The unexpected gift of surrogacy: one woman's journey with infertility

A woman's journey with infertility took an unexpected turn when a stranger offered to be a surrogate, giving her a newfound sense of freedom and perspective on life.

Sashi Perera had been open about her struggles with fertility for five years, sharing her miscarriages and failed IVF transfers with friends, family, and even strangers. She expected advice, but instead, she received an outpouring of support from others who had gone through similar experiences.

What she didn't expect was a message from a stranger who offered to be a surrogate. After researching the process in Victoria, which requires counselling, legal advice, and medical approvals, Perera and her husband Charlie decided to pursue the option.

However, their IVF clinic delivered unexpected news: "You can do this," they said over the phone, "but it's unlikely to make a difference in your case." The clinic suggested that the problem wasn't with Perera's body, but with the embryos.

Perera had spent years feeling guilty and trying to find a solution, but this revelation brought her a sense of relief. "My shoulders dropped from the level of my ears," she said. "I didn't even know they were up there. Or how long they'd been like that for."

Charlie had initially been sceptical about the surrogate, saying: "That's got to be a weirdo, love," but Perera convinced him it was worth exploring.

The surrogate, a kind and lovely person, was married with two kids and had felt compelled to contact Perera after hearing her story.

Perera reflects on her journey, saying that finding out her fertility struggles weren't about her body being unable to carry a child gave her a sense of freedom she had not felt in a long time.

She also recalls a wakeboarding experience where she was told to relax and let go of control, which helped her to finally understand the concept of relaxation.

Perera is now on the biggest tour of her comedy career with Charlie, and says the surrogate gave them a gift, just not in the way they expected.