A woman who was left crushed when cancer robbed her of the chance to conceive now has her dream family – all thanks to her best mate.
Amy Cronjé had always wanted to be a mum.
The now 33-year-old’s world was turned upside down when doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer shortly after she married her husband, Roché, 35.
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After going through radiation and chemotherapy, she was given the all clear – but a routine check-up a year later found the cancer was back and had spread to her bones.
Then came the next blow.
As part of her treatment, doctors put Amy on hormone medication, which meant she would be unable to conceive.
“I cried many nights,” the speech therapist told Need To Know.
“The cancer had spread to my bones and doctors put me on hormone medication.
“I felt like all our plans were gone.”
There was still some hope – Amy had frozen her embryos before her first chemotherapy treatment and could use these with a surrogate.
That’s when their friend, Karla Steenekamp, 31, decided to step in.
The physiotherapist learned from her husband, Tjaart, 34 – who is Roché’s childhood friend – that the couple were exploring using a surrogate and offered to help.
“I didn’t have to think twice,” Karla, who is mum to two boys of her own, told Need To Know.
“I felt the Lord put it in my path and being a mother is wonderful.
“I wanted to give that gift to my friend.”
On 9 June, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who was given the name Jack Bruce.
Amy, from South Africa, who was left in tears by the kind offer, added: “I was blown away.
“It was wonderful to know my friend was willing to sacrifice so much for me.”
Karla was assessed by a gynaecologist and both couples went through legal processes, which took a few weeks.
She began daily hormone injections to prepare her body and in October 2023, the embryo was implanted.
Karla also explained to her sons, Lochner, four, and Steyn, two, that she was going to let ‘Aunty Amy’s baby’ grow in her stomach.
The IVF was successful on the first attempt.
Karla said: “Tjaart was fully supportive from the beginning.”
“He said he saw how much joy our children bring us.
“Why wouldn’t we grant it to someone else?
“My youngest son kissed my belly every morning and night and said hello to Aunty Amy’s baby.”
Amy was with Karla when she took the at-home pregnancy test and saw the stick turn blue.
The day that Jack was born is a day that they will both cherish forever.
Karla said: “I would do it again, just to have that moment.
“The joy and incredulity on Amy and Roché’s faces was indescribable.”
Amy feels that she and Karla are no longer friends – but sisters.
Despite still battling cancer, she remains optimistic for her future.
She added: “It was such a special moment for both of us.”
“To see that little body and to know you’ve overcome great obstacles and can call yourself a mother thanks to your friend… it’s precious.
“Karla and I have a very unique friendship.
“You could almost say we’re no longer friends – we’re sisters now.
“It was my greatest desire to become a mother.
“I didn’t think it would be possible but Karla made it a reality.
“We will always be in each other’s lives. I am deeply grateful to her for what she’s done.”
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