Mavi, My Dearest

Mavi, My Dearest is a deeply moving true story by Duygu Mengioğlu that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through motherhood and surrogacy amidst the chaos of war and a global pandemic.

Duygu and her husband dream of expanding their family. Faced with Duygu’s intense phobias about pregnancy, they decide to pursue surrogacy, leading them into a complex and transformative adventure.

Initially, their surrogacy journey takes them to Georgia. However, as the pandemic struck, the closing of notaries in Georgia forces them to make a critical decision to move their embryos to Ukraine. This pivotal move sets the stage for greater challenges.

Just two weeks before their daughter Mavi's anticipated birth, the war in Ukraine erupts, plunging their plans into uncertainty and danger. The memoir captures the frantic and perilous efforts Duygu and her husband undertake to bring their daughter safely into the world amidst the escalating conflict.

Duygu’s narrative vividly portrays the fear and resilience they experienced navigating through a war zone, highlighting the profound impact of these events on their journey to parenthood. The story is a testament to their unwavering love, determination, and the incredible bonds that define a family.

Throughout Mavi, My Dearest, readers are invited into the intimate and emotional moments that shaped their path, offering a powerful reflection on hope, courage, and the extraordinary lengths to which one will go for family.

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK
"Even though I wasn't there, I could feel her presence. I whispered, "Forgive me, my love. I can't hold you, but I know you can feel me. I am with you and I love you very much." Despite the melancholy, I was incredibly happy. I had a daughter far away and I knew that one day, I hoped very soon, I would hold her in my arms."
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"Our daughter was worth all the hardships we had endured. Even though I hadn't held her yet, I could feel her love. That is what motherhood felt like. Knowing she existed gave me strength no matter where she was. At this moment, the only thing that really mattered in life was my daughter's well-being and health."
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“Was mere survival enough for a new beginning? Could life as a refugee in a foreign country with a different language and culture really replace the life you once had? Even with plenty of money to buy new and better things, wouldn't they miss their past, their home, their neighbors, their street, their teacups? Even if they could pack a few things in a suitcase, where would they put their friends, their childhood, their youth, their memories? Could they dare to rebuild the dreams that had been bombed to rubble? Would the girl with the pale blue eyes forget what she had seen? Would she ever understand why it had happened? Could she eradicate the seeds of hate that had been planted in her tiny heart?”