AN AGE gap couple have given their followers an update on their surrogacy journey.
Cheryl, 63, is married to Quran Mccain, 26, and the pair have been trying for a baby for the last year.
However, because of Cheryl's age she is unable to conceive naturally - leading the pair who are desperate to complete their family to turn to other methods.
The pair revealed earlier this year they would be going down the surrogacy route and had found a woman who was willing to carry the child after three failed attempts.
The couple were expecting a baby girl, who is due later this year on December 27th.
"Our surrogate is incarcerated and now our baby has a second chance at life", Cheryl said.
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Cheryl and Quran went on to explain that their surrogate is battling drug addiction, something they didn't know when they asked her to carry their baby.
Quran said: "It's not good that our baby is in this situation, because we weren't prepared for the circumstances that came with the surrogate we chose.
"We take accountability for that".
Cheryl was unable to use her own eggs so the baby would have been conceived with the surrogates egg and Quran's semen.
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But the heartbroken 63-year-old has provided an update and the surrogacy hasn't gone to plan.
Taking to TikTok Cheryl said: "People are messaging me and wanting to know what's going on.
"Well, the dates have not matched up from the beginning."
Cheryl explained the baby conception date was March 5th - but there was no insemination from Quran until after March 12th.
This led the couple to believe the baby was someone else's.
"She was with her boyfriend trying to tell us that they didn't have sex, and I was trying to tell my husband that is wrong," she said.
What is surrogacy?
Surrogacy is the name given for a type of pregnancy where a woman carries and gives birth to another person's baby.
The surrogate mother is then expected to give up the baby at birth, so it can be raised by the couple who originally wanted the baby.
Surrogacy is often an option for those unable to have children themselves, or for same sex couples.
According to surrogacy charity , there are two different types of surrogacy.
- Traditional surrogacy: When the surrogate uses her own egg fertilised with the intended father's sperm.
- Gestational surrogacy: The surrogate carries the intended parent's genetic child conceived through IVF, for which specialist doctors are needed.
How are surrogate babies conceived?
In traditional surrogacy procedures, the egg is artificially inseminated using a syringe.
Gestational surrogacy is carried out through IVF.
During this in vitro fertilisation process, the egg is removed from the woman’s ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory.
The embryo is then planted in the surrogate’s womb to grow and develop.
This procedure must be carried out by specialist doctors and the biological mother is required to still have working ovaries.
"So I got tired of all this and her saying that the baby's his and using his feelings and stuff for it."
Quran and Cheryl decided the only thing to do was get the surrogate to do a DNA test which they paid for and she agreed to.
But when the day came, the surrogate 'made up every excuse under the book not to be able to come.'
"So what does that tell us? That's not our baby," said a defeated Cheryl.
"My husband is not the baby daddy.
"I'm sorry to say that, but it's been a blessing,because this has been one hell of a messed up journey."
The clip has since gone viral on her TikTok account @with over 340k views and 15k likes.
People were quick to take to the comments heartbroken for the couple's situation.
One person wrote: "Oh Cheryl, I am so sorry. This is honestly heartbreaking."
Another commented: "It's a blessing for that baby!!"
"Bless your heart. your doing the right thing. I agree with you cheryl," penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: "I’m so sorry that’s awful."
"No words,” claimed a fifth.
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Someone else added: “I’m so sorry this has happened you will get your baby!!"
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