These twin sisters have tackled every life struggle together — and this time is no different.
These twin sisters have tackled every life struggle together — and this time is no different.
Whitney Bliesner, 34, never thought she would be a mother after being diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder as a child. She has neurofibromatosis type 2, which is characterized by the growth of noncancerous tumors in the nervous system.
"We found out that I had acoustic neuromas, which are brain tumors," Bliesner told Inside Edition.
Several surgeries over the years have caused her to lose sight in one eye and hearing in one ear. And the Oregon woman lives with the fear of more tumors growing for the rest of her life.
"Hormonal changes can enhance my tumor growth, or it may. So knowing that, I couldn't get pregnant," Bliesner said.
She and her husband looked into adoption and surrogacy, but those paths to parenthood were too expensive for the couple. And that's when Bliesner's best friend stepped in.
Jill Noe, Bliesner's fraternal twin, volunteered to be her sister's surrogate.
"It's really hard as a twin knowing that you have a best friend who's sick and there's nothing you can do about it but sit back and watch. So to finally have this opportunity to give her something that was gonna be taken away from her has been a true blessing for me," Noe said.
Bliesner and her husband decided to use eggs from a donor, along with his sperm, so that her disorder would not be passed down. And now, Noe is 30 weeks pregnant. But not just with one baby.
She's pregnant with twins — a boy and a girl.
"She's been great letting me touch her stomach whenever," Bliesner said laughing.
Bliesner and her husband are ready to welcome their bundles of joy, due in June. Their new babies' room is fully stocked and ready to go.
As for the twin sisters, they're closer than ever.
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