Pune family get twins with dead son's preserved semen

Rajshree Patil with family and Dr Puranik

The medical process of semen cryopreservation has helped a city-based family get back their son. A teacher by profession, Rajashree Patil, 50, used the preserved semen of her unmarried son, a 27-year-old who died of brain tumour two years ago, to have grandchildren. After an aunt of the deceased volunteered to become the surrogate mother, doctors fused the son's semen with the donor's eggs and transferred them to the latter's womb. Prathamesh Patil's aunt delivered healthy twins - a boy and a girl - this week at Sahyadri Speciality Hospital on Ahmednagar road.

The diagnosis
According to the Patils, Prathamesh was pursuing higher studies in Germany when the brain tumour was detected in February 2013. The team of doctors monitoring his treatment in Germany had advised him to preserve his semen before starting chemotherapy for his cancerous tumour. Consequently, he was brought to India in May 2013 for further treatment. But, in February 2016, the remission phase ended and Prathamesh was admitted to a Mumbai hospital for therapy. "Despite fighting hard, my son could not win the battle with cancer. He died on September 3, 2016," Rajashree said.

Rajashree added that her son was an inspiration to every person who knew him. "Even after he lost sight, he helped my daughter, Dnyanshree, prepare for her Board exams and JEE entrance tests. It was a huge shock for us when he was diagnosed with Stage-4 cancer."

IVF process
Rajashree, who continues to keep a photo of Prathamesh in her wallet, added, "After his demise, I contacted the Germany Semen Bank where Prathamesh had cryopreserved his semen. After completing the formalities, I brought back the semen to India and approached doctors at Sahyadri Hospitals for an IVF procedure. The doctors didn't deem me fit to undergo the procedure, but one of our relatives, Prathamesh's aunt volunteered to become a surrogate mother. The IVF process began in June and she delivered twins this week. I can't seem to contain my joy now. It's like my Dhano [Prathamesh] has returned."

Dr Supriya Puranik, head of the department, IVF, gynaec and obstetrics, Sahyadri Hospital, said, "I am happy that science and technology could bring cheer to a mother. It's common to witness immense joy at the time of childbirth. But, in this case, there was a certain grief in the air as the father of the children had lost his battle to cancer. We appreciate Rajashree's spirit through the process and congratulate the new mother, Prathamesh's aunt for delivering healthy twins."

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