A woman who was warned falling pregnant could kill her has finally become a mum thanks to a surrogate friend.
Sophie Tristram, 29, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, was told by doctors that carrying a child could trigger fatal pneumonia.
But friend and colleague Emma Grave, 37, volunteered to carry a baby for her.
Sophie’s eggs were fertilised with husband Ben’s sperm before being implanted into Emma’s womb.
Baby Harry was born in November and is now thriving at home.
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Sophie said: “Emma was absolutely fantastic, she kept us involved at every niggle, every kick, every hiccup.
“Still to this day it doesn’t feel real and some morning’s I’ll wake up and he’s there smiling at us.
“We’re a little family now and Emma will always be a part of Harry’s life...
“There’s nothing I could ever do or give her or say that would put into words how thankful we are for what she did.”
Sophie and Emma both work as health and safety advisors and live close to each other in Wolverhampton, West Mids.
Around four years ago Sophie was told by a doctor that a specific bacteria found in her lungs could kill her if she fell pregnant.
She said: “It was a massive blow for me that I wasn’t going to be able to carry my own child.
“One day I was having a lift to work with Emma’s husband Paul and he was asking me how everything was going.
"I told him we were looking at surrogacy and he suggested Emma might help us.”
The following day Emma, mum to daughters Abi, 19 and Hannah, 16, phoned up to say she loved to help out.
An embryo was implanted into Emma’s womb last March and she gave birth to 6lb 10oz Harry on November 23 last year.
Emma played down her selfless offer, saying: “It’s just what we do for friends.”
She added: “People always ask me about attachment but that was never a question.
"It was their baby for the start; there’s no genetic connection at all.”
The couples were helped through their journey by surrogacy agency Nappy Endings.
It was founded by Rachel Westbury who had four surrogate babies for childless couples.
She said: “I just wanted to try and make a difference and felt everybody had the right to be a parent so put two and two together and that’s where we are.”
Anyone who wants to find out more about surrogacy should visit the Nappy Endings website
