A "miracle baby" has become the first to be born in the UK to a mother with a donated womb. Grace Davidson, 36 years old, did not have a functioning uterus due to MRKH syndrome. But in 2023, she received a womb transplant from her sister Amy.
Two years after the operation, Grace gave birth in February to a healthy baby girl whom they named Amy, in gratitude for her sister. For Grace, holding baby Amy for the first time was so overwhelming and felt like a surreal dream.
Their journey began in 2018, when Grace first thought about her mother donating the womb. But that wasn't possible, so Amy Purdie, her sister who already has children of her own, became the donor. Amy says it was all worth it because of the immediate joy she gave Grace.
The transplant surgery took 17 hours and was performed by a team of over 30 medical experts. The process was not easy, especially as it was affected by the COVID pandemic. But it finally happened at Churchill Hospital, Oxford, and was successful. On the first try of IVF, Grace became pregnant immediately.
Grace gave birth via C-section at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London. They plan to have a second baby before the donated womb is removed to eliminate the need for immunosuppressants. For Grace, having baby Amy is a true act of sisterly love and little miracle in their lives.
