Carolyn Savage, Woman Who Was Accidentally Implanted With Another Woman's Embryo, Goes On Today Show (Video)

Carolyn Savage, an Ohio woman who gave birth to another couple's child due to a medical error, went on NBC's Today Show Wednesday morning.

After using in vitro fertilization to get pregnant with their fourth child, Savage and her husband, Sean, found out mid-pregnancy that the embryo that had been implanted into Savage's womb did not belong to the couple. Instead, the child Savage carried full term and gave birth to belonged to another couple, Shannon and Paul Morell.

A month and a half after giving birth on September 24th, the Savages sat down with Meredith Vieira to discuss the "bittersweet" heartbreak of giving up a child that wasn't theirs. "Every once in a while the loss sneaks up on us," Savage told Vieira.

Now, due to complications, Savage is unable to become pregnant to try again for her fourth child. However, the Savages told Vieira that they plan on using a surrogate to become pregnant with one of their still-frozen embryos. Savage is already the mother of three children.

Watch the whole interview below.

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Comments

[euthman]

I don't see the action of this woman as particularly heroic. "Heroism" to me implies exceptional courage and self-sacrifice. I think that if faced with a similar situation, most women would work through the anger and frustration and do the same thing Ms. Savage did. The kind of hard-heartedness it would take to abort another couple's wanted, healthy fetus is not what I would expect of the average woman, especially one who is a mother already.

A _heroic_ woman is one who would step forward and volunteer to be a surrogate for strangers, asking nothing in return. Now _that_ is exceptional!

[jessicadevyn]

I agree. She was already prepared to get pregnant and give birth. She spent a LOT of money to get pregnant in the first place. It simply wouldn't make sense for her to get an abortion. I think what she did was kind but not heroic.

[EndangeredJackalope]

surrogate birth is creepy, makes sense, but creepy

[tyger]

lawsuit

[cheesebeanswindy]

This story is heart wrenching, I first read about it several months ago. As others have said I don't know that legally she could have just kept the child outright, which while hers biologically is not hers genetically. The families would have had to work something out and as sad as it is this is the most logical conclusion IMHO. Both families have reportedly received settlements from the fertility clinic, which hopefully will enable the Savages to hire a surrogate and fulfill their dream of having another child.

[AnimalLover6]

What an impossible situation. These people are amazing.

If they had no other children, and this child had been her only chance to carry and deliver a child, I'd probably be thinking that the only fair solution would have been for her to be able to keep the child, and give the other couple visitation rights. In any case, it's just so sad that she had to give up the child she carried for 9 months, during which time an emotional bond is formed, and whose birth resulted in medical complications that preclude her having another child.

[jessicadevyn]

Women give up children everyday that they have formed connections with in the womb, it's called adoption.

[washlib]

clinic should DEFINITELY either pay for her to use a surrogate, or be sued into doing it.

[mummblemouth]

Plus pain and suffering.

[bnyb]

They did the right thing, and I'm sad for them. I do fail to understand why people have to come on a morning talk show and go on about it though. It was a medical error, which they already came on tv to speak about a few months ago. They did a good thing inspite of difficult circumstances - however coming back to keep talking about it smacks of 'look at our noble deed'.

[stillwater1864]

Because people like us watch/read the story. Supply and demand.

[LolaB]

Because in vitro is expensive enough. wanna guess how much it will cost for a surrogate? who is supposed to pay for it? should they sue instead?

[motherforpeace]

How were they to know how they would feel AFTER the baby was born? I think that it is an important story to tell as we will likely encounter this more not to mention the circumstances that surround her as she proceeds with the journey they originally started out on with their remaining embryos and the fact that she cannot carry more children. Maybe people comforting them and telling them about their noble deed will get them through their loss.

Perhaps we shouldn't be so judgmental and skeptical.

[jessicadevyn]

I agree. It's not like this couple actually went out there and did something. They just dealt with a mistake. Savage knew she was going to get pregnant and spent a lot of money to get pregnant. It wouldnt have made sense for her to abort.

[exBFF]

if there's a god, these people will be rewarded for their incredible grace and selflessness. The strength it took to make this decision. Incredible.

[pipetoe]

This couple...great moral models for society.

[SusanStoHelit]

I wish - and I understand why they may not have - but I wish the other mother would have offered to be their surrogate. That'd be an appropriate trade, womb for womb.

Pregnancy isn't easy, and, as it did, it can cause some serious health issues - kudoes to her for completing the pregnancy even after they found out it would not be their child.

[maggiee]

I guess in a perfect world this would be the poetic resolution and maybe the other mother did offer. She herself had to resort to medical intervention to get pregnant so maybe she wouldn't be the best choice for a surrogate. Who knows what went on. It's best not to judge too harshly without all of the facts.

[GraceNotes]

I think that Carolyn Savage understood how much the other couple also wanted a child, and she made the only moral choice she could have made. Science and technology often advance much faster than we humans can begin to grapple with all the consequences, both intended and unintended. My heart breaks for her.

[nippyfan]

I don't understand why she would have to give up the child. I also don't understand why if you are already blessed with three children you would want to go through invitro to have a fourth. But you could fill the sky with human actions I don't understand so to each his or her own...I guess.

[s miller08]

It doesn't matter if you understand why they wanted to grow their family. It's a tragic story.

[dmay]

The story is a sad story for those individuals. That being said, I think questioning why a person would go to extraordinary means to add a 4th to their family is a fair question. Choosing to have a child is personal, but it has societal/e­nvironment­al costs.

The world has almost 7 billion! people. Do you know how many we had at the turn of the 20th century? 1.5. In five generations we have gotten to the point where overpopulation is the world's top environmental issue (followed by climate change).

[tb92]

She didn't have to give up the child. She could have kept it, or even aborted it. Instead, she did the right thing and gave the child to it's real parents. She and her husband should be commended for their generosity.

[Socrmom]

Why do you believe she could have kept it?

[SusanStoHelit]

The child was not hers to keep - she was no more than a surrogate mother - sadly, an accidental one.

[motherforpeace]

They quite simply stated that they wanted to give each embryo they had a chance at life. I respect them for that. They are taking responsibility for something they started.

[Kate Swafford]

Mrs. Savage said that since they had embryos left from the first in vitro, they wanted to give the frozen embryos a chance to be born. If they are not implanted, they are destroyed.

[MrsJackson]

There are absolutely no words for how heartbroken and devastated I would be. I know some people would tell her to just be happy with the 2 she already has, but this establishment probably robbed her of the one last opportunity to give birth to and carry her own child and they need to pay, pay, PAY. I am so thankful I was able to have my own naturally, this is just atrocious.

[fcsakes]

She has THREE already. Having trouble viewing this as "tragic."

[Nanaama]

Me too.

[Kate Swafford]

Have you ever wanted to have a child? I tried in vitro once. I went through the whole process and the embryos were implanted. Then I had to wait to see if I was pregnant. I was devastated when I didn't become pregnant. I can't imagine how terrible it would be to go through the process, find out you were pregnant, and then find out that the child you were carrying didn't belong to you! It is very tragic.