US couple journey to Ukraine to meet surrogate and bring new son home

US couple who went through six rounds of IVF and four miscarriages make ‘terrifying’ journey through war-torn Ukraine to meet their pregnant surrogate – then bring their new son home to Georgia

• After four unsuccessful miscarriages, the couple opted for the surrogacy route
• They choose a mother in Ukraine because of the high surrogacy costs in America
• Audrey, 35, and husband George, 34, traveled to Ukraine when the war began
• They met the Ukrainian surrogate mother and carried their baby boy home to US 

An American couple traveled through war-torn Ukraine to meet their surrogate and bring their baby home after going through six rounds of IVF and four miscarriages.

Audrey Quinones, 35, and her husband, George, 34, were desperate to become parents and began trying to conceive soon after getting married, in 2017.

However, after struggling to fall pregnant naturally as well as four unsuccessful years of fertility treatments, Audrey and George, from Atlanta, decided to go down the route of surrogacy.

Yet due to the high costs in the US, they decided to begin their surrogacy journey in Ukraine.

When news of the war broke, it meant the couple were going to have to cross into a warzone to be present for their son’s birth before bringing him home with them to the US.

Audrey Quinones, 35, (left) and her husband, George, 34, (right) were desperate to become parents and began trying to conceive soon after getting married in 2017. The couple traveled through war-torn Ukraine to meet their Ukrainian surrogate and welcome their baby home (center)

Ukrainian surrogate Kate, pictured, was heavily pregnant when the war broke out. Audrey was terrified for Kate’s safety as she lived in the middle of Ukraine, and despite trying to convince her to move as close to the border as possible, she waned to stay with her family in her hometown

Audrey and George are now the proud parents of Matteo Makai, pictured, who was born on 17 July in Ukraine

Audrey, an engineer, said: ‘We’d both always dreamed of growing our own family, so we were devastated when we faced these challenges to fall pregnant.

‘We suffered four miscarriages while trying to fall pregnant. We tried IUIs and IVF, but they were all unsuccessful.

‘I gained 60lbs over the four years of fertility treatment and ended up having a gastric sleeve to help me lose weight, which meant I couldn’t pursue pregnancy again for a year.

‘I was also diagnosed with many reproductive issues, such endometriosis, PCOS, and reproductive immunology challenges, such as high natural killer cells and extreme high levels of inflammation in the body.

‘All of this made a natural conception and carrying to term a slim possibility.

‘We then decided to look into surrogacy. One of my friend’s volunteered but medical, legal, and compensation costs were too high, so we looked into surrogacy abroad.

‘In December 2020, we decided on Ukraine as we loved the idea of traveling the program there, so began our journey.’

It wasn’t an easy ride for the couple who were on their fifth surrogate by the time a positive pregnancy test was read, due to embryos failing and not taking.

Audrey continued: ‘By the time we met Kate, our surrogate for our son, I was heartbroken.

‘Yet when we got the call saying she had a positive pregnancy test, I couldn’t believe it. I was scared to get my hopes up too much.

‘Everything was going great until 24 February when we heard the news Russia had invaded Ukraine.

Audrey decided to cross into Ukraine when she was 37 weeks so she could spent time with Kate and be there for the birth of her son. ‘When I first met Kate, it was like going on a first date because we’d talked so much over text message but never in person,’ she said

Kate went into labour at 39 weeks and text Audrey to let her know that the baby was coming

‘It took my breathe away. I was in California and had a total breakdown. I had to seek help for my mental health. It was really hard on everyone involved.’

Audrey was terrified for Kate’s safety as she lived in the middle of Ukraine, and despite trying to convince her to move as close to the border as possible, she waned to stay with her family in her hometown.

Initially, Audrey didn’t want to have contact with Kate because of the heartbreak she’d experienced with previous surrogates, but because of the war, she needed to know she was safe and well.

Audrey said: ‘We used an app to translate and to keep in contact.

‘She would always send me pictures and videos and was so happy to finally have contact with us. We still talk all the time now.

‘By the time Kate was 32 weeks pregnant, I begged her to move west towards the border, as I headed to wait in Germany were my best friend lives.

‘She was not able to move west until 36 weeks pregnant, as I headed to be closer to Slovakia. The area she lived in was being shelled sporadically, so thankfully she agreed.

‘Kate had a history of delivering between 38 and 41 weeks, so I decided to cross into Ukraine when she was 37 weeks so I could spent time with Kate and be there for the birth of our son.

George, Audrey and Matteo are pictured on the plane home after bringing their son with them

But the birth wasn’t the only challenge Matteo had to go through. The couple had to wait for the baby’s documentation before crossing into Slovakia, and then a few days later going on a six-hour drive to Poland

‘It was terrifying as I didn’t know what I was getting myself into as I was about to enter a warzone.

‘When I first met Kate, it was like going on a first date because we’d talked so much over text message but never in person.

‘We went for walks and ice cream, and she let me feel whenever the baby kicked.’

Kate went into labour at 39 weeks and text Audrey to let her know that the baby was coming quickly.

Air raid sirens began to belt out as they arrived, which meant they were locked outside for some time before the birth.

Audrey continued: ‘Within an hour of getting the text, Kate gave birth to Matteo.

‘I was there for her, to make sure she was okay and to advocate for her. I didn’t know much Ukrainian, so I just held her hand through the pushes.

‘It was a surreal experience. Matteo came out purple and I didn’t know what to do. I was just staring at them both until a nurse shook me and told me it was time for skin-to-skin.

‘He’s already done so much travelling in his short life as we’d been to seven countries in four weeks,’ said the baby boy’s mother

‘George was in the hospital but not in the delivery room, so he eventually came down to meet our son and we were united as a family of three.

‘A couple of hours later, Kate came down to meet the baby. It was so special.

‘Having our son was a dream come true and I kept having to pinch myself, however, I knew we faced the challenge of getting him back to the US.

‘We had to wait for his passport and documentation. We first crossed into Slovakia, and then a few days later we had a six-hour drive to Poland.

‘We then had to wait another week until our appointment in the embassy to submit documentation and do a DNA test in order to get our son’s passport to be able to come back home.

‘We then made our way to Germany and spent a few days with my friend and her family before returning to the states. Matteo was one month old when we eventually made it home.

‘He’s already done so much travelling in his short life as we’d been to seven countries in four weeks.

‘We’re now back home and adjusting to our new life, and of course loving it.

‘It’s such a beautiful process and I’m so grateful we’ve been able to go through it.

‘Kate took care of our baby during a war and she is part of our family now.’

Audrey and George are now the proud parents of Matteo Makai, who was born on 17 July in Ukraine.

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