Relationships3 min(s) read
Actress used her late son’s sperm to welcome his daughter through a surrogate and raise the child as her own
In 2023, Spanish actress Ana Obregón captured worldwide attention after it was revealed that she had welcomed a baby girl via surrogacy.
The star, now 70, shared the news in a magazine photoshoot featuring her with the newborn, which quickly sparked both surprise and curiosity among her fans.
Obregón's decision to have a child through surrogacy stemmed from a deeply personal loss. Her son, Aless Lequio García, passed away from cancer in May 2020 at the age of 27.
Before his death, he had always expressed a desire to become a father, a dream that Obregón had promised to fulfill on his behalf. Three years later, she made that promise a reality by welcoming the daughter her son never had the chance to raise.
A promise to her son fulfilled
In an interview with Hola!, Obregón revealed the emotional depth of her decision. "This baby girl is not my daughter, but my granddaughter," she shared. "She is Aless’ daughter – and when she grows up I will tell her that her father was a hero, so that she knows who she is and how proud she should be of him."
Obregón named the child Anita, a tribute to her son’s lasting influence on her life. The decision to go ahead with the surrogacy was not made lightly. In her words, it was something she felt compelled to do "the day my child went to heaven." She also recounted how Aless had always dreamed of becoming a father, but passed away before he could realize that dream.
The surrogacy process and its legalities
Though surrogacy is illegal in Spain, it is permitted when the procedure is carried out in another country. In this case, Obregón had her son's sperm stored at a New York fertility clinic prior to his cancer treatment, a step recommended by his doctors. The surrogate mother carried the child to term, and once born, the baby was registered in Spain.
Obregón’s new role as a grandmother has had a profound impact on her. In a heartfelt post for Anita’s first birthday, she expressed the joy the child had brought into her life, despite the pain of her loss. "The only thing that has allowed me to continue living every day, every second, is to fulfil the mission of bringing Aless’s daughter into the world," she said.
She also mentioned how Anita’s presence had filled her heart with light, despite the shadows of grief.
Public reaction: mixed feelings
Obregón's actions have sparked a variety of reactions from the public. Some people expressed understanding, suggesting that they would have made similar decisions in the face of losing a child.
"If I lost my adult child, I would consider fertilizing and adopting their child. Idk man. I love my kids. Can’t imagine losing any of them," one commenter said.
However, not everyone agreed with Obregón’s approach. Some found the situation difficult to process, with one person remarking that it felt "slightly creepy." Another commenter admitted, "Yeah, this is unsettling, I don’t care what anyone says."