A womb between us: The transplant that changed two lives

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When two women from opposite sides of the US were selected for a pioneering uterus transplant trial, their lives become unexpectedly and permanently intertwined. Cheryl Urban, a mother of two from Pennsylvania, was so profoundly moved by a news story about uterus donation that she signed up for a clinical trial the very next day. She was not sure what it would involve or if it would even succeed, but she felt compelled to offer someone the chance to experience motherhood. Meanwhile in Montana, Chelsea Jovanovich had been living with a diagnosis she received as a teenager - MRKH syndrome - a rare condition that meant she had been born without a fully developed uterus. Chelsea and her husband knew their path to parenthood was going to be difficult, but when the option of surrogacy fell through she was left heartbroken. It was only when she heard about the University of Pennsylvania's uterine transplant programme that she realised there was still a small possibility of carrying her own child. So she applied, knowing it might be her last real chance. The two women entered the trial as strangers, unaware that their paths would soon cross. Cheryl was selected as a donor, Chelsea as a recipient, and together they became the first living uterus transplant pairing at their hospital. The surgery was long and complex. For Chelsea, it offered a chance - not a promise - at something she had been told was impossible. For Cheryl, it was the ultimate act of giving, offering a piece of herself to help make someone else's dream a reality. This is the story of two women bound not by blood, but by hope and a shared longing for motherhood. The news archive in this episode was from Fox29 Phildelphia. Presenter: Asya Fouks Producers: Marcia Veiga and Anna Lacey Get in touch: [email protected] or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 (Image: Cheryl Urban (L) and Chelsea Jovanovich. Credit: Chelsea Jovanovich + Cheryl Urban)