The child, named Ana Sandra Lequio Obregón and also called Anita Sandra or Anita, was born on March 20, 2023, in Miami, Florida, according to Obregón's statements to Hola! magazine. Obregón stated to the magazine that the child is biologically her granddaughter. Aless Lequio, the son of Spanish aristocrat Alessandro Lecquio and nephew of King Juan Carlos, died at age 27 from Ewing's sarcoma. He had his sperm frozen following his cancer diagnosis, though some reports suggest he preserved it two years prior to the diagnosis. One week before his death, Aless told his father that he longed to have a child, according to information revealed by Obregón. Obregón told Hola! in 2023 that Aless loved babies and wanted to name his first daughter Ana. She said it took three years to conceive her grandchild. On Instagram, Obregón wrote: "My Aless: I swore I would save you from cancer, and I failed you. I promised you I'd bring your daughter into the world and here she is in my arms." She also told Hola! magazine: "This girl isn't my daughter, but my granddaughter. She is Aless' daughter and when she grows up I will tell her that her father was a hero."
The surrogacy arrangement raises legal and ethical complexities. According to CNN, in Spain, the sperm of a deceased person can only be used to impregnate the widow up to 12 months after the husband's death. Obregón traveled to the US to find an egg donor and surrogate because surrogacy is prohibited in Spain since 2006, according to multiple reports. She legally adopted the child, making her the legal mother. A philosophy professor likened the situation to an episode of "Black Mirror," according to CNN.
This girl isn’t my daughter, but my granddaughter. She is Aless’ daughter and when she grows up I will tell her that her father was a hero.
Obregón has spoken openly about her emotional journey. "I was dead for three years from Aless' death until Anita was born," she said in a recent ¡Hola! interview. She added: "You don't accept or get over the death of a child. You end up accepting that you'll never be able to come to terms with their departure. Fortunately, Anita now fills my days." Reflecting on life's unpredictability, she said: "With Aless, I would go to work confident that everything would be fine. But life has taught me that one day you have a perfectly healthy child, and out of the blue, you're told he has a very aggressive cancer. Life is a breath of fresh air."
In a Spanish TV interview, Obregón described the joys and challenges of motherhood at her age. "My house is now full of stuffed animals and toys. I even have a little ball pool where she makes me dive in," she said. She noted that picking up Anita is becoming harder as she grows: "It hurts my back." She also reflected on her son's diagnosis: "We live our whole lives saying that we are eternal and nothing happens here. Suddenly, one day they tell you at 25 years old that you have an aggressive cancer." On Instagram, she wrote that her son was the love of her life in heaven while his daughter is now the love of her life on Earth. On Anita's birthday, she posted that she felt reborn when she first hugged Anita, and that Anita brought light to her dark world. She described Anita as good, smart, sensitive, and having the same sense of humor as her father. She said she will tell Anita about her father's courage and how he dreamed of hugging her, and she prayed to God for Anita's wellbeing and joy. On Spanish Mother's Day, she reflected on her son's passing and shared a message with other mothers coping with loss, stating that love is the greatest force.
My Aless: I swore I would save you from cancer, and I failed you. I promised you I’d bring your daughter into the world and here she is in my arms.
Obregón is open to having more grandchildren via surrogacy, as her son reportedly wanted a large family. She did not rule out having further children through the same method and said Aless envisioned having five children. The specific legal and ethical implications of using a deceased person's sperm for surrogacy in the US and Spain remain unclear, as does the process for selecting the egg donor and surrogate and their rights. The reaction of other family members, particularly Alessandro Lequio, has not been detailed.
Ana Obregón is a Spanish TV star and actress who appeared in US TV series The A-Team and Who's the Boss?. Aless Lequio was diagnosed with cancer at age 25, Obregón said in a Spanish TV interview.
When I hug her, it’s an indescribable feeling because it’s as if I were hugging you again. I swear that I will take care of her with the infinite love that I have to give, and from heaven, you will help me.
My house is now full of stuffed animals and toys. I even have a little ball pool where she makes me dive in.
It hurts my back.
We live our whole lives saying that we are eternal and nothing happens here. Suddenly, one day they tell you at 25 years old that you have an aggressive cancer.
I was dead for three years from Aless' death until Anita was born.
You don't accept or get over the death of a child. You end up accepting that you'll never be able to come to terms with their departure. Fortunately, Anita now fills my days.
With Aless, I would go to work confident that everything would be fine. But life has taught me that one day you have a perfectly healthy child, and out of the blue, you're told he has a very aggressive cancer. Life is a breath of fresh air.
Aless loved babies and wanted to name his first daughter Ana.
I felt reborn when I first hugged Anita, and Anita brought light to my dark world.
Anita is good, smart, sensitive, and has the same sense of humor as her father.
I will tell Anita about her father's courage and how he dreamed of hugging her.
I pray to God for Anita's wellbeing and joy.