Nancy Hauck, a 56-year-old grandmother, has given birth to her own granddaughter after offering to be a surrogate for her son, Jeff Hauck, 32, and his wife, Cambria, 30. This remarkable act of love and sacrifice has brought a unique and awe-inspiring twist to their family story.
The journey began when Cambria, an owner of a dance studio, faced a hysterectomy following the traumatic birth of their twins, Vera and Ayva, now three, and another set, Diseal and Luka, 11 months, all conceived through IVF. The couple had endured a challenging six-year struggle with infertility before their twins arrived.
Determined to expand their family, Nancy, an administrator from St. George, Utah, stepped forward, driven by an unshakable feeling that she should carry her own grandchild.
Despite initial doubts about her age, Nancy was surprised when medical professionals confirmed that she could indeed be a gestational carrier. The family embarked on hormone treatments in January 2022, leading to the successful transfer of a fertilized embryo in February of the same year.
Nancy, filled with anticipation at the time, shared that she did not think she would be able to fall pregnant at her age, but said the pregnancy was not too different to when she carried her own son.
For Cambria and Jeff, this journey has been nothing short of miraculous.
Nancy's offer to become a surrogate came after her daughter-in-law's life-saving hysterectomy in September 2021. Despite the complexities of infertility and medical challenges, the Hauck family, led by Nancy's commitment, embarked on a unique journey that has united them even more.
"How many people get to watch their mom give birth?" Jeff told People, going to call the experience "a beautiful moment."
"It's really special that it gets to be my daughter," the web developer added.
Nancy, who was in labor for about nine hours, said "it was a remarkable and spiritual experience" to share as a family.
"Everything went perfectly and we are feeling so blessed to have her in our family," she added. She went on to say she was "facing new emotions of having a baby, but not bringing the baby home with me afterwards."
She added, "It is a mix of deep gratitude and some sadness from the separation."