It’s not uncommon for best friends to do everything together – shopping trips, meals out, and even vacations. But for two best friends from Birmingham, Rena Miras-Pye and Jemma Black, their bond took an extraordinary turn when they decided to embark on a surrogacy journey together, helping four strangers become parents.

Their story began when Rena, a teacher and a mom-of-three, wrote about her egg donation experience online. Jemma, a sales assistant who had been searching for an egg donor, came across Rena’s account and reached out to her. The two quickly formed a connection and decided to join Surrogacy UK in 2018.

Their journey was not without challenges. Rena faced two unsuccessful transfers, while Jemma fell pregnant on her first attempt. However, throughout the ups and downs, they leaned on each other for support and found solace in their friendship.

Both Rena and Jemma wanted to help others fulfill their dreams of becoming parents because they had experienced easy pregnancies themselves and knew of loved ones who struggled to conceive. Rena had previously donated her eggs and helped a couple have twin girls and a daughter.

For Jemma, donating her eggs felt like “something was missing,” which led her to pursue surrogacy. Rena initially joined as a known egg donor but later found a couple she wanted to help. Although Jemma felt guilty that the first round of IVF worked for her while Rena faced setbacks, she was always there for her best friend.

Their pregnancies overlapped for five months, and the experience was beyond words for Rena. Being able to go through the journey with her best friend and have their children relate to the surrogacy process was incredibly special. Rena’s children, Nathaniel, Scarlett, and Iris, and Jemma’s children, Madison Cadby, Melody, and Carter, were all part of the journey.

Rena successfully donated her egg and carried a baby who was born in June 2020, while Jemma gave birth in October 2020. For Rena, giving her eggs and being a surrogate were opportunities to help others create families based on love, not genetics. Being able to witness the intended parents become parents and knowing they were making a difference in the lives of many was an indescribable feeling.

This heartwarming story of friendship, selflessness, and making dreams come true reminds us that even in challenging times, there is hope. It shows the power of supporting one another and the joy that comes from helping others become parents.