Grandmother gives birth to her grandson

by Roger Sinasohn (Subscribe to Roger Sinasohn's posts)
Sep 28th 2006 3:03PM

Remember that old song, I'm My Own Grandpa? Well, this isn't quite as convoluted, but I think that Syrus Sonny Singh could claim to be his own uncle, at the very least. His genetic grandmother, 54-year-old Ruby Tejwani, acted as his surrogate mother, carrying the baby conceived with an egg and sperm from Tejwani's daughter and son-in-law.

Sapna Singh, the genetic mother, has lupus, an autoimmune disease that prevented her from carrying a baby to term. So, when she and her husband, Sonny, were looking for a surrogate, she volunteered. Using hormone shots to reverse her menopause, Tejwani started something she hadn't done in 26 years. Dr. Damon Masaki, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, told her, "Don't worry, your womb will remember."

Remember it did. Due to her age, however, Tejwani's blood pressure rose, prompting doctors to deliver the baby a month early. Both grandmother and baby were fine, however. "It was very emotional when he came out," said Sapna Singh, 31. "I thought he was beautiful, just gorgeous, perfect." Her mother agrees. "He's so cute. I love him," she declared.

I know that these days, grandparents (and even great-grandparents) often take on significant roles in raising their grandkids, but I have to say, I think this definitely qualifies as going way above and beyond the call of duty. Kudos to Tejwani and congratulations to the whole family!

ReaderComments (Page 5 of 12)

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10-03-2006 @ 3:58PM

Ethel said...

Reading the comments of some of the bloggers reminds me of someone coming to a gunfight with no gun. By that I mean, I have read at least 3 comments where the blogger thought this grandmother had the baby for her grandson, for her son, one even said "EW-W! This told me one thing: that someone did not really read the story correctly. She not only didn't have sex with the male (she was artificially inseminated); but it was her DAUGHTER and son-in-law. She was inseminated with the fertilized egg from her daughter's egg and her son-in-laws sperm. She only CARRIED the child 9 months; rather than see her daughter risk her life and possibly DIE trying to give birth. Now what caring Mom out there would not have done that for their own daughter if they were able to do so? Comment on what's actually printed in black and white, and also consider what I previously said "This baby could grow up to be the person to save the life of someone you know and love, possibly even YOU. Let's stop being so judgmental and thank God this child has arrived safely and that the Grandmother survived also.

10-03-2006 @ 4:09PM

Kelly said...

To post #58, Melissa...I totally agree with you.
I makes me feel better about humanity to see this kind of act. I've been getting a little discouraged lately...
And I would really, truly like to know - how do some of you people know God's plan? You are so bent on claiming "This is not God's plan" but how do you know this? Does he tell you? Are you guessing? Please let us know this - let us know how you know what God's plan is, because if you are entitled to this type of wonderful knowledge, I think you should share it with the world. Christians would love to know what God's plan is.
There is only one who know's what God's plan is, and I don't think He's gonna be posting it here, or anywhere...

10-03-2006 @ 4:11PM

confused said...

JAZZY, for future reference, be sure to read and comprehend the entire article.

TASHA, if you are more interested in people's spelling than the actual subject at hand, then you need to go back under the SAT rock that you crawled out from.

10-03-2006 @ 4:36PM

lisa said...

For all you disapproving people... You have a children, so of course you can say the things you said... Until the shoe is on the other foot you don't know what someone else feels... It is all that easy to adopt either... It takes years to be able to adopt an infant and thats for the lucky people... Yeah, there all hundreds of children over 7 that need to be adopted but, most of those have handicaps and other problems unfortunately... I think is was the ultimate thing that mom could ever do for her daughter... It was a very BEAUTIFUL gift of love... I have a child from a previous marraige and I had a tubal... I am remarried and only wish someone would do that for me... So, God bless this baby who you never know may grow up to be the Pope one day... Congrats!!! : )

10-03-2006 @ 4:14PM

Joanna Schmida said...

Well, I wouldn't do it. Not for religious reasons, but for medical ones. A pregnancy is pretty hard on anyone's body, but the chance of complications worsens with age. I applaud her, though. She was very selfless to volunteer to do this. She'll have a very special bond with that child.

10-03-2006 @ 4:23PM

Bev said...

Julie and the others who disagree are entitled to their opinion, just as the rest of us are. Those who want to be considered kind and reasonable must not launch personal attacks but must respectfully disagree. So, Julie, thank you for your thoughts, but I must agree with the others who find this birth a beautiful thing and who question how any of us are able to interpret Divinity to anyone else.

10-03-2006 @ 4:27PM

Debbie said...

Some of you need to go back and read this story again. The baby was conceived from the father's sperm and the mother's eggs - otherwise known as a test tube baby - the implanted in Grandma. She didn' have sex with her son-in-law. I think that was an extremely loving thing she did. I would do it in a minute for my daughter if I could.

10-03-2006 @ 4:18PM

OK...so all you folks who feel this family interfered in God's plan...Raise your hands. Now how many of you folks with their raised hands have a seat on Heaven's Executive Board? God alone speaks for what His DIVINE WILL AND PLAN IS: The Bible says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" Isaiah 55:8-9 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts" Psalms 139:23. So while we are going back and forth with this discussion (I include myself also), let's just leave it in God's hands, and pray it is in His divine will to wake us up tomorrow. Having said that; SO BE IT, and AMEN!

Laura said...

This has to be the most beautiful love story!!! What a thing for this child to be able to say that his loving grandmother made his life possible and very real. Awesome story...selfless act full of love :)

10-03-2006 @ 4:19PM

Linny said...

It is indeed a very nice thing to do.
To chelle: re-read the story-- the baby was conceived with egg & sperm from the daughter and son-in-law--already an embryo...

10-03-2006 @ 4:15PM

Joyce George said...

I really do not know if I could do this. It is a pretty unselfish act of love and devotion. I am sure that all people involved gave it a lot a thought and careful consideration. I do believe that God gave us a brain, a soul, and a heart for a reason and that is for us to make decisions that are loving and fair. This is one of those decisions. Good for them all.

stephanie said...

I think what she did for her daughter and son-in-law was awesome.She gave them something they really wanted and she helped them with it,thats kool now her grandbaby will have to love her even more:)and for all you immature idiots who dont know how to care and help other ppl you care about should just not post anything..Its not easy for ppl who cant have thier own kids:(

MDS said...

I know a lady who has lupus and has had two babies - BOTH HAPPY AND HEALTHY. This is not natural by now means necessary.

10-03-2006 @ 4:22PM

Carol Rodriguez said...

I thought this was a good article,and was surprized that it was a success, with all that was involved medically,to maintain the pregnancy. This was a very loving thing for a mother to help with. Carol

10-05-2006 @ 4:07PM

Patti said...

For those of you who put this down because God has a devine plan etc. And medical science should not intervene I feel really bad for you. Having been struck by cancer at a young age I am truely grateful for medical science or my two children would not be here today. Make sure for the sake of cleansing the gene pool you refuse medical treatment to save your life after all that would be interfereing with God's choice.

10-03-2006 @ 4:28PM

BILL PULK said...

TO ALL THE NEGATIVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE THEIR DISMAL COMMENTS ON THIS SUBJECT, ONE WORD OF ADVICE. "STICK IT WHERE THE SUN DONT SHINE" AND I DONT MEAN YOUR CLOSED MIND.

Carole Myers said...

I may be wrong, but it seems to me the story is about the daughters and son-in-laws egg/sperm - and the grandmother only offered to be the surrogate mother for the baby - I think it's a wonderful thing to do and I would sure do it for my daughter as well.

10-03-2006 @ 4:26PM

Michele said...

I went through infertility treatments to have both of my children, but I don't think I would//could have asked anyone to be a surrogate. To each his own ....I suppose :-)

10-03-2006 @ 4:24PM

Rachel said...

JULIE is a moron. Would she forgo medical treatment for a disease because it would be "interferring with divinity?" Your religious beliefs are yours, don't shove them down everyone else's throat.

Steph said...

What about the baby being retard. Is this like incest? I think it is gross and there should be further distance in the blood line.

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