North Carolina surrogate mom Rachel Elliott, a pastor's wife, grew up not knowing that she has an older biological brother who was given up for adoption at birth. Mark MacDonald, from Oregon, had a wonderful childhood and was always comfortable with the fact that he was adopted as a baby.
But when Mark, now a professor at Portland State University, was faced with a dilemma that could impact his life and future, he decided to sort out his past and find his blood relatives.
Speaking with the BBC, Mark said that when he learned he can't have children with his wife, Tina, that yearning to find his biological family was triggered. He said he wanted to "pass on his genes," knowing he had contributed some good in this world.
A Shocking Confession
Rachel was raised as the eldest child in a very religious family. She grew up learning that sex before marriage was wrong. So, she was flabbergasted and in tears when she found out that she had a long-lost biological brother from her own mother's mouth. Her mother went on to confess that she and their father decided to give up the baby because they were only 16 when they had Mark.
Some 3,000 miles away, Mark finally got the phone call he was waiting for after three years: they found his family, and his mother was willing to communicate. However, because of the weakness in the adoption system, it took some time for Rachel, her two brothers, and their parents to come face-to-face with Mark.
Rachel had already formed this bond and love for her long-lost biological brother through their emails and letters. Needless to say, their first meeting as a family was very emotional.
As the siblings bonded, Rachel found out that her long-lost biological brother struggled to have babies with Tina. Rachel realized that she could help the couple out by offering to be their surrogate mom.
But before she could proceed with her plans, Rachel had to get her pastor husband to agree with the idea. Fortunately, her husband was supportive of his wife's selfless gesture for her sibling, per Daily Star.
Documenting their Life in "Love & Genetics"
Over at dinner between the siblings one time, Rachel decided to make her offer and told Mark and Tina she could be the surrogate mom. The surrogacy process is complex but even more so because the siblings live far apart; thus, fertility clinics and hospital visits have to be carefully planned.
Complicating their arrangement was that it would raise eyebrows if they revealed that Rachel, who was having twins, was impregnated by her long-lost biological brother with the support of her husband. Years later, the siblings would tell their life story in the book "Love & Genetics," which is set for release on Tuesday, March 22.
Today, the twins Rachel carried for her older brother are now teenagers. They've known since they were toddlers that "Auntie Rachel" helped bring them to the world.
"Certainly, the love and connection I feel towards the twins is different," Rachel admitted.
