Tuesday 1 July 2008

'Gladiators' stars' twins born to grandma, 52

GOODRICH, Mich. —

A 52-year-old Michigan woman gave birth to her own twin grandchildren after serving as a surrogate mother for her daughter and son-in-law, contestants on NBC's "American Gladiators."


Crystal Sirignano delivered the babies, a boy and a girl, Wednesday at an Arizona hospital, the family said.


"I just feel so blessed and fortunate. It's the best experience of my life," said Sirignano, mother of Kendra Sirignano and mother-in-law to Aaron Simpson.


The healthy babies were delivered by Caesarean section; Domenic weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and his sister, Mia, weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces.


Sirignano offered to become a surrogate after her daughter, Kendra, went through several failed infertility treatments and surgeries.


"My mom did amazing," said Kendra Sirignano.


Crystal Sirignano, the owner of a fitness center, had to stop working out after she started carrying the twins. Despite being a vegetarian, she started eating meat. In October, she moved to Arizona to live near her daughter.


"I don't regret one second, even the times when I didn't feel good," Crystal Sirignano said. "None of that was as bad as watching what my daughter went through."


Kendra Sirignano, 30, a mental health therapist, and her husband, a 33-year-old wrestling coach, also have a 15-year-old daughter, Claire, whom they adopted three years ago.








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