It was an emotional birth for Nakita Dyer even though the twin girls weren’t hers.

Just over a year ago she agreed to act as a surrogate for complete strangers who’d struggled to have children of their own.

On June 3 she was able to give them the gift they’d waited a decade for.

“I was induced [that] morning with my husband [Anthony] and the twins’ mum by my side,” said Mrs Dyer, who celebrates her 40th birthday on Friday. “I remember thinking, ‘This is it. The babies will be here soon.’ I will never forget the moment the first twin was delivered. I heard that first cry and was completely overwhelmed with emotion, bursting into tears as the reality of what I had done set in — the parents would finally get to hold their babies.”

A colleague at Butterfield Bank told Mrs Dyer about the couple looking for a surrogate in 2014.

The mother-of-three talked it over with her family and then approached her gynaecologist.

Emma Robinson declared her a “perfect candidate” as she hadn’t had any complications with previous pregnancies, exercised regularly and had a clean bill of health.

The two families met in January of last year, and agreed to move forward with the plan. The embryo transplant took place in New Jersey on September 28 and the twins were given a due date of June 16.

Mrs Dyer was admitted to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on June 2, the same day an article about her journey ran in The Royal Gazette. She spoke with the paper then, and now, to highlight surrogacy as an opportunity for couples who have challenges conceiving. As far as she is aware, there has only been one other surrogate birth on the island.

After ten years of disappointments, the babies’ parents are thrilled they found her.

“Almost every day for the last year my husband and I have marvelled at how lucky we were to find Nakita, and how fortunate we were that she has such a supportive husband and family,” their mother said. “Nakita is truly an extraordinary individual and I can’t imagine anyone better suited to being a gestational carrier, but without the support that her husband and family showed, this journey would not have been possible. The love and regard they are held in by their community has shone through and our girls have been basking in that love and goodwill. I can’t imagine a better start in life.”

The twins weighed 5lb 11oz and 7lb 4oz at birth. Their parents do not want to share their names or publish their pictures in the paper.

“It was always our plan that the babies would be handed to me so that I could present them to their mum and I was able to do that with the first twin,” said Mrs Dyer. “It was a very special moment giving her this gift as the second gift was being delivered. Tears continued to roll down my cheeks as I watched her hold her baby for the first time. I could just feel the love. The second twin was delivered and the three of them were taken to the nursery to finally meet dad. The parents described it as a miracle; overwhelming joy, tears, happiness and love.”

The Dyers are now godparents to the twins. Their mother said it was an easy decision for her and her husband.

“Not only has Nakita’s kindness and generosity permanently altered the trajectory of our lives — ten years of striving and sadness has changed into fulfilment and joy — but I think by sharing her story in the paper she will change other people’s lives too,” she said. “She is a very special individual and we will never be able to thank her enough. I’m going to be so proud to tell the girls about their godmother’s role in bringing them into the world — in fact, we already talk to them about it.”

Mrs Dyer said the entire family will always have a special place in her heart. “I definitely have a special bond with them. This journey has brought my family and their family very close together. Some may wonder if I feel a loss now, but there is no loss. Our families becoming so close and wanting to remain in each others lives is a wonderful bonus and we’ve only gained. I couldn’t ask for more.

“After the original article ran there has been an outpouring of love, support and heartfelt emotion from those that knew I was pregnant, but didn’t know there was a story behind it as well as from members of the community that recognise my husband and I from our picture and for that we are extremely grateful. God has truly blessed us.”