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When Dawn Ardolino Policastro heard her sister could not have a baby following her cancer battle, she barely hesitated before offering to carry the baby instead.
Her identical sister, Allison Ardolino Dinkelacker, was infertile following extensive chemotherapy used to treat her stage 3 breast cancer.
“When Allison was diagnosed at such a young age and at a time in her life when she was the happiest, it was simply devastating,” Dawn told Patch. However, she knew straight away she wanted to help her sister complete her family– even if it meant carrying her sister’s baby for her.
This week, after months of attending doctor’s appointments and supporting the other, Dawn gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Hudson William.
To thank her sister for helping her become a mum again, Allison posted a heartfelt tribute on her Facebook page. Try to read it without a tear in your eye!
“Our new son Hudson William Dinkelacker has arrived and he would not be here if it weren’t for my amazing sister! When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago I knew that me being told I had cancer was as devastating to Dawn as it was to me. After all we have always seen it as we are one soul in two different bodies. Dawn accompanied me to one of my doctors appointments and as we sat in my oncologists office and he said to me if you survive this, you will never be able to carry another child. Well before he even finished his sentence Dawn jumped in and said it doesn’t matter because I am going to carry their child.
“You kept that promise through all the devastating highs and lows, but throughout it all, you have been constant in your optimism, support and loving care for us. When most people would have given up during the struggles we endured, you just pushed through it all. Time and time again when we thought we should quit, you never gave up. You don’t believe in the words, ‘I cant’t’. You only see ‘I can’, and so many times YOU DID!
“I have said this before, but I have to say it again. Dawn, you amaze me! You are my hero and I have never been more proud of you. You deserve a medal of courage, of compassion, and of selflessness.
“How can we begin to thank you for the tremendous generosity and sacrifice you have so willingly bestowed these last few months? You have given us not just the fulfillment of a wish we’ve had for the last six years, but a whole new life, and a family of 4 we thought we’d never have.
“We cannot thank you enough for the gift you have given us. Although biologically this child will be made up of the two of us, we certainly hope that the strength, selflessness, and power you have shown are traits that he takes from you during his life. Not many people have the ability to make someone else’s dream come true. But you have done so, and with extraordinary thoughtfulness openness and sensitivity.
“It’s obvious that many people in your life think you are terrific. But probably no one knows the full extent of your caring and generous nature quite like we do.
“Dawn, we thank you for everything from the bottom of our hearts. We are and always will be eternally grateful!! What we are most grateful for is the gift you have given to Dylan the gift of being a big brother a dream that we all had and that you made come true!!!”
View the sisters pregnancy shoot by clicking through our gallery
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