In the face of unimaginable loss, a mother’s love can take extraordinary paths. This is the story of Spanish actress Ana Obregón, whose world was shattered when her only son, Aless Lequio, lost his battle with cancer in 2022 at the age of 27. In the depths of her grief, she made a decision that would captivate and divide public opinion, all in the name of honoring her son’s final wish. Before his passing, Aless had expressed a profound desire to become a father, a dream that his mother vowed to fulfill, setting her on a remarkable and controversial journey.
The path Ana chose was one of modern science and deep emotion. Using her son’s preserved sperm, she pursued surrogacy in the United States, a process that is not legally permitted in her native Spain. In 2023, she welcomed a baby girl, whom she named Anita. From the very beginning, Ana was clear about the child’s identity, stating that the little girl was not her daughter, but her granddaughter. She made a public promise to raise Anita with the memory of her father, whom she would describe as a hero, ensuring the child would always know the man who had so wanted to be her dad.
Now at 70 years old, Ana has shared a glimpse into her new life, a life filled with both poignant joy and profound sorrow. Her home, once quiet with grief, is now alive with the sounds of childhood. She smiles as she describes it being full of stuffed animals, toys, and even a ball pool that her granddaughter eagerly invites her to dive into. Yet, this late-in-life parenting comes with its own set of challenges, with Ana admitting that the physical demands, like picking up a growing toddler, are becoming harder on her back.
Beneath the daily joys lies a permanent undercurrent of loss. Ana confesses that the trauma of losing Aless has made her a more fearful guardian to Anita than she was a parent to her son. She reflects on the shocking fragility of life, remembering how her vibrant, young son was suddenly given a devastating diagnosis. Her happiness today is bittersweet; while Anita has brought light back into her world, Ana acknowledges that the unique happiness she knew when Aless was alive is gone forever, a pain she has learned to live with but one that will never fully leave her.
Ana Obregón’s story is ultimately one of resilience and a mother’s unwavering promise. She has stated that she felt “dead for three years” between Aless’s passing and Anita’s birth, and that this little girl has become her “breath of fresh air.” In raising her granddaughter, she is not replacing her son, but extending his legacy, creating a living tribute to a life cut short and finding a new purpose in the midst of enduring heartbreak.
