A woman who beat cancer and was given a chance at motherhood thanks to the help of a surrogate has shared the beautiful moment her son reunited with the woman who carried him.
Sarrah Strimel Bentley found a walnut-shaped lump under one of her armpits in August 2020, which led to her being diagnosed with early breast cancer.
The diagnosis shocked Sarrah, 42, a former Broadway performer, and led to her starting treatment for the high-risk disease.
During this time, Sarrah and her husband, James, discussed possibly starting a family. With the advice of her care team, the 42-year-old underwent two rounds of in vitro fertilization.
The treatment resulted in a single embryo, so Sarrah and James decided to pursue surrogacy.
Working with an agency, the couple matched with a woman named Whitney, who opted to become their child’s surrogate.
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Sarrah, who dubbed Whitney her “angel,” spent time with Whitney before welcoming her son, Chance, into the world in December 2023.
After the birth, Whitney returned home to Richmond, Virginia, while Sarrah and James began raising Chance in their Brooklyn, New York, home.
The families stayed in touch, and in the summer of 2024, Sarrah decided to travel to Virginia so that Chance could be dedicated at Whitney’s church, alongside the baptism of Whitney’s own two children.
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On June 1, at Buzz and Ned’s BBQ, Whitney was reunited with Chance, who she has lovingly called her “womb mate.”
The emotional moment was captured on video, and when Whitney’s own children asked if Chance was their brother, both moms gave an affirmative “Yes.”
By sharing her story, Sarrah hopes to inspire other women who are in a similar situation.
Speaking of the reunion, she said: “Whitney was obviously so over the moon to see him and spend time with her womb mate again.
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“The kids asked if he was their brother and we both answered yes!
“We had an incredible weekend celebrating with both of our extended families.
“Whitney told me she wasn’t letting Chance go all weekend.
“There was wonder in her eyes as she reconnected with him, the pride she had, and the happiness she expressed seeing James and I parent him and how healthy and happy he is.
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“She is family and will always be.
“I had been looking forward to this, and it was truly beautiful.
“Whitney told me that she was very happy and that the res overwhelmingly positive.
“We had run up against more negativity when telling our story while she was pregnant.
“We really believe sharing our story will not only raise awareness for surrogacy but educate people.
“In a divisive time in the world, watching the pure love between our families should show that race, religion, and nontraditional family building all matter less in the face of love.”