logo
Strictly star ‘traumatised' after being mugged in central London, saying ‘I felt scared and helpless'

Strictly star ‘traumatised' after being mugged in central London, saying ‘I felt scared and helpless'

Scottish Sun7 hours ago

STRICTLY SHOCKED Strictly star 'traumatised' after being mugged in central London, saying 'I felt scared and helpless'
STRICTLY Come Dancing star Michelle Tsiakkas has been left "traumatised" after being mugged in central London.
Pro dancer Michelle, 29, told her followers that the ordeal left her feeling "scared and helpless".
5
Michelle Tsiakkas revealed she had been mugged in London
Credit: Instagram
5
The pro dancer revealed she had been 'traumatised' by the ordeal
Credit: Instagram
5
Michelle is best known for being on Strictly
Credit: BBC
5
The star joined Strictly in 2022, but only got her first celebrity partner last year
Credit: PA
The Strictly star - who joined the show three years ago - took to Instagram to share the terrifying incident.
Addressing her fans in a video, she said: "Hi guys, so I wanted to just make this video to let you know something that happened to me the other day in London.
"Now this was a couple of days ago and I've just about mentally recovered from that. It was quite traumatising on the day.
"It wasted my whole day and made me feel awful, scared, helpless and I don't want the same to happen to you.
"My phone got stolen. My phone got stolen. I mean I see it happening all the time but it's just one of those things that you just never think it's gonna happen to you. and then it does."
Recounting the story, Michelle said: "So it was early morning. I was on my way to the dentist in London.
"It was around Covent Garden so the streets were really quiet. I think I was just the only person around so maybe I was an easy target and I whipped out my phone to have a look at the directions to see where my dentist was.
"I was on the actual street of the dentist and what happens?
A man comes on a bike behind me, sweeps past me and grabs my phone.
"So he's grabbed my phone. He's on an electric bike and my heart just sank. I tried to I think like reach for it and that made me fall on my knees on the floor and graze my knee.
"I think my reflex was just to swear and then scream give me back my phone and clearly you know that didn't work.
Strictly pro breaks silence on new duty of care police as scandal-hit BBC show gears up for new series
"He just left. He was wearing a mask so there was no way that I could have seen what he looked like and he was going really fast on that electric bike so there was no way on earth I could have caught up with him.
"Thankfully there were two really lovely and helpful women there and they'd seen that I was a bit distressed."
Michelle captioned the video with: "Warning ⚠️ This can happen to you in Central London.
"Be aware and be very careful. Phone theft is happening more and more and it seems like crime in the city is getting worse …
"Has something like this ever happened to you?"
BECOMING A STRICTLY STAR
Michelle joined the cast of Strictly in 2022, and received her first celebrity partner last year with EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick, 30.
The pro dancer specialises in Latin dance.
Michelle was the undefeated Cyprus dance champion from 2001-2011, before moving to London to study.
After moving to the UK, Michelle represented England at international championships and then joined the world touring dance show Burn The Floor.
The Sun exclusively revealed in April how Michelle's hunky boyfriend Simone Arena will be joining her on Strictly.
The show has signed up the Italian dancer to replace Giovanni Pernice on the BBC1 series.
Simone, 33, is set to be a new dancer after BBC producers revealed that two new pros would join the line-up this autumn.
5
Michelle is dating fellow dancer Simone Arena
Credit: Getty
It comes after Giovanni, 34, quit the scandal-hit show last summer after nine years.
A source said: 'Simone blew the Strictly bosses away when he auditioned as a new professional on the show.
'He is no stranger to the Strictly format after previously starring as a pro on the Belgian, Italian and Irish versions of the series.
'Simone is well known among the pros and his girlfriend Michelle loved her time on the series last year.
'Fans will be delighted with Simone because he is very easy on the eye and certainly charming.'
In 2020, Simone joined the cast of Giovanni's This Is Me Tour - but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He also won the Belgian Dancing With The Stars with Olympic gymnast Nina Derwael, 25, in 2022.
Simone and Michelle met on the live dance tour - Burn The Floor - which has toured across the world - including Broadway in New York City and London's West End.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Shocking reality of kids mobile use revealed as teens bombarded with 100s of messages & spend 5 hours a day on phones
Shocking reality of kids mobile use revealed as teens bombarded with 100s of messages & spend 5 hours a day on phones

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

Shocking reality of kids mobile use revealed as teens bombarded with 100s of messages & spend 5 hours a day on phones

Our shock findings come as a new report lays bare the amount of time kids spend on their devices PLAYGROUND PINGDEMIC Shocking reality of kids mobile use revealed as teens bombarded with 100s of messages & spend 5 hours a day on phones TEENS are bombarded with up to 360 phone messages a day – and could spend a total of 25 YEARS glued to their mobiles, a Sun on Sunday probe reveals. Concerned experts are warning that the shock usage poses a threat to kids' mental health. Advertisement 4 Teens are bombarded with up to 360 phone messages a day – and could spend a total of 25 YEARS glued to their mobiles Credit: Getty We tracked four youngsters' phone use over seven days and the results surprised even their parents. One 16-year-old got almost 2,500 alerts — that is nearly 360 messages a day and one text every two-and-a-half minutes. Another was sent more than 1,600 messages, and one 15-year-old admitted she had messaged a friend back and forth for 967 consecutive days. Our shock findings come as a new report lays bare the amount of time kids spend on their devices — and experts fear youngsters' mental health is being hit by extreme usage. Advertisement Labour MP Joani Reid, who is leading the call for a ban on smartphones in schools, said: 'Hundreds of messages a day isn't just about distractions in school — it's about safety. 'Every notification could expose our kids to serious dangers — grooming by predators, cyberbullying and graphic, harmful content. Apps like Snapchat and TikTok often shield these interactions from parents, leaving teenagers vulnerable and isolated. 'We need tougher regulations forcing tech companies to prioritise child safety over profit. Parents alone can't monitor every message or app — Government and schools must step up.' Addictive apps A new study has found that the average secondary school pupil is on their mobile for five-and-a-half hours each day. Advertisement If they keep that up, they could spend up to 25 years of their lives staring at a phone screen. And 68 per cent of youngsters polled by Fluid Focus said their academic performance was affected by their smartphone use, with 40 per cent admitting to constantly checking their mobile while studying. Snapchat streaks: How to get back a lost streak and how to report a problem Popular teenager Art McGrath, 16, from Leyton, East London, had the most smartphone traffic of all the youngsters we tracked — receiving a staggering 2,493 messages in seven days. His notifications comprised 2,320 Snapchat messages, 112 WhatsApp chats and 61 Instagram alerts. This averages out to 356 messages a day. Advertisement Art said: 'Snapchat is the main messaging app. I've been on it since I was around 12. Everyone is on it. 'I have groups with different friendship groups. I don't give myself phone breaks. If I get a message, I can end up stuck in a loop.' Snapchat is the biggest player in the world of youngsters' messaging apps and is used by 74 per cent of teens in the UK, according to Ofcom. It has been accused of exposing youngsters to bullying and grooming, and slated for its addictive qualities. Advertisement 'Zero tolerance' Snapchat insists it has a 'zero tolerance' approach to sexual exploitation and says it removes harmful content immediately. Its Streaks function, which tracks the consecutive days two users have messaged each other, has been criticised for being addictive. But bosses at the tech firm say it is just a 'fun thing'. Grace Dainty, 15, from Witney, Oxfordshire, maintains a Streak of 967 days with one pal. Advertisement Over seven days, she received 1,620 messages, with the vast majority — 1,594 — on Snapchat. She said: 'All of my friends, bar one, are on Snapchat. I have a Streak with my best friend of 967. I don't want to let this go. When I get an alert, I look at my phone and respond straight away if it's good. 'If a close friend didn't reply straight away, I would be concerned.' Mum Caroline, a 46-year-old social worker, said: 'I was surprised at the number of messages. This has opened my eyes to how Snapchat works.' Advertisement I was surprised at the number of messages. This has opened my eyes to how Snapchat works Caroline Dainty While Grace may feel as if constant messaging is key to her friendships, psychologist Dr Charlotte Armitage insists: 'As much as people feel like they're connected through phones, they're not — it's a pseudo-connection. 'We need a connection in real life to feel the benefits. Our relationships are crucial for health and life longevity, so we become more disconnected. 'It's snowballed in the last five years and it's getting worse with AI, because not only are people not talking to other people, in apps they are now talking to bots instead.' Dr Armitage, the author of Generation Zombie, also warned of the addictive nature of messaging apps. Advertisement She said: 'The brain becomes used to frequent stimulation and struggles to focus without it, as it starts to search for the next hit of dopamine. 'This has consequences for a child's attentiveness, interpersonal skills such as listening in conversation, ability to engage in academia or any other activity that doesn't provide a dopamine release at regular intervals.' A study from King's College London found that one in four children has 'problematic smartphone usage', meaning they use their devices in a way that is consistent with addiction. Banned in lessons But none of the teens we polled considered their phone use to be unusual or over the top. They all went to bed with their devices and checked them as soon as they woke. Advertisement Every one of them was allowed to take their handset to school, though the vast majority were banned from using devices in lessons. Some continued to text anyway, while others said teachers didn't enforce the rules. Lottie Taylor, 14, from Farsley, Leeds, received 1,243 messages over a week — 75 per cent of them via Snapchat. She said: 'I like Streaks and have 39 people I send to on a daily basis. Advertisement 'I wake up and the first thing I'll do is get on my phone. The longest streak I've got is 574 with my best friend. I like to keep them up. It's a symbol of friendship. I check my Streaks last thing at night as well.' I wake up and the first thing I'll do is get on my phone. The longest streak I've got is 574 with my best friend. I like to keep them up. It's a symbol of friendship. I check my Streaks last thing at night as well Lottie Taylor Lottie's mum Lydia, 43, a primary school teacher, said: 'It's hard to get Lottie moving on a morning because she won't get out of bed until she's done her Streaks.' In Snapchat messages shared with The Sun on Sunday, Lottie and her friend discuss meeting up in the park. Lottie says: 'Ikk [I know] we need to hang out… Bruh I just washed my hair.' Her pal replies: 'Aw bless. Anyway meet you at mine then we'll out.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Logan Hook, 15, from Pudsey, West Yorkshire, received 528 messages in a week on Snapchat and WhatsApp. He said: 'I'm in a couple of WhatsApp groups for football mates, and one with school mates. 'I don't think I get a crazy amount of messages, but I will chat to arrange stuff or talk football.' In messages on a football team WhatsApp group, sneakily sent during class time, one friend laments his poor performance on the pitch, saying: 'I was awful.' Advertisement Another pal adds: 'I didn't play bad but didn't play good either', before Logan replies: 'What do you think ur doing texting in class'. ART McGRATH, 16 - Leyton, East London 4 Art McGrath, 16, from Leyton, East London gets 2,493 messages a week Credit: Darren Fletcher Messages per week: 2,493 Average per day: 356 Advertisement Platforms: Snapchat, WhatsApp, Instagram Parent: Dad Nick, 54, a writer, gets around 160 messages in a day, mostly on WhatsApp. LOGAN HOOK, 15 - Pudsey, West Yorks 4 Logan Hook, 15, from Pudsey, West YorksLogan Hook, 15, gets 528 messages per week Credit: Glen Minikin Messages per week: 528 Advertisement Average per day: 75 Platforms: Snapchat and WhatsApp Parent's use: Mum Kirsty, 44, a doctor's receptionist, gets around 55 messages a day, mainly on WhatsApp. LOTTIE TAYLOR, 14 - Farsley, Leeds 4 Lottie Taylor, 14, from Farsley, Leeds receives 1,234 messages per week Credit: Glen Minikin Advertisement Messages per week: 1,234 Average per day: 178 Platforms: Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok Parent's use: Mum Lydia, 43, has around 186 messages a day on WhatsApp, texts and Instagram. Advertisement

I made money & partied every day until terrible decision during Covid made me change everything, reveals Rita Ora
I made money & partied every day until terrible decision during Covid made me change everything, reveals Rita Ora

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

I made money & partied every day until terrible decision during Covid made me change everything, reveals Rita Ora

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHE broke strict lockdown rules to host her boozy 30th bash, but four years on Rita Ora says her birthdays are a lonely affair. The singer reveals that the milestone birthday in November 2020 sparked a major U-turn that saw her overhaul her health and focus on work. And it seems to have paid off. 6 Rita Ora says she has calmed down since she hosted a controversial party to celebrate her birthday Credit: The Mega Agency 6 Rita's new approach has led to her overhauling her lifestyle for the sake of her happiness and her health Credit: Instagram 6 Rita has been married to Hollywood director Taika Waititi for the past three years Credit: Getty She has just released song Heat, filmed movie Voltron with Superman actor Henry Cavill and this week posed in a bikini from her successful Primark collection. Rita said: 'My work ethic, I'm proud of it. I think it's higher than other people's in a lot of different ways. 'I always want to break boundaries and inspire people, that's always been my goal. 'And I do sacrifice a lot of things to do that, like I don't see my family as much. "I have lonely birthdays. I miss Christmases. It's a lot of sacrifices to do this. 'I just came off this three-and-a- half-month shoot in Australia for a huge film called Voltron, which is a big-budget movie. 'It's not easy doing these things and then also making a record on the weekends, which is the only days I have off. 'If you're willing to do the work, nothing is impossible. I really do believe people can do it all.' Her new attitude to life is a far cry from in her twenties when the Hot Right Now singer admits she was dazzled by the fame and fortune she had created for herself. It is perhaps why she thought it was acceptable to splash out thousands of pounds on her party at Casa Cruz, in London's Notting Hill, for all her mates when the UK was in its second strict Covid lockdown. 6 Rita flouted lockdown rules to throw an expensive party and was forced to pay a fine Credit: Eroteme 'Confident in my choices' Not only had the venue been paid to flout the rules, the star's security team had ordered the CCTV cameras to be turned off. Rita ended up paying a £10,000 fine. Talking about her hellraising days, Rita, who grew up in West London after her family moved there from Kosovo when she was a baby, admitted: 'I made money, I didn't come from money, and I just really was living every day like it was my last, with no care about what was going to happen the next day. 'I regret not being a bit more considerate, I would say, with myself, my body, my mental health, but also others. !I was always respectful and appreciative of others, but I was like, 'This is what we are doing and that's that'. 'I never really understood, I guess, how much responsibility I had for other people, like my fans, how much I inspire people or, I guess, the pressures we have to keep people on the right path. 'I think a lot of people were looking up at me, looking for me to give them a lot of answers, and I didn't mentally digest that. 'I was just living, going and going and not stopping. 'But it's hard for me too. I think for anyone in my position to wake up one day and you're like, 'Oh, wow, I have all these people that are depending on me to really give them inspiration'. I'm also human. 'But now I feel like it's something that I take pride in.' I don't want to stop feeling good. That's the one thing I care about. Rita Ora The backlash over her bash, after which her father give her a ticking-off - was the catalyst for change. On the Reign With Josh Smith podcast, Rita explained she felt 'old' and decided to get her 'life in check'. She said: 'When I turned 30 a lot changed. My body was just not reacting the same and I was not eating healthily. "I was getting sick all the time. I couldn't do more than two, three shows in a row - and usually I could do a whole week of shows if I needed to. 'I was like, 'OK, I want to just try to simply eat a little healthier'. So I would do cauliflower rice instead of rice. I would change things a little bit. Rita's routine 'I don't want to become a health guru or anything, but during that time I was really seeing my body reacting differently. 'And then I was like, 'Oh, let me lift some weights'. And now I'm really obsessed with my weekly routine.' That routine involves 'exercise, ginger shots and supplements' and being 'mentally present'. Rita says her mum Vera, a psychiatrist, helped too. The singer explained: 'She never forced therapy on us, but there was always that essence of maybe you should speak to somebody. 'And I did. Now I've just got really cool, great tools and I just feel more confident in my choices. I do have the best relationship with myself than ever before, I really do. 'It's also made other relationships stand out that were not healthy. "And those people now are angry, but that is their problem and not mine. 'I find that when you have that relationship with yourself, everything changes, you know? 'You find things come to you that you're like, 'Whoa, how have I blocked that out?'. But it's taken me a while, and I'm still working on it. "I don't want to stop feeling good. That's the one thing I care about.' 6 Rita says she is confident in all the life decisions she has made in recent years Credit: Alamy Happily married Rita, who married Hollywood filmmaker Taika Waititi, 49, in 2022, has also slowed down — after a fortune teller, who only works with high- profile clients, suggested she do this. She told the podcast: 'She said to me, 'Your life is like a pile of sand in your palm and it can go through your fingers at any moment'. 'It's about how you protect your one pile of life in the palm of your hand and make sure you move slowly and steadily. 'That always stuck with me. I used to rush to things and be like, 'I want it now'. 'I'm trying to move a bit more steadily and not react so much because once you react impulsively, it's usually something you'll end up regretting, right? 'I try my best to just take a second before I respond to things. And that's helped me a lot.' 6 Rita is excited about making a pop music return for latest single Heat, pictured with Will Smith Credit: Splash After a few years away from the charts, Rita's new summer hit Heat makes a return to unadulterated pop after her last, very personal, album You & I charted her romance and marriage to Taika. She said: 'My last record was amazing, in my opinion, because it had depth and a storyline, and it was about love. "I got married and I really was inspired by my relationship, and it just was where I was at in my life. "And now I'm at a point where I love my partner, love my relationship.' Laughing, Rita added: 'But f*** that. I just want to be in the moment and have fun and think about what I want to feel like when I'm in Ibiza with my friends, drinking a Chardonnay with ice, having the sun beaming down, SPF making me sweat. 'How do I want to feel when I'm drunk in the day? 'And that was how Heat happened. I had the best time making this record. 'I love the idea of the fact I'm speaking, it's like sex on sight, it's intentional, it's direct, it's kind of cheeky, it's rude, it's iconic.' Kind of like Rita herself.

I had 14 miscarriages before finding a couple who promised to change my life, but it fell apart after my baby was born
I had 14 miscarriages before finding a couple who promised to change my life, but it fell apart after my baby was born

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

I had 14 miscarriages before finding a couple who promised to change my life, but it fell apart after my baby was born

MUM'S HEARTACHE I had 14 miscarriages before finding a couple who promised to change my life, but it fell apart after my baby was born Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOMAN has bravely shared how her dream of becoming a mother after losing 14 babies was brutally snatched away. Kirby Hood, 36, said she was blindsided when the woman she trusted to be her surrogate mother kicked her out from the hospital after changing her mind at the last moment - and deciding to keep the newborn. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Kirby Hood, 36, has bravely opened up about her heartbreak after a surrogate couple turned her life upside down Credit: INSTAGRAM/diary_of_kirby 2 The photographer had battled infertility for more than a decade, enduring 14 miscarriages Credit: INSTAGRAM/diary_of_kirby Kirby, a photographer from Queensland, Australia, had battled infertility for more than a decade, enduring loss after loss, before the ''experienced surrogate'' offered her what she called ''the chance of a lifetime''. ''I trusted her, and she kept my baby after leading me on for nine months believing that the baby would be coming home with me,'' the devastated 36-year-old told Daily Mail Australia. ''My baby was born in February and I'm only just coming up for air. ''I have everything in writing - the card she gave me offering to be my surrogate, the paperwork from the lawyers, and all the texts.'' Kirby attended doctors' appointments regarding the pregnancy, and viewed ultrasounds - all with the encouragement of the surrogate - and covered all the medical costs throughout the process. Excited for the new chapter ahead, she threw a baby shower, held a gender reveal party and documented her journey to motherhood on social media. The birth mother even attended the gender reveal party and met all of Kirby's close friends and family who ''wanted to touch her tummy and fuss around her''. Kirby, a newborn photographer, first met the surrogate, who lived in her local area, in 2019. She was told that this would be the surrogate's "third and final child". In September 2021, the woman rebooked for some family photos, and in 2022 Kirby was booked again as the woman was entering her first surrogacy journey, and Kirby was hired as her photographer to capture the special moment. Katie Price reveals she's secured LOOKALIKE egg donors and American sperm donor in bid to have baby number six The Gold Coast photographer said that having witnessed the woman faithfully fulfil her surrogate role for someone else, she trusted her to do the same again. Meanwhile, Kirby continued with her own quest to become a mother and underwent an embryo transfer. Unfortunately, after meeting a family through an IVF group, she suffered a miscarriage in 2023. Uber Eats order that changed everything ''During the early days of my loss I made an Uber Eats order and the surrogate's sister was the Uber Eats driver. ''She said to her sister, 'Hey it's Kirby, your photographer friend - jump in the car and come for a run to drop this order off'.'' After opening the door, Kirby met the birth mum who had a package with chocolates, magazines, flowers and a card - and they hugged, as Kirby burst into tears. The card said: "When the time comes, you know I'm good for it. Love to be your surrogate.'' The two kept in touch about a potential surrogacy, but Kirby eventually came to the conclusion that she did not want to risk more potential heartbreak. However, a call out of the blue changed everything. Whilst at work, the photographer received a Facetime call from the surrogate - who announced she was having a baby. Confused, Kirby asked if the woman had transferred eggs without her knowing. She explained she had accidentally fallen pregnant with her partner, but they do not want another kid. ''At first I was cautious - how does this work? How does this happen? I'm pretty sure you can't just cook a baby for someone and just hand it over. ''Aren't there laws? I only knew of the laws of surrogacy [not adoption].'' In a state of shock, Kirby handed the phone to her mum who was at the photography studio at the time. ''Mum said: 'What does this mean?', and the surrogate said: 'It means Kirby is going to be a mama,' and I just bawled.'' What is surrogacy? Surrogacy is the name given for a type of pregnancy where a woman carries and gives birth to another person's baby. The surrogate mother is then expected to give up the baby at birth, so it can be raised by the couple who originally wanted the baby. Surrogacy is often an option for those unable to have children themselves, or for same sex couples. According to surrogacy charity Childlessness Overcome Through Surrogacy (COTS), there are two different types of surrogacy. Traditional surrogacy: When the surrogate uses her own egg fertilised with the intended father's sperm. Gestational surrogacy: The surrogate carries the intended parent's genetic child conceived through IVF, for which specialist doctors are needed. How are surrogate babies conceived? In traditional surrogacy procedures, the egg is artificially inseminated using a syringe. Gestational surrogacy is carried out through IVF. During this in vitro fertilisation process, the egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The embryo is then planted in the surrogate's womb to grow and develop. This procedure must be carried out by specialist doctors and the biological mother is required to still have working ovaries. The birth mother showed Kirby the living children on Facebook that she still followed and the families that were successful from her donations. However, given the situation had changed from a standard surrogacy to an agreement to hand over a baby that was both conceived and carried by the birthing mother, Kirby sought legal advice. Here, she was told that if the parents didn't want to keep the baby, the newborn had to go to foster care and would be assessed a fair order and placed with a registered family. Kirby then contacted the woman to pass on that disappointing news - but she already had an alternative plan. ''She told me that was rubbish and that I can be on the birth certificate as a same-sex couple, and so with a lawyer we drew up parentage orders,'' she said. As part of that, you can legally name [the baby] before birth so it's in the paperwork. Kirby decided to name her daughter-to-be Xanthe and the pair agreed she was going to be at the birth. Left all alone Then came another shock. Throughout the long process of trying to become a mum, Kirby's husband had been by her side, but just when it appeared imminent, he suddenly moved out. Up until then, he had been to the scans and even had the ultrasound photo made into a keyring he carried around. But he walked out the weekend after Father's Day. ''I have lost 14 babies and it was too much for him. ''He told me two IVF rounds before that he was done, but I didn't want to listen, I just wanted one more chance to try.'' Heartbroken Kirby called the surrogate and her partner to tell them her husband had left, but they said they had no issues with her being a single mum and assured her everything remained on course. Needing to generate enough money as a sole income earner to be able to support herself and a baby, Kirby threw herself into work. Things felt off Kirby Hood However, after she missed one of the scans as a birth shoot took 10 hours and overlapped with the appointment, the birth mother sent her a text questioning Kirby's priorities. Although she was feeling ''there were red flags'', Kirby ''didn't want to believe anything may be wrong''. A few weeks prior to the birth, Kirby was asked to meet the couple in a nearby park, where they told her that they no longer wanted her at the birth, explaining it was for minor medical reasons. It was at this point that she started to have serious doubts, wondering whether the couple had had a change of heart about handing the daughter over. On the birth day, she received a message that told her the baby had arrived, and she drove to the hospital - although, totally unsure what to expect when she got there. ''Things felt off, and I knew it wasn't happening,'' she admitted. Kirby asked for a social worker to be present, but was instead asked to leave. As if she ''was a danger'', the hospital went into lockdown and Kirby left before bawling in her car. Two days later, the birth mother called Kirby to notify her that Child Services were involved now and there's nothing she could do about it. Kirby spent long hours contacting authorities, trying to track the baby down so she could be considered as a legal parent. But it wasn't until weeks later that she found out the couple had not given the child up - and had instead made the decision to keep the little girl after all. ''Someone sent me a screenshot of the surrogate's Facebook where she had announced the birth of her little girl. ''I wasn't angry, just hurt. If they changed their minds, why didn't they just tell me? ''Of course, I would have been upset, but I would have understood. I know how hard it is to lose a baby. I would have understood.'' Kirby has not heard from the couple since March, and they have refused her requests that they refund the thousands of dollars she had forked out on medical costs and baby equipment. They said they they will her in court, Kirby told the publication. ''But I want people to know about it, about what happened and for legislation to be changed. ''I just don't want anyone else to ever feel like this.''

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store