FOR OTHERS. A story of gestational surrogacy.
- ROKIHub
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
For Others is a podcast that tells the story of gestational surrogacy, recounting the true story of Vittoria, born in the 1980s, who discovered during her teenage years that she didn’t have a uterus due to a syndrome with a rather long name: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser. For the girls affected by it, it’s simply called "Roki." After the discovery at age 16, Vittoria grapples with this difference but keeps it to herself. As she grows older, especially after university, she begins a journey of self-awareness.
She shares everything with Carlo, her partner who will become her husband. Gradually, the desire for motherhood emerges—initially ignored and never spoken of. Their search begins: first, they consider adoption, but Vittoria realizes it’s an option for the future, not for the present. Uterus transplantation is still experimental. After much deliberation, they decide to pursue gestational surrogacy.
They evaluate various legal frameworks, travel to Greece, and ultimately choose Ukraine. It’s late 2020. First, there are video calls, then a trip to visit the clinic, and finally, the process begins. In August 2021, they receive the news: they’re going to have a baby, with an expected due date of April 16, 2022. One of the non-negotiable conditions for Vittoria and Carlo is the possibility of meeting Olena, the surrogate mother, the woman who will carry their child. With determination, they manage to meet her in November 2020.
A bond begins to form, but the situation around them deteriorates: the winds of war, and on February 24, 2022, the reality of conflict strikes. Fear, concern for Olena and the baby, anxiety, and the dread of not being able to bring their child home. Olena flees Kyiv, and Elia is born on April 6, 2022.
The challenges of bringing him home include a journey through Poland, waiting in Lviv, and finally meeting their son and returning to Italy via Poland once again.
For Others, with an intimate and personal style, narrates this story.
Listen to the Podcast
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Association FecondaScelta
A cultural association created to fill the gap in the narrative around sterility, infertility, reproductive rights, and social parenthood. A gap that aims to be bridged through information, ensuring awareness that paves the way for freedom of choice. FecondaScelta also provides support to girls (and their families) who discover they are affected by Rokitansky Syndrome, the association's starting point. Above all, it is born from a broader reflection on choices that may seem secondary but deserve to become fruitful.
Instagram FecondaScelta
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