A WRITER who was told as a teenager that she would not be able to have children has shared her deeply personal journey to motherhood in the hope of breaking the stigma surrounding fertility issues.

Sarah Igo, from Arnside, was told when she was 14 that she would not be able to have children.

But thanks to the ‘altruistic’ actions of her sister Beth, who donated eggs for Ms Igo to then undergo IVF with, she welcomed her daughter Dillon four years ago.

“When I was 14 there was literally nothing. I was told I couldn’t have children and that was it,” she said.

“I remember walking out of the hospital and sinking into the floor and then I shut it away and didn’t deal with it for 20 years.”

She has now published her debut children’s book based on her own story-Hetty the Hen who Couldn’t Lay- to open a dialogue about egg donation and IVF.

The Westmorland Gazette: CREATORS: Rebecca Williamson and Sarah Igo signing copies of their bookCREATORS: Rebecca Williamson and Sarah Igo signing copies of their book

The story, which has been brought to life by Rebecca Williamson’s watercolour illustrations, follows the journey of Hetty and her ‘clucky’ sisters as she strives for a chick of her own to love.

“When my husband and I were going through IVF they showed us these books that you could read to your child to make them familiar with the process,” said Ms Igo.

“But the books were awful, I thought I can’t read her this.

“And I decided to write one myself.

“My sister donated eggs and it felt natural to go with the hen analogy.

“Dillon’s grown-up knowing mummy didn’t have any eggs, so auntie gave me some eggs.”

The 39-year-old copywriter has dedicated the tale to her sister in thanks for her ‘incredible gift’.

“There’s quite an age gap between me and Beth and from the beginning, Beth was saying let me donate eggs and I kept refusing because she was so much younger,” said Ms Igo.

The Westmorland Gazette: HAPPY: Beth with Dillon and SarahHAPPY: Beth with Dillon and Sarah

“She hasn’t had a family yet and it just made what she did extra special.

“I think it takes someone incredibly special to do that and it’s not a straightforward process, she had to do injections for weeks, the procedure was quite painful.

“It’s like I say in the book what’s in it for you? I can’t give one back, although I’d love to.

“It’s impossible to repay such an incredible gift, but that’s the whole point she didn’t want anything back she did it because she’s a lovely person.”

Ms Igo and Ms Williamson have already received positive feedback from readers.

“We’ve had so much wonderful feedback from so many people,” she said.

“And everyone I talk to says they know someone who went through IVF and people say it’s great that I’ve shared something so personal.

“And I don’t know why people aren’t talking about it.”

The pair have also been visiting schools to read the book to pupils, who have been asking lots of ‘insightful’ questions.

“The kids have been amazing,” said Ms Igo.

“They asked us so many insightful questions and they totally got it.”

Ms Williamson said she wanted to do justice to Ms Igo’s story.

The Westmorland Gazette: STORY: Rebecca Williamson and Dillon with HettySTORY: Rebecca Williamson and Dillon with Hetty

“When Sarah told me the story it connected with me because it’s something I would think of as a woman,” she said.

“And it’s something I would worry about, and I can imagine how hard it must have been for her.

“And I wanted to do the story justice.

“We very much bounced off each other and we both knew what we wanted to portray.

“I wanted the illustrations to come across as friendly and emotional.

“I don’t want this to be a taboo subject.”