My long-lost sister was a surrogate mother to my twins

Mark MacDonald had always known he was adopted and was comfortable with it - but when he and his wife Tina found they couldn't safely have children of their own, he went looking for his birth family. After reaching out through adoption agencies, he quickly established a close relationship with long-lost sister Rachel Elliott, and - over a family dinner - a life-changing offer was made.

This story was first broadcast in 2022. Mark has been in touch with Outlook to let us know that Tina passed away in 2023. He told us “her passing… has only made the girls more precious to me and me more grateful to Rachel for what she has done."

Producer: Thomas Harding-Assinder and Laura Thomas
Presenter: Mobeen Azhar

(Photo: (L-R) Mark, Rachel and Tina with the twins. Credit: Mark MacDonald)