DALLAS — Dreams of becoming a mother came true at Medical City Dallas for a stage 3 cervical cancer survivor and hysterectomy patient, thanks to the generosity of a Medical City Plano health care hero who volunteered to be a surrogate.
Seven years ago, at just 27 years old, Dallas resident Erica Gray was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. Gray knew the aggressive treatment option would strip her chance to becoming a mother in the future.
"I knew it was going to be difficult no matter what we did to have children down the road, because everything gets affected when you do chemotherapy and radiation. So I just wanted it taken care of and I trusted Dr. Thomas Heffernan to the full extent. And so, we decided to go with a radical hysterectomy," she said.
Years later, Gray's wish to have a biological child was made possible after Medical City Plano’s Heffernan, the gynecological oncologist who saved her life, introduced Gray to his long-time surgical tech Kasia Birdwell. She knew immediately she wanted to help out.
“It's something I've always had near and dear to my heart. I had taken care of many of surrogate patients before and had a fellow friend that was a surrogate, and I knew this was going to be the one,” Birdwell said.
The women and their husbands met for dinner in August of 2019 and immediately formed a friendship.
“I knew we were gonna walk into something special, but I had no idea that we would build such an awesome relationship,” Gray said. "It felt truly like a sister, almost instantly.”
While their unexpected, yet strong relationship blossomed, the COVID-19 pandemic brought challenges, postponing Birdwell's initial embryo transplant. But in June 2020, Erica Gray and husband Richard Gray celebrated Birdwell's successful pregnancy. Erica Gray said Birdwell was a “superwoman,” working during the pandemic, in surgery with COVID-19 positive patients, all while carrying the Gray family’s baby.
"I told everyone, my friends, I’m always like, ‘You don't understand. She's a mom of two, married, juggling that, work, a nurse, going to nursing school, an awesome surgical tech.’ Like how she balances this all and carried a child for us is incredible. She's incredible,” Erica Gray said.
"He is my little buddy. He's been my little belly buddy,” Birdwell said. “I’m going to be Aunt Kasia to him. So, it’s just such a unique relationship."
On March 4 at 10:34 p.m., Birdwell gave birth to a healthy eight-pound, 14-ounce baby boy named Richard Edwin Gray V at Medical City Dallas, to cheers and tears in the delivery room.
“Kasia’s willingness to help the Gray family is a testament to all of our health care heroes who have sacrificed so much the past year to give hope to others,” said Medical City Dallas physician Grace Mooken, MD.
The new bundle of joy has bonded two families forever.
“Medical City is all about putting the patient first. Not only is Erica a patient, she is a good friend. She is a survivor, who has been through so much. And for me, being able to put her first and help her make this family, it has been an incredible journey and I am so excited for them to be together,” Birdwell said.
