A British Columbia couple who recently welcomed twins into the world via a surrogate pregnancy in Mexico is now struggling to bring the babies back home to Canada, after they were born prematurely.
Greg and Elaine Smith had struggled to conceive for years before they finally sought a surrogate mother in Mexico, where Greg's parents have a home.
Last year, the couple happily announced that they were expecting twins.
Greg's cousin, Christy Gelowitz, said the two were thrilled by the news.
"They took pictures of all the little baby clothes that they went out and bought, and they set up their nursery. They were elated," she told CTV Vancouver.
The babies, Ayden and Ariana, were due in March, but were born prematurely on Jan. 8 at 31 weeks. Both are now in intensive care at a Mexican hospital.
"Their condition has changed from critical to stable to critical to stable on a daily basis," Gelowitz said. "They're both on respirators right now."
As the twins remain in hospital, the cost of their medical care continues to climb. Gelowitz said their bill now sits at about $55,000.
Gelowitz's husband, Aaron, said the new parents are aware that they'll be criticized for seeking a surrogate mother in Mexico. But they had taken steps to protect themselves.
"They've done their due diligence. They hired a lawyer, they took the precautions they thought they needed to," he said.
To help the couple out, Gelowitz has started an online fundraising campaign to help cover some of the costs of their medical bills.
"They need all the help and support they can," she said.
The couple is not sure how long they'll remain in Mexico. They still need to get birth certificates for the babies – a process which requires a notary to obtain the babies' hand and foot prints. This is not possible while the twins remain in intensive care.
