Greatest gift arrives safely

•  Arriving safely via gestational surrogacy carried by grandmother Maree Arnold (R), baby Winston is everything parents Meagan and Clayde White had dreamt of and more. 

By Taylor Clyne,
January 19, 2022

Arriving safely in the arms of his parents baby Winston might never understand his special journey earthside and the vital role his grandmother Maree Arnold played.

Defying all odds 54-year-old Maree was the gestational carrier of her grandchild after her daughter Meagan White was born without a uterus.

Maree gave birth to a healthy 8lb 12oz boy via planned caesarean on January 13 with beaming new parents Meagan and Clayde by her side ready to realise the dream they had yearned for, for so long. 

Meagan giggled telling the story of her cutting the cord, typically the dad’s ‘job’, as she was that excited to have him on her chest.

“Our journey has been four and a half years to get here with the sadness of losing our daughter Matilda halfway through our first surrogacy pregnancy in Canada early 2020 – this moment was nothing you could describe,” Meagan said.

When mum Maree offered to carry a baby for the pair, she thought she’d be too old but with love and a lot of science the most selfless gift of all became their reality. 

“Everything had gone so smoothly in the lead up; we were almost expecting something to happen, but it all went to plan, and mum is recovering so well – she did such an amazing job.”

The lucky stars were looking down on the family even missing out on a hefty parking fine after forgetting to get a ticket in the morning when they arrived for the birth. 

“We remembered hours later when snuggling him in the recovery ward,” the couple laughed.

Heading home a day early their happy ending couldn’t have been sweeter. 

“Just the realisation that he’s here, that he’s ours and he’s perfect in every way is just filling our hearts with so much love.

“We couldn’t believe he had a head of blonde hair, but both Clayde and I did when we were babies.

“He’s feeding so well and thriving in every way.”

The couple named Winston Leigh White after Meagan’s father Leigh, a dedication to how special her parents are to the pair.

“Without mum we would never have been here today, she’s given us our dream – the greatest gift of all and will be such a huge part of Winston’s life forever.”