the other baby to her parents. I cannot begin to express how terribly sorry I am for what I have done,” The doctor said.
It Didn’t Matter
But it no longer mattered. Amy stared with happy tears in her eyes as Jack and Alice held their baby girl, speaking to her and telling her how much they loved her. In the end, everything was okay again.
As the months turned into years, Amy remained close to the Holden family, and eventually, she became their daughter’s godmother. In the end, everything was okay.