Woman gives birth to her own grandchild, after her daughter was left infertile by cancer that medics mistook for an STI
Grandma Julie Bradford stepped in after daughter Jess received the devastating diagnosis aged just 18, with treatment leaving her infertile
A GRANDMA became mother to her own grandchild after having a surrogate baby for her daughter who contracted cervical cancer at just 18.
Julie Bradford, 44, stepped in after daughter Jess received the devastating diagnosis, with treatment leaving her infertile.
But on Friday Julie gave birth to 'perfect' healthy grandson Jack - the ultimate early Christmas present for delighted parents Jess and hubby Rees Jenkins.
Proud Jess, now 21, said: "My mam is the most brave and amazing woman in the world. I love her so much for giving me my son.
"From a young age I longed to become a mother and our dream has come true. Jack is perfect in every way."
Hairdresser mum Julie - who has three children of her own - said: "The last three years have been the absolute worst. But I was lucky enough to have been given the chance to put things right.
"I watched Jess in such agony and so full of fear and I just wished I could take her place.
"There was nothing I could do to help and it felt like the cancer was in control and I felt useless.
"I've always known from a young age Jess has longed to become a mother just like I did. When cancer took the chance away for her to carry her own child away we were all heartbroken.
"I decided that if I could be Jess's surrogate then I would have the control again.
"I was given the chance to carry Jessica and Rees's child and it was an honour.
"We've spent a lot of time in hospitals and it has become normal to us. I'm just so happy that this last visit was for such a wonderful reason."
The heartwarming story comes after scientists in Scotland revealed the shock discovery that one form of chemotherapy had actually rejuvenated women's ovaries, giving hope for a new treatment for infertility.
Now Jess, who is in remission but must attend regular check-ups, is campaigning for changes in the diagnosis of cervical cancer in younger women.
She says she had to visit doctors five times fearing she had cancer before they would take her seriously.
The mobile hairdresser, from Rhymney, South Wales, was told she was too young to have the condition and instead tested for STIs.
But after her fifth visit, doctors eventually agreed to give her a smear test, which revealed the terrifying news she had cervical cancer.
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"It took two weeks before they knew how far it had spread. After a scan confirmed that the cancer was in my lymph nodes and I was told that I would never have children," said Jess.
Before she started chemotherapy in 2013, Jess was given the chance to freeze her eggs in the hope of having a baby in the future - with brave mum Julie offering to be a surrogate.
Jess said: "They managed to take 21 eggs before I started chemo but only 10 survived and they were made into embryos and grown for two weeks then frozen.
"Then in May this year we had an embryo defrosted and implanted into my mother's womb for her to be the little oven helping our Jelly Bean grow."
She and husband Rees were delighted when Julie became the surrogate - and were there when little Jack was born weighing 6lb 10oz.
Jess announced the birth on Facebook and told her friends: "We are very proud parents."
In Wales, women had previously been invited for routine smear tests from the age of 20, but in 2013 the age rose to 25 - the same as England.
Around 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed ever year, but it mostly affects women aged 30 to 45 and is "very rare" in women under 25, according to the.
However anyone with symptoms - which include pain or bleeding after sex - is urged to visit their GP and not wait for their next routine smear.
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