Sisters donate eggs and serve as surrogate to help New York mother welcome baby Emersyn

A New York woman who spent about £70,000 on IVF after years of infertility has welcomed a daughter born through an egg donation and surrogacy provided by her sisters. Jaclyn Fieberg, 40, and her husband Greg Fieberg, 46, faced a long and painful journey marked by endometriosis and Mosaic Turner syndrome, which doctors said gave them slim odds of conceiving. Their story, which culminated in the birth of Emersyn in February 2024, highlights how family stepped in to turn a dream of motherhood into reality.

Jaclyn and Greg married in 2018 and began trying to start a family soon after. Jaclyn, a primary school teacher, recalls being told early on that pregnancy might not come easily because of her conditions. She described feeling “broken” after years of trying to conceive and enduring seven rounds of IVF, seven miscarriages, and a period of deep heartbreak. Her older sister, Stephanie Corritori, 42, and her younger sister, Meredith McIntyre, 36, had both faced fertility challenges of their own and stood ready to help. Meredith offered to donate eggs, while Steph offered to carry a pregnancy for them. The sisters lived nearby and rallied around Jaclyn and Greg through the mounting struggles.

The long road continued into 2023. Meredith’s initial egg donation went ahead, but the cycle ended with a failed result, leaving Jaclyn to confront another wave of heartbreak. Still, the bond with her sisters remained strong. Jaclyn said Meredith’s willingness to help had deepened their family ties, and she recalled that moment with gratitude: "I cried, it was beautiful. It was the best gift imaginable from my sisters." Yet even after Meredith’s generosity, Jaclyn still needed a surrogacy to carry the baby when a second attempt did not progress as hoped.

Steph stepped forward again, offering to act as the surrogate. The sisters coordinated with a fertility team that Steph had previously used, allowing for a smoother process given her familiarity with the doctors. In June 2023, a pregnancy was confirmed. As Jaclyn described, the team proceeded with Meredith’s embryo transferred into Steph. The moment they learned they were pregnant again was met with a mix of relief and elation. On a family gathering later that summer, the fertility clinic called with the news, and they all collapsed to the floor in tears. Jaclyn recalled that moment as one of the most extraordinary in their lives, noting that her sisters had cheered her on and insisted she was going to be a mom.

By February 2024, Steph gave birth to Emersyn with Jaclyn and Greg by her side. The newborn arrived healthy, and the family’s relief and happiness were palpable. For Jaclyn, the moment underscored the depth of the sisters’ sacrifice: three women who had grown up close and supported each other were now bound together by the most profound form of kinship. "There weren't enough words to show our gratitude to my sisters," Jaclyn said. "That day, as I held Emersyn, Meredith and Steph huddled next to us for a photo. It was a monumental moment, knowing it was these two amazing sisters that made it all happen."

Today, Emersyn is described by her mother as a dream come true. She is now about 1½ years old and, according to Jaclyn, healthy and thriving. The baby’s aunts remain closely involved, often helping with babysitting and providing ongoing support. Jaclyn says the journey had been isolating at times but that the experience has made her more hopeful and open about fertility possibilities for other families. She emphasizes the importance of seeking support and remaining open to all avenues when infertility challenges arise.

The three sisters—Steph, Meredith, and their younger sibling—live within a few miles of each other and shared the demanding emotional path to Emersyn’s arrival. Meredith, who works as a talent manager at a pharmaceutical company, and Steph, a financial project manager, both offered to contribute to the family’s future in different ways. The multidisciplinary effort, backed by an experienced fertility team, culminated in a birth that Jaclyn describes as the best possible outcome after years of heartbreak.

As she looks back, Jaclyn wants other women experiencing infertility to know there is always hope. She encourages those facing difficult decisions to lean on trusted family members and medical professionals, emphasizing that people can find ways to build families that align with their own needs and circumstances. "Be open minded and lean on people for support. Everything will be okay," she said.

Emersyn’s birth, and the path that led to it, stands as a testament to the resilience of families facing fertility challenges. For Jaclyn and Greg, the decision to entrust a sister with both eggs and a surrogate role was transformative, turning years of doubt into a life-changing moment for their family. As they watch Emersyn grow, they remain grateful for the gift that their sisters provided and for a future that they now approach with renewed optimism.