A woman who beat cancer and was given the chance at motherhood thanks to the help of a surrogate has shared the beautiful moment her son reunited with the woman who carried him. Sarrah Strimel Bentley found a walnut-shaped lump under one of her armpits in August 2020, which led to her being diagnosed with early breast cancer. The diagnosis shocked Sarrah, 42, a former Broadway performer, and led to her starting treatment for the high-risk disease. During this time, Sarrah and her husband, James, discussed the possibility of starting a family. With the advice of her care team, the 42-year-old underwent two rounds of in vitro fertilization. The treatment resulted in a single embryo, so Sarrah and James decided to pursue surrogacy. Working with an agency, the couple matched with a woman named Whitney, who opted to become their child's surrogate. Sarrah, who dubbed Whitney her "angel," spent time with Whitney before welcoming her son, Chance, into the world in December 2023. After the birth, Whitney returned home to Richmond, Virginia, while Sarrah and James began raising Chance in their Brooklyn, New York, home. The families stayed in touch, and in the summer of 2024, Sarrah decided to travel to Virginia so that Chance could be dedicated at Whitney's church, alongside the baptism of Whitney's own two children. On June 1, at Buzz and Ned's BBQ, Whitney was reunited with Chance, who she has lovingly called her "womb mate." The emotional moment was captured on video, and when Whitney's own children asked if Chance was their brother, both moms gave an affirmative "Yes."
