Woman gives birth to twins she carried as a surrogate for her twin sister

Hope Schreiber
·Writer

A former Arizona State University basketball player, who served as a surrogate for her twin sister, has given birth to two healthy babies on Friday. Whitney Bliesner and her husband, Peter, are now parents thanks to Whitney's twin, Jill Noe.

As a teenager, Bliesner was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). In 1999, she had surgery to remove a brain tumor, which caused her left eye to close. After chemotherapy and radiation, she lost hearing in her right ear and 40 percent of hearing in her left. Over her life, she has endured six brain surgeries, according to the Arizona Republic.

Bliesner was aware that her condition could be passed on to her children, or that pregnancy could make her condition worse, so she and Pete opted for adoption or surrogacy – both expensive options.

Noe, who is unmarried and hasn't had children, offered to serve as her surrogate.

"When Jill said she wanted to carry a baby for me, I was in shock," Whitney told TODAY. "I'm not a crier, but I was really emotional."

"She was losing hope and I said, 'I'll do it,’” Noe told Good Morning America.

Bliesner was grateful for her sister, who she thanked for deciding “to stop her life for me just so I can have a family.”

Noe underwent in vitro fertilization using donor eggs. The second attempt was successful, and on Friday, Noe gave birth via Caesarean delivery in Portland, Ore., to a boy, Rhett, born at 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and a girl, Rhenley, 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Bliesner was in the room with her sister for the entire procedure.

"I truly had no words and was just so happy and relieved everyone was healthy," Noe told Good Morning America. "Pete and Whit are naturals when it comes to parents. Those kids are going to be so loved and it is beyond rewarding that I could help them become parents."

"I have everything I ever wanted," Bliesner told TODAY. The sisters will celebrate their 35th birthdays on Saturday.

Whitney Bliesner did not immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle's requests for comment.

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