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The two boys who have three mums The two boys who have three mums
(10 minutes later)
When Alex Patrick was left infertile after a treatment for cancer her twin sister, Charlotte Pestell and their older sister, Helen Ritchie, joined forces to help her have a baby.When Alex Patrick was left infertile after a treatment for cancer her twin sister, Charlotte Pestell and their older sister, Helen Ritchie, joined forces to help her have a baby.
Alex with Charlie, now three-years-old and new-born OliverCharlotte donated eggs, which were fertilised with sperm from Alex's husband, Shaun. The embryo was then implanted inside Helen, who acted as the surrogate mother.Alex with Charlie, now three-years-old and new-born OliverCharlotte donated eggs, which were fertilised with sperm from Alex's husband, Shaun. The embryo was then implanted inside Helen, who acted as the surrogate mother.
And this is the second time they've helped their sister out.And this is the second time they've helped their sister out.
The three sisters have said little about their remarkable collaboration, but they granted Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire their first interview.The three sisters have said little about their remarkable collaboration, but they granted Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire their first interview.
Alex was diagnosed with cervical cancer seven years ago - just before her 28th birthday - and told she would not be able to have children.Alex was diagnosed with cervical cancer seven years ago - just before her 28th birthday - and told she would not be able to have children.
She said: "It was absolutely heart-breaking to find out."She said: "It was absolutely heart-breaking to find out."
Alex pushed the disappointment to the back of her mind and concentrated on getting better. Alex pushed the disappointment to the back of her mind and concentrated on getting better. FROM RADIO FIVE LIVE
She said: "Charlotte used to joke when we were talking on the phone all the time - 'don't worry you can always have my eggs, love, it's not a problem' - but it was always said very jokingly.She said: "Charlotte used to joke when we were talking on the phone all the time - 'don't worry you can always have my eggs, love, it's not a problem' - but it was always said very jokingly.
"And then Helen who had just had her youngest.. sent me some lovely letters throughout my illness saying I can't be with you now, but I'll do anything to support you in the future."And then Helen who had just had her youngest.. sent me some lovely letters throughout my illness saying I can't be with you now, but I'll do anything to support you in the future.
"I kept hold of these letters and took them down to see her one day and said 'you know how you said if there was anything you could do to help - I'd like to borrow your womb if that's ok'.""I kept hold of these letters and took them down to see her one day and said 'you know how you said if there was anything you could do to help - I'd like to borrow your womb if that's ok'."
CounsellingCounselling
Helen told Victoria Derbyshire: "My initial reaction was 'yes of course' and then I sat and thought about it and thought it is quite a big thing.Helen told Victoria Derbyshire: "My initial reaction was 'yes of course' and then I sat and thought about it and thought it is quite a big thing.
"Obviously we looked into it much more deeply and came to a decision it wouldn't be a problem at all.""Obviously we looked into it much more deeply and came to a decision it wouldn't be a problem at all."
Charlotte, who donated the eggs and Helen, the surrogate motherCharlotte, who donated the eggs and Helen, the surrogate mother
Helen then acted as a surrogate mother for the first baby, Charlie, who was born in 2005.Helen then acted as a surrogate mother for the first baby, Charlie, who was born in 2005.
She then went through the whole thing again for his little brother Oliver, who arrived on October 8 last year.She then went through the whole thing again for his little brother Oliver, who arrived on October 8 last year.
Charlotte, who donated her eggs, said her husband had more reservations than she did but after going into the issues and having counselling they were both happy to go ahead.Charlotte, who donated her eggs, said her husband had more reservations than she did but after going into the issues and having counselling they were both happy to go ahead.
"You need to look at the pros and the cons. The counsellors, particularly at the clinic needed to suss out that we were not doing this under pressure - we were doing it because we wanted to do it."You need to look at the pros and the cons. The counsellors, particularly at the clinic needed to suss out that we were not doing this under pressure - we were doing it because we wanted to do it.
"Basically we each had coupled counselling, then we had a group session with all of us together so they could see how we interacted together and what kind of feeling came out of that."Basically we each had coupled counselling, then we had a group session with all of us together so they could see how we interacted together and what kind of feeling came out of that.
"The feeling within the clinic was that everything was ok so we could go ahead.""The feeling within the clinic was that everything was ok so we could go ahead."
Oliver was born in 2008 - and it was very much a family affairAlex said Charlie reminded her of Charlotte: "People say you can see Shaun in him and he is going to be tall and broad like Shaun, but he has got the cheekiness in his face that Charlotte has and he does things that really remind me of Charlotte."Oliver was born in 2008 - and it was very much a family affairAlex said Charlie reminded her of Charlotte: "People say you can see Shaun in him and he is going to be tall and broad like Shaun, but he has got the cheekiness in his face that Charlotte has and he does things that really remind me of Charlotte."
Oliver was now 15 weeks old and much more settled.Oliver was now 15 weeks old and much more settled.
Alex said: "He has had a bit of a rough start and been in hospital with pneumonia... but he is doing a lot better now."Alex said: "He has had a bit of a rough start and been in hospital with pneumonia... but he is doing a lot better now."
He looked more like Shaun than Charlotte, but Charlie and Oliver were both very handsome boys, she said.He looked more like Shaun than Charlotte, but Charlie and Oliver were both very handsome boys, she said.