A family’s journey to parenthood has brought a Melbourne couple a daughter — and may also have led to an early cancer diagnosis.
Adam Braitberg and his husband, Omer Kuchman, wanted to have a child.
Adam’s older sister Jess agreed to donate the egg, while his twin sister Ellie was preparing to become the surrogate.
During routine tests before the surrogacy process began, doctors found 21 polyps in Ellie. Her husband, gastroenterologist Elliot Freeman, noticed that her iron levels were unusually low, leading to further investigation.
Because the findings could have implications for close relatives, Adam underwent a colonoscopy too. Doctors discovered a 10-centimetre mass and diagnosed him with colon cancer.
The process was put on hold while Adam travelled to Jerusalem for surgery. He later said he was clear and in remission.
A month later, Ellie was pregnant
Just one month after Adam’s operation, Ellie became pregnant. Nine months later, Gali was born and placed into the arms of her two fathers.
Adam and Omer were able to cut the umbilical cord and welcome their daughter with the family members who had helped make her possible.
“She saved our lives physically and emotionally,” Adam told ABC Australia.
A family effort
Adam has described his sisters’ involvement as an extraordinary act of love. He came out to Ellie when he was 19, and she reassured him that she would always be there for him.
Now Gali has two dads and two aunts whose roles are part of her origin story. The family plans to tell her how she was created — through a combination of science, generosity and an enormous amount of love.
What began as an attempt to bring a baby into the world also led to a diagnosis that may have saved one father’s life.
📷 Supplied by the family
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