When 1 Woman Couldn't Get Pregnant Due to a Rare Disease, Her Twin Sister Stepped Up in a Huge Way

Updated on 4/14/2019 at 10:05 AM

Whitney Bliesner and Jill Noe

After watching her twin sister 34-year-old Whitney Bliesner battle a rare hereditary disease called Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) her entire life, Jill Noe couldn't stand to see her experience another ounce of pain. Whitney wanted a family more than anything, but her disease, which causes benign tumors to grow throughout the nervous system, prevented her from having a natural pregnancy. That's when Jill stepped in to be her twin sister's surrogate.

"I have always wanted a family of my own, but knowing my disease I didn't want to make mine worse or pass it on to my children," Whitney told POPSUGAR. "I was trying to convince myself that it was OK to not have kids and just be a dog mom; people do it all the time. It wasn't until I got married that me wanting a family of my own came on strong. I didn't want to miss out on having a family and all that comes with it."

Unfortunately for Whitney, whose NF2 diagnosis had already caused her to lose her sight in her left eye, experience hearing loss in both ears, and undergo a partial hysterectomy for fibroids, she was unable to carry her own children.

Although Whitney considered all her options, including adoption, egg donorship, and surrogacy with a stranger, the price tag was incredibly hefty. But one day, while the twins were tackling their annual stocking stuffers for the 2017 Christmas season, Jill offered to carry Whitney's children.

"We were just having a conversation and I told her I didn't know what I was going to do and she sprung it on me," said Whitney. "I was in utter shock but not completely surprised at the same time. I just thought: 'Oh my God, she wants to stop her life for me, give up her fun, exciting life for me.' It was an amazing feeling, even after I told her all the things that could happen and she may not be able to carry for herself afterward. She was still OK with it and wanted to get started."

While Whitney was in a state of utter disbelief, Jill said the decision was very easy for her.

"Whitney's disease has taken so much from her already and I wasn't about to let it take something else."

"It was an easy decision that I honestly didn't put much thought into," explained Jill. "Whitney's disease has taken so much from her already and I wasn't about to let it take something else. Being a surrogate allows me to give Whit something she's wanted: a family of her own. I get to reap the benefits by being an auntie again — my brother and step sister have children — and my parents get to add two more grandchildren to their growing number."

Despite her initial willingness to help, the road to getting pregnant was a long one for Jill. After her first round of IVF failed, Jill was left feeling like she had failed her sister.

"I felt I had let my sister and her husband Pete down," she said. "There had to be a tangible reason as to why the eggs didn't stick. I tried to be strong but my sister came over and gave me a hug, and I just melted into her and started crying. It was such a tough and somber day for all of us. Whit — true to form — was positive and sweet. She encouraged me and lifted me right back up and said, 'It's OK. If and when you are ready, let's try again.'"

With her sister's support, Jill agreed to do another round of IVF, and this time it worked. Jill is officially carrying her sister's set of twins — who the Bliesners named Rhett and Rhenley — and talk about everything coming full circle.

"Our relationship has always been so strong, but I do believe this has brought us closer together," said Jill. "We talk even more throughout the day, which I didn't think could be possible. It has brought our tight-knit family even closer. Everyone is just so involved . . . it's just been fun to go through this experience with our entire family."

So far, Jill's pregnancy has been going well, and naturally, Whitney has been by her side every step of the way. "I have been going to all the appointments with Jill and I love it," she explained. "It's the closest I can get to having the babies actually inside me! She has been amazing with it and I am just so very proud of her and how she has gone about this for me."

Jill is expected to give birth via C-section on June 6. We couldn't be happier for this growing family!