Irish American Kristine Casey gives birth to her own grandson - SEE POLL

61-year-old Chicagoan acted as a surrogate for her daughter’s child

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Sara Connell, left, holds her new baby Finnean Lee Connell.Sara's mother, Kristine Casey, 61, served as a surrogate for her daughter.

Photo by Chicago Tribune

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A 61-year-old woman in Chicago has given birth to her own grandson, having served as a surrogate for her daughter. Kristine Casey has made medical history as she's one of the first women over 60 in the world to do so.

Casey decided to help her daughter, Sara Connell, have a child after she had spent years trying to have a baby. Connell and her husband, Bill, are the biological parents of Finnean Lee Connell who was born by Cesarean section last week.

Connell and her mother cried and prayed as Finnean was delivered. Connell told the Chicago Tribune what an emotional moment it was when Finnean was finally born. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. She said, "I lost it…It's such a miracle."

Dr. Susan Gerber, obstetrician and maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital said, "The surgery itself was uncomplicated, and the emotional context of this delivery was so profound."

In 2004 the Connells decided to try for a baby. Sara, now 35, discovered she was not ovulating. Having undergone infertility treatment she got pregnant but gave birth to stillborn twins and latter had a miscarriage.

Casey had three prior pregnancies. Her last pregnancy was 30 years ago. Her pregnancy with Finnean went smoothly.

Since 2007 Casey has been retired and spends her time walking, meditating, taking classes and socializing but she felt that she had another calling.

Casey said, "At the beginning of 2009 I decided for once in my life to take some time to think about my life and find something that seemed right for me, where there was no pressure to do a specific thing."

Once she had the idea she said, "I thought, 'Wow, three of the happiest days of my life were giving birth to my daughters,' and I thought I could choose to do this for someone I love."

When she suggested the idea to Sara she said to forget about it if Sarah thought it repulsive.  Casey insisted that she was doing it for herself as well as for her daughter and family.

Months later they discussed their options with the Reproductive Medicine Institute.

Connell said, "The idea of having a family member being open to doing this for us was so extraordinary for us."

Bill, her husband, said he was very appreciative of the offer but at first thought it was impossible. He said, "I just wanted to make sure the science was there.  I didn't want us to subject ourselves to another very risky, possibly devastating, scenario. Infertility is one thing, but putting your mother-in-law in danger kicks it up to another level altogether."

Casey's husband, also named Bill, also questioned whether it would be possible. He feared the pregnancy would jeopardize his wife’'s health.

However, their concerns were set aside once she was got the all clear on her medical tests. Casey went through multiple medical and psychological tests. The family also drew up a legal agreement.

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