Man who hoped to use a surrogate to carry his tragic wife’s child admits baby plans are on hold ‘indefinitely’
Jake Coates and his wife Emmy had hoped to use a surrogate to realise their baby dreams after she passed away from thyroid cancer
A GRIEVING husband who hoped to become a dad using his tragic wife's embryos has announced he's put his family dreams on hold indefinitely.
Brave Jake Coates, 32, and his wife Emmy had enlisted the help of a surrogate to give them a child before she passed away in June 2017.
He said: "After two failed attempts and more consideration than any of you could ever imagine, I have decided to step back from the surrogacy journey and delay it indefinitely
"[Our surrogate] Liz has been the most selfless, kind, thoughtful and gorgeous person throughout this whole process.
"She has had to endure physical as well as emotional turmoil over the last 18 months because of our choices - more than she ever deserved or asked for, and I know she would do it all over again 1,000 times and more.
"I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done and continues to do for me and all of Emmy’s family and friends.
"But more than that, I cannot thank her enough for what she gave Emmy…for she gave Emmy and I hope.
"[She] allowed us to dream about a future Coates baby…and it filled us both with so much positivity and kept us both going when the days were darkest.
"Thank you Liz. You are actually an angel."
Liz Begg, a former school friend of primary school teacher Emmy, volunteered to help the couple achieve their dream.
Before she passed away, doctors harvested Emmy's eggs and Jake's sperm to create nine embryos.
Liz was implanted with one of the embryos for a second time in November, but sadly it was unsuccessful.
Emmy died believing that Jake would soon become a dad after one of their embryos was successfully implanted in Liz.
Three weeks later it was confirmed that Liz was pregnant - but on the same day Emmy passed away in her sleep.
Jake added: "I will always believe that Emmy has that first baby up with her in heaven.
The heartbroken groom previously explained how he found the loss of his first baby comforting.
He said: “I think it gave Liz and I comfort [when we discovered the pregnancy was ectopic] that this first little foetus or baby had gone with Emmy and she could bring it up in heaven, if there is a place.
“I still talk to Emmy every day.
"I like to think she’s somewhere, looking down and checking in and listening. And that’s why I want to do her so proud."
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