Woman implanted with wrong embryo

by Scott Williams

This story caught my attention for all the dilemmas it presents.

Carolyn Savage had experienced several miscarriages since the birth of her two boys (now 12 and 15). She and husband Sean successfully tried in vitro fertilization (his sperm, her egg), resulting in the birth of their now toddler daughter, Mary Kate.

As strong believers that life begins at conception, Sean and Carolyn intended to implant the remaining five embryos left over from their last attempt at conception. Tragically, the clinic implanted the embryo of another couple (their egg and sperm), and Carolyn unwittingly became a surrogate mother.

As they explain in this video, after the initial shock of learning that the baby in Carolyn's womb wasn't her own, she and husband Sean decided to carry the baby to term in order to give it over to the rightful parents.

The Savages seem to have a strong Christian worldview and really exemplify humility in the decisions that they have made. I am still struck, though, at the dilemmas presented by this case--and in any case where the sperm, egg and/or womb are those of someone other than a husband and wife.

• Legally and ethically speaking, few people would have questioned their decision had they chosen to end the pregnancy. But the Savages couldn't violate their own moral and ethical code.
• Because a medical condition would make subsequent pregnancies dangerous, Carolyn and her husband have been caught in the difficult decision of having to seek out a surrogate mother to their remaining five embryos.
• What makes a mother (or father)?  Carolyn Savage will certainly bond with this baby she has been carrying for nine months. Will she bond as well with the child(ren) she has via the surrogate mother who will carry her real embryos?

There are a lot more questions that I have but cannot formuate into clear thoughts. I am struck by the fact that these kind of unimaginable scenarios keep popping up (remember the "pregnant man" who gave birth this summer?) But I guess they all lead to the idea that pregnancy other than by natural means always involves moral and ethical dilemmas, and they will continue to get odder until they become so commonplace that we don't pay attention anymore.