He may have been nine days behind schedule, but Richmond mom Katya Ballos was more than happy to wait.
Baby Milo arrived into the world on Oct. 18, weighing in at eight pounds and 12 ounces.
The Richmond News reported last month how Ballos had reached out on social media more than a year ago, asking for a surrogate mom, while explaining how she wasn’t able to fulfil her family’s dream of having a second child, due to having chemotherapy in 2019 for cervical cancer.
That emotional appeal was heard and answered by a stranger from Smithers, Rachel Eller, who agreed to have Ballos’ baby via the Richmond mom's donated eggs.
After having befriended 37-year-old Eller and her family, Ballos, her husband Jason Trigg and their four-year-old son, Oscar, flew the 1,100 kilometres to Smithers at the end of September.
And nine days ago, Eller gave birth to little Milo, who is now back home in Richmond.
“Rachel was incredibly strong through the labour and delivery. We were so happy to finally meet him,” Ballos told the News this week.
“It’s really nice to be home and still feels pretty unreal that we are now a family of four.
“He is so very loved already.”
Two moms met on Instagram
Despite having no connection – other than both being moms and both being elementary school teachers - Eller, after just a few weeks of phone calls and Facetimes and a ton of research and questions, entered into a contract of body and mind to become a surrogate for Ballos and Trigg.
The Smithers mom-of-two said she was touched last year by Ballos’ appeal on Instagram, having recently lost a close cousin to cancer.
No money changed hands for the contract, other than Ballos and her husband reimbursing Eller for any expense related to the pregnancy.
As for communication down the line, Ballos said previously that Eller would “be part of the baby’s life. It’s not like an adoption.
“Maybe she will be Auntie Rachel or something like that. We imagine there will be lots of Facetimes down the road.”
