A selfless sibling is five months pregnant with her niece after her sister made the devastating decision to have her cervix removed.
Michela Nuno was left heartbroken when she discovered she had an adenocarcinoma, a type of cancerous tumour, on her cervix.
The 37-year-old made the tough decision to have the organ removed after giving birth.
After one year of trying for a third baby with husband, Alex, 38, Michela felt the risk of the cancer spreading was too great.
So she gave up on her dream of having a child naturally and began looking into surrogacy.
Luckily sister Angelica Digioia, 31, was on hand to kindly step up and offer to act as the couple's surrogate.
Sales manager Michela, from Illinois, USA, told The Mirror: "I'd always wanted three children and when I'm set on something I go after it.
"In April 2018 I went for a check-up because we wanted a third baby and I'm a bit older than when I had my last two.
"We lost one baby girl before having our two children and it was devastating.
"Adenocarcino was found on my cervix and I needed surgery so if I wanted a third baby I would have to start trying straight away then have my cervix removed after giving birth.
"It made me grateful for my two other kids and this baby saved my life because I would never have gone for a check-up and found out about the cysts if I wasn't trying for a third.
"I was at work when I found out and I just broke down in supplies cupboard.
"I was devastated."
Michela and Alex had tried to have another baby themselves, but the couple were worried that the adenocarcinom could spread and that a hysterectomy would be too late.
So they decided to look for a surrogate.
After asking her closest friends and family to be on the look out for anyone who might be willing to be a surrogate, mum-of-three Angelica stepped up to the plate.
She fell pregnant after just one embryo transfer.
Michela said: "I couldn't stop worrying about it.
"It was really hard for me because I wasn't mentally there to try for a baby because it was always in the back of my mind and I wanted to go ahead with the hysterectomy.
"The first thing I said when Angelica offered was that she'd just had her own baby and was probably hormonal and not thinking straight.
"Our relationship has grown so much on this journey.
"Our bond has strengthened.
"She's just been amazing, she's so positive and hopeful and a great person.
"I just couldn't be more grateful for her and her husband because it is a family event.
"I've been so blessed to form such a great bond with her."
In a heartbreaking twist in November this year, the trio were advised by doctors to terminate the pregnancy as the baby's liver, intestines and stomach are growing outside of her body.
However, after getting a second opinion, they were relieved to find that the baby is likely to survive birth but will need surgery almost immediately.
Michela said: "Two days before the termination we decided to get a second opinion because I'd done a lot of my own research and the specialist said the survival rate is 90 per cent.
"It was such a close call but such a relief.
"She saved my life when I went to get the check up and now I've saved hers.
"I want to urge people to get a second opinion from a specialist because we could have lost our baby for something that can be treated.
"We were given a bit of hope and we hung onto it and we hadn't come that far to give up.
Store manager Angelica said she was delighted to help her sister and the whole family are looking forward to meeting the baby girl in April 2021.
She said: "It was something I wanted to do for her.
"It was right after I'd had my third child and there are people out there who struggle and I feel lucky that I didn't.
"She just feels so blessed and thankful, she is non-stop thanking me every day."
She added that her corrections centre worker husband, Calvin, 32, supports her and the pair hope that the baby will grow a strong bond with their own three children.
She added: "My husband was definitely unsure and concerned about me but we've been lucky to have three children and healthy pregnancies and its just nine months of our lives, it isn't a lifelong commitment.
"He was concerned about my health but I explained that the doctors don't just evaluate the baby, they evaluate the baby as well.
"My kids are younger so we haven't explained it to them yet but my little girl knows what a pregnant belly looks like so I'm just waiting for her to ask and we'll explain it to her."
