Arabic version: رحلة أمومة بديلة بين الأشقاء تعيد الطفلة غالي إلى المنزل

According to ABC News, twins Ellie Freeman and Adam Braitberg grew up in a close-knit Jewish family in suburban Melbourne/Naarm, a bond that became central to Adam and his husband Omer Kuchman’s path to parenthood. Their elder sister Jess Sztrajt became the egg donor, while Ellie became the surrogate for the couple’s daughter, Gali.

Adam, who moved overseas at 23 before recently returning to Australia, told Ellie he was gay when he was 19. Ellie said she was proud that he felt able to share that part of his identity and told him she would be there for him forever. When Adam introduced Omer to the family during their grandmother’s 90th birthday gathering in Thailand, the family quickly embraced him.

At the same trip, Adam and Omer announced their engagement and conversations turned to children. Jess initially offered to be both a surrogate and egg donor, but Australian law meant she could not do both. Jess agreed to donate an egg and Ellie agreed to carry the pregnancy.

Routine blood tests before the surrogacy process led to Ellie being examined for low ferritin levels. Doctors found 21 polyps in her colon, prompting first-degree relatives to undergo colonoscopies. Adam later discovered he also had polyps and a 10-centimetre mass that proved to be colon cancer. His treatment in Jerusalem included surgery, and he said he is now in remission.

After Adam’s treatment, Ellie became pregnant with Gali. At the birth, Gali went directly into Adam’s hands before he and Omer cut the cord. Adam said the baby had emotionally and physically saved their lives, while Ellie said the experience strengthened an already close family connection. The family plans to tell Gali about the roles her two aunts played in helping create her family.