On April 25th of last year, Alvin and Anrica announced that their surrogate mother was pregnant.
Actor Alvin Bruinders and his wife, Anrica, announced the birth of their baby girl last week. Baby Alaska was born on Saturday, August 31, at 31 weeks gestation. Sadly, she passed away on Sunday.
“Little Alaska was born on Saturday. 31 weeks. Please pray for her to grow up strong!”
“Leandre Hattingh and I are with her all the time, encouraging her! Please pray for Alaska!!!!” Anrika wrote on Facebook.
After years of disappointment, Hattingh decided to volunteer as a surrogate mother. On April 25 last year, Alvin and Anrica announced that she was pregnant. “We are happy to announce that after many years of prayer, our surrogate mother is pregnant,” she said.
From the struggles of IVF to the hope of surrogacy
After 17 Failed After completing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, the couple decided to go with a surrogate in 2023. In search of a surrogate, Anrika posted on Facebook: “Dear friends, as you know, Alvin and I have been struggling with infertility for some time. We are looking for a surrogate mother, someone who can carry our baby for us.”
Hattingh, who was his son's nursery teacher, offered to be a surrogate mother.
After 12 failed IVF treatments, another surrogate gave birth to a seven-year-old son, Averik.
On the Friday after Alaska was born, Anrika shared her ordeal on social media: “Dear friends, thank you so much for your daily prayers! I think that's what got us to this point. First of all, Alaska is not just a premature baby. There are many complications. She hasn't shown any movement since she was born, which according to the doctors is not normal at all. She is not sedated but she is not awake at all. We are waiting for tests from the US to get a better understanding of what is going on.”
On Saturday, Alaska showed signs of waking up and things started to look up.
But on Sunday, the couple shared the tragic news of Alaska's passing, writing, “It is with great sadness that we announce that Alaska received her angel wings this morning. She will walk into God's paradise where she will be greeted by all our loved ones. Thank you all for your prayers.”
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