By Danielle Galvin
For obstetrician of 20 years Dr Samantha Hargreaves, every expectant mother who comes into her care and every birth she is a part of, is memorable, special and unique.
The moment of a baby’s first breath, the first cry – that first meeting.
Each family beginning their own story.
But when Fiona Davey, a midwife at the Epworth Freemasons where Dr Hargreaves works, booked an appointment, it was something she will never forget.
Fiona and Dr Hargreaves knew each other well professionally, and she’d also been Fiona’s OB in the past.
In the appointment, Fiona asked Dr Hargreaves about her being a surrogate for younger sister, Penny Hansen.
“I’ve known Fiona for a long time, both professionally and as a patient,” she said.
“When she left, I thought that is the most incredible thing.”
When Penny was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer and began treatment, the question of fertility came up early in the piece.
Recently married and eager to start a family, it was suggested she have an egg retrieval and freeze her eggs.
Her doctors were divided but ultimately it was decided that falling pregnant was too much of a gamble given the cancer was oestrogen sensitive.
With her at nearly every appointment was older sister Fiona – the Melbourne sisters come from a tight knit family.
“We lost our mum six years ago,” Penny said.
So much so, that Fiona broached the subject of carrying Penny and her husband Leigh’s baby.
Out on a walk one day, she raised the idea to be their surrogate, but hastened to add she’d better discuss it with her husband Adam first.
After 18 months of cancer treatment, and numerous medical and legal hoops to jump through after that point, William became the 50th surrogacy conceived through Melbourne IVF.
Sharing the news with Fiona’s children that she was carrying Penny’s baby was particularly memorable.
“She wanted me to share the news,” Penny said.
“Her kids have been asking me a long time when are you having kids, when are we going to get a cousin?
“Fi allowed me to share that, they were amazing. Just beautiful.”
Dr Hargreaves said it was a privilege to play a small part in their journey.
In her mind, she was very conscious each time she met with Fiona and Penny, and Penny’s husband, to involve all three of them, to make sure they all felt their questions were being answered.
Unfortunately, Fiona suffered terrible hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe morning sickness, which plagued her pregnancy.
She was admitted to hospital a few times to have fluids, and the sickness didn’t let up the whole time.
Dr Hargreaves said it was one of the more severe cases she’d seen in recent times.
“There wasn’t any self-pity at all,” she said.
The day of William’s birth in December 2019 was particularly poignant and beautiful.
Dr Hargreaves recalls an incredible mood in the room.
“Myself and the midwife; we had to keep not looking at each other because we thought we might get a bit teary,” she said.
“It was very unique.
“I don’t think we see many examples of that true, selfless love.”
In her time delivering babies, Dr Hargreaves said it was the first time she’d been a part of a surrogate pregnancy.
“It was a privilege for me to be involved, and the same with all of my staff,” she said.
In the birth suite, Penny said it wasn’t easy to watch her sister in labour.
“It was a hard thing to watch, I kept on saying, sorry!” she said.
“She didn’t have any (pain relief) she did that for all three of her children and she was determined to do that again, she knew she could get through it.”
But for Fiona, watching her sister endure her cancer treatment was heartbreaking.
And with labour, she knew there was an end point, and she couldn’t wait for Penny and Leigh to meet their baby boy.
Fiona didn’t always divulge when asked about her pregnancy, if she was ever stopped in the street.
She didn’t want to invite praise, or opinion.
She was just thrilled to be an aunty and get some of those beautiful newborn cuddles.
Penny will be “eternally grateful” for her sister’s gift of carrying William.
Fiona may be something of a reluctant hero, but to her sister Penny, there’s no question.
“She can be a hero to me,” she said.
