What do you do when love turns conditional? Abigail faced that heartbreak when her sister Rachel and her husband Jason rejected the baby she carried as a surrogate, saying, “THIS ISN’T THE BABY WE EXPECTED. WE DON’T WANT IT.”
Growing up, Rachel was my closest companion. We dreamed of raising our children together, but her first miscarriage shattered her. After several IVF attempts and more losses, Rachel withdrew from family life. The turning point came at my son Tommy’s birthday party when Rachel, staring at my boys, whispered that she couldn’t have a baby of her own anymore.
Her husband Jason suggested surrogacy, and Rachel asked me to carry their baby. Despite the emotional and physical challenges, I agreed, hoping it would heal her. The pregnancy brought Rachel back to life as she bonded with the baby. My boys eagerly anticipated their new cousin, but when the baby was born—a girl—Rachel and Jason’s joy quickly turned to disappointment. They wanted a boy, and Jason threatened to leave if it was a girl.
Rachel and Jason’s rejection was a painful shock. But I made the decision to adopt the baby if they couldn’t see past their prejudices. Days later, Rachel returned, admitting she made the wrong choice and wanted to be a mother to her daughter. With time, she became the loving mother Kelly deserved.
This baby, though not what Rachel and Jason had expected, taught us that family is about love, not fulfilling expectations.