Their story is one of resilience and hope, a narrative that transcends the boundaries of a mere picture. It is a tale that shines through and conveys emotions that words cannot fully express. Hilde Kristine, at 31 years old, had always dreamed of becoming a mother. However, when she received the devastating news of her rare cervical cancer in 2008, her dreams seemed shattered. The realization that she would never be able to have children of her own was heart-wrenching, and her world felt like it was falling apart.

But Hilde's determination and courage led her on a different path. Eight years later, she found a way to fulfill her dream of motherhood through surrogacy in Canada. With the help of a surrogate, she finally gave birth to a beautiful little girl.

Her journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of love. Despite the challenges she faced, Hilde and her husband, Christian, stood together and supported each other through thick and thin. Their love and resilience became the foundation of a new chapter in their lives, where they welcomed their precious daughter into the world.

This story reminds us that sometimes life takes unexpected turns, but with hope and determination, we can find new paths to our dreams and create beautiful moments that words alone cannot fully capture.

After undergoing a challenging round of cancer treatment at Haukeland and Radiumhospitalet, Hilde successfully became cancer-free in the same year. Following her treatment, she and Christian began contemplating their options for starting a family. The years after her illness were marked by a continuous process of searching for a way to become parents. Initially, they considered adoption, but they eventually abandoned the idea due to the long and unpredictable waiting times involved.

Surprisingly, surrogacy wasn't the first option they considered. Hilde believes this was because they had limited knowledge about the process and its possibilities. However, as they delved deeper into exploring different avenues, they came to learn more about surrogacy and its potential as a means to fulfill their dream of becoming parents.

In Norway, surrogacy is not permitted, but it is not illegal for Norwegian citizens to have a child with the help of a surrogate mother abroad. Hilde got to know someone through the Gynecological Association, and this person later became a close friend. This friend had become a mother of twins through surrogacy in Canada. "She provided us with valuable information about the surrogacy process, giving us a clearer understanding of what surrogacy entails."

In Canada, only "altruistic surrogacy" is legal, meaning that surrogate mothers do not receive payment for carrying the child. The process must be done voluntarily, and the intended parents are only responsible for covering the surrogate's expenses related to the pregnancy and birth.

The process began in January 2015, and approximately six months later, the fantastic day arrived. The waiting period to be chosen as parents was uncertain, but eventually, they were matched with Amy, their future surrogate mother. They were overwhelmed by the fact that someone on the other side of the globe was willing to help them with something as significant as having children. The decision to pursue surrogacy was an incredibly wonderful and selfless act on Amy's part.

To establish a connection and understand each other better, Hilde and Christian communicated with Amy through emails and Skype. This step was crucial in ensuring that all parties involved felt comfortable and confident in the arrangement. In this case, surrogacy involved the insertion of fertilized eggs (embryos) into the surrogate's uterus at a clinic. For Hilde and Christian, the embryos were created using egg donation, leading to Amy becoming pregnant with their child. It was truly a small miracle in the making.

Around week 20 of Amy's pregnancy, Hilde and Christian traveled to Canada for an ultrasound, which revealed that a little girl was growing in Amy's womb. The anticipation and excitement grew as they counted down the weeks to the due date. Four weeks before the expected delivery, they returned once again to be present for the birth of their precious daughter.

On June 29, 2016, little Julie was born, ten days before her due date. Hilde and Christian were present during the birth, and Hilde held Julie in her arms, making it an overwhelming and emotional experience. "We are eternally grateful that Amy has helped us become a family of three," they expressed their heartfelt thanks.

Many people may wonder how a woman can be pregnant for nine months and then give up the child at birth. Amy, the surrogate mother, has a clear answer to that. "This was never my child. I'm not giving it up; I'm giving it back," she stated firmly.

Two months after Julie's birth, and after many precious moments with Amy and her family, Hilde and Christian were ready to take their daughter home to Norway. "Since we returned to Norway, we have had regular contact with Amy, and we hope that will last for a long time," they shared their ongoing connection and gratitude towards the surrogate mother.