"Never did I think I would experience something like this or have a baby at 50!" Chalise Smith wrote.
When Kaitlyn Munoz, 25, was told by the doctors that she would not be able to conceive any more children of her own, she was dejected. She was informed that it was "due to some health issues," as she previously shared on Instagram.
Munoz was diagnosed with endometriosis, and later Sjögren's syndrome, which is classified as an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. However, it can also cause damage to other parts of the body, like the joints, thyroid, kidneys, liver, and more, per PEOPLE.
Munoz, who had a son, Callahan, via IVF, had two frozen embryos left from her previous cycle, according to KSL. So her mom, Chalise Smith, 50, stepped in, to help her daughter out. She offered to carry her daughter's child for her as a surrogate.
Smith, a mother of eight children, says in a Facebook post that it was "undoubtedly LOVE" along with other emotions and feelings that played a role in her making this choice. A mother selflessly chose her daughter and embarked upon this unusual journey.
"I saw Kaitlyn go through the IVF process, and I know what it entails. There's all the shots and so many emotions that are involved with it, and I told her that I understood the risks, and that I had been praying about it for three weeks," Smith shared.
"Then she told me, 'I was just sitting here thinking about who could I have carry my embryos, and you called me up.' "
On May 17, 2022, Smith gave birth to Alayna Kait Chalise Munoz at American Fork Hospital a little before 9 pm. "She was seven pounds, 13 ounces, 21 inches long, and came out just healthy and gave her little screams," Smith told Fox 13.
Smith told KSL that she "would do anything" for any of her children. She added, "I knew from the beginning that this wasn't my baby. This was a gift for my daughter that she couldn't do for herself."
Munoz is nothing but grateful for having her mom by her side whenever she needs her. "I am at a loss of words," she wrote in an emotional Instagram post.
"My mom is a living angel and brought us another blessing earth side and we are in LOVE. When my mom offered to be our surrogate it just felt so right. My mom did so amazing through out the pregnancy and we had an amazing delivery experience. Grateful for my mom and her selflessness in this journey," she continued.
Munoz told KSL that her mom is her best friend and has always done everything for her that she herself couldn't do growing up. "She brought me the greatest gift: Alayna," she said.
After Alayna turned a week old, Smith shared her maternity shoot photos on Facebook and spoke about her experiences in this journey. She wanted to "make sure I wasn't making an emotional choice." So she contemplated whether this is the right thing to do and then prayed before telling Munoz her decision.
"Never did I think I would experience something like this or have a baby at 50!" she wrote. "As I turned to my Heavenly Father and Savior, through prayer and always pondering my choice in my heart, there were countless moments of guidance and confirmations that this path was a path for me."
References:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CaMJmTuLK_V/
https://www.fox13now.com/news/positively-utah/pleasant-grove-mom-serves-as-surrogate-for-daughter
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdub1iMM_rR/
Cover Image Source: Instagram | Miguel & Kaitlyn Munoz (@creatingourfam)
