An infertile cancer survivor finally becomes a mother after her Instagram friend agreed to be her surrogate.
Marissa Smith, 30, of Toronto, was diagnosed with reproductive cancer at the age of 25.
Despite 17 operations to prepare her body for pregnancy, she was unable to conceive.
She then stumbled upon Instagram posts about surrogacy written by Ariel Taylor, 31, who had already been a surrogate three times.
The pair became close, met in real life and became best friends.
Marissa Smith (L) and Ariel Taylor (R). Marissa finally becomes a mother after becoming infertile after cancer
Knowing that Ariel liked American actor Jesse McCartney, Marissa then managed to get him to shoot a Cameo video asking if Ariel would be her surrogate.
Ariel said yes – and now she’s 25 weeks pregnant with Marissa’s baby – conceived through IVF with Marissa’s husband’s sperm and Marissa’s egg.
The baby boy is expected on July 9.
Mother-to-be Marissa, a special education teacher, said, “When I was told I wouldn’t be able to carry a pregnancy, it was very, very difficult.
“I had hoped for so long to become a mother.
“But thanks to Ariel, we can finally experience parenthood.”
In 2018, Marissa was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in her cervix and uterus.
She then underwent four surgeries and twelve procedures on her reproductive system to make her uterus suitable for pregnancy.
But after three years and a failed round of IVF, she was told she would never get pregnant.
And in May 2020, doctors suggested looking into surrogacy.
Marissa Smith, 30, (L) was diagnosed with reproductive cancer at age 25 and despite 17 surgeries, three years of IVF with husband was unsuccessful
Marissa Smith (L) and Ariel Taylor (R) became best friends and “family” after meeting through Instagram
Ariel and Marissa. When Marissa wanted to ask Ariel to be her surrogate, she enlisted the help of actor Jesse McCartney
Marissa was matched with a surrogate mother and began the surrogacy process.
But in 2021 both embryo transfers failed.
Although she was devastated, due to the fact that she was using a surrogate, Marissa had already spent a lot of time online researching the process.
And she had stumbled upon Ariel’s messages.
Ariel, who has an eight-year-old daughter and two stepdaughters with her fiancé, had already completed three surrogacy orders.
Ariel, a social worker and psychotherapist from London, Canada, said, “We became friends because I was a surrogate and she used one.
“We got really close as she went through that process of losing her old surrogate.
“She had a really hard time and people don’t really understand what it feels like — but we bonded so quickly because I got it.”
Marissa and Ariel then both tentatively muted Ariel becoming Marissa’s new surrogate.
Marissa said, “We started talking about how much fun it would be to go on a trip together.
“I knew she liked Jesse McCartney, so I gave her a Cameo of him and had him ask if she wanted to carry my baby — I sort of proposed.
“Apparently she agreed.”
Ariel (L) agreed to be surrogate. She is now 25 weeks pregnant with Marissa’s baby – conceived via IVF with Marissa’s husband’s sperm and Marissa’s egg
Marissa Smith (R) and Ariel Taylor (L), bonded over their interest in surrogacy, and the story has a happy ending
The friends now go shopping for baby clothes together and go to the ultrasounds. The baby is expected in July
In October 2022, Ariel was transplanted with an embryo from Marissa’s eggs and her husband’s sperm – a week later she found out she was pregnant.
The process has brought Ariel and Marissa closer than ever – and they now consider themselves family.
Marissa revealed she’s “over the moon” – but admits it’s been a struggle.
She said, “I’m still processing my trauma from my fertility issues.
“Just because something is finally going right, it doesn’t take away the pain and trauma we went through to get to this point.”
But she added that she was still happy with the pregnancy.
She said, “It’s very unreal when we’re together, I still don’t really believe she has my baby in her tummy.”
“But I couldn’t be happier and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to have a surrogate because so many people don’t get that opportunity.”
Marissa goes to all the obstetric appointments and ultrasounds with Ariel, and the pair go on baby shopping trips.
Best friends have already established how things will work out once the baby is born – Ariel is going to be an aunt.
Ariel said that Marissa and her husband will tell their son that Ariel was the surrogate and there will be no secrets.
Ariel, her partner and her children are already like an “extended family” to Marissa’s, she added.
Marissa said, “There’s nothing I can do to repay her and show her how much I appreciate what she does.
“We will continue our friendship forever – she is part of our family now and we are part of hers.”
“I don’t even have words to describe how I feel about Ariel – I’ll never be able to thank her enough for what she’s done.”
She added: “We are so, so excited – we can’t wait to welcome our little man.
“We’ve waited an eternity for this.”
Ariel added, “It’s so nice for me because I love being pregnant but don’t want a baby of my own.”
“We were friends before, but the process has also brought us so much closer together.
“I also get to be a part of her getting the heartbeat and gender reveal, the intimate special moments you wouldn’t normally be a part of.”