A WOMAN from Dalton has given her brother the gift of parenthood by carrying a baby for her brother and his partner.

Chapelle Cooper made the life-changing decision to act as the surrogate for her brother, Scott Stephenson and his partner, Michael Smith. 

The 27-year-old decided to give the couple the ‘gift of life’ after learning about the complexities and expenses involved with adoption. 

She said: “Scott and Michael were both talking about adoption and we discovered there was so many different obstacles to go through.

“Surrogacy was brought up but there was the issue of trusting someone to do it and it was very expensive too.

“So I came up with the offer of doing it myself and we just made plans from there.”

The baby was conceived using Chapelle’s egg and Michael’s sperm. 

Michael and Scott said they were ‘blown away’ with the offer of surrogacy.

“I have always wanted a baby of my own,” Michael said.

“The realisation that it is actually going to happen was just a dream come true for us both.”

Scott described the surrogacy experience as an ‘absolute whirlwind’.

“We’ve always been really close as a family,” he said. 

“This has brought out a whole different side to each other and made us all even closer.

“It’s just been a really wonderful experience.

“Who can say they’ve done that for somebody else; it’s the most selfless and amazing gift.”

Michael and Scott, who are engaged, first met five years ago whist working in Blackpool.

The pair decided to look into adoption three years later before Chapelle offered them the chance of becoming parents.

Michael said the prospect had been a ‘fairytale’ to them.

He said: “We laid out some ground rules from the beginning.

“We weren’t going to be controlling about her diet and tell her what she could and couldn’t do but we are control freaks by nature. 

“We found ourselves really protective of her throughout the pregnancy.”

Chapelle delivered a baby girl named Harper Elizabeth Smith in the early hours of Friday morning, weighing five pounds eight ounces.

The new parents said they were ‘absolutely in love’ with their family’s new addition. 

The couple said: “We were so worried about Chapelle throughout the labour but she made us so proud.”

Baby Harper is set to live with her new parents in Blackpool whilst Chapelle takes on the role of auntie.

“I’m still going to be a big part of her life,” Chapelle said.

“I don’t think I could’ve done it if I’d never seen her again which made it a lot easier.”

Michel added: “We’re always going to be honest with Harper and tell her how she was made. 

“We always want her auntie to be a part of her life.”