The parents of an inspirational boy who died of cancer aged six have revealed they’ve welcomed a baby girl.
Gemma Lowery, from Durham, gave birth to baby Gracie-Mae at 12.19am yesterday via Caesarean section at at Sunderland Royal hospital.
Gracie-Mae’s brother Bradley Lowery touched the lives of millions before his death in 2017.
The little boy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma when he was just 18 months old. The condition is mainly found babies and young children.
Gemma Lowery, from Durham, gave birth to baby Gracie-Mae at 12.19am yesterday via Caesarean section at at Sunderland Royal hospital.
Posting on Facebook, the couple shared a picture of Dad Carl Lowery carrying the new born, writing they were going to ‘share some time with their beautiful princess’.
‘Hi everyone just an update to welcome our beautiful little princess to the world,’ they posted on the Bradley Lowrey foundation.
‘Gracie-Mae was born 12:19am on 6th November weighing 8lb.
‘I didn’t have the best of labour but il not bore you all with the details. I had to have an emergency C section as her heart rate dropped and they needed her out.
Gracie-Mae’s brother Bradley Lowery (pictured) touched the lives of millions before his death in 2017
‘She is now doing amazing and we on our way home.
‘I want to say a huge shout out to all the staff on the maternity unit at Sunderland Royal hospital. Every single one of them from start of care when I fell pregnant to leaving tonight have been incredible.
‘Myself and Carl are going to now enjoy some family time with our beautiful princess.
‘I know everyone will be eager to see her, and I’ll be sharing some pictures soon, but we want all the family to meet her first.
‘Thank you all for your support’.
Carl and Gemma Lowery have welcomed their third child. Pictured: The parents and their son, Bradley, who battled stage four neuroblastoma until 2017
In a social media post for The Bradley Lowery Foundation, Gemma wrote: ‘Baby Lowery number 3 on its way… Bradley is going to be the best guardian angel to his little brother or sister’
The parents announced the pregnancy in May, sharing a picture of baby clothes with the words ‘handpicked for Earth by my brother in Heaven’ alongside her ultrasound scan.
Bradley was a mascot for his beloved Sunderland FC and in the months before his death, led England out at Wembley alongside his hero, former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.
Bradley’s journey with childhood cancer touched the nation as the public managed to raise more than £1.3million to send him to America for antibody treatment.
Despite this, doctors found that his tumour had grown, and informed Gemma and Carl that their son had just ‘months to live’ in December 2016.
As his parents were told his cancer was terminal, Bradley’s story quickly spread across the globe and he received hundreds of thousands of wellwishes and cards over the Christmas period.
Jermaine Defoe, then of Sunderland F.C, and England mascot Bradley Lowery line up prior to the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between England and Lithuania
Former England international Jermain Defoe penned an emotional message to ‘best friend’ Bradley Lowery on what would have been his ninth birthday
The youngster had been in and out of hospital in 2016 – with countless surgeries, intensive care treatments and chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions.
The ‘little superhero’ passed away in his parents’ arms on 7th July, 2017, and football clubs across the country shared a minute’s applause before their matches in a show of respect for the youngster.
Bradley’s passing prompted an outpouring of supportive messages from politicians, to former England captains.
His beloved Sunderland FC penned an emotional tribute to him the day of his passing and shared it on their social media pages.
The then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted his condolences, while Match of the Day’s Alan Shearer described his life as ‘inspirational’.
But Bradley’s biggest fan and self-professed ‘best friend’ was Jermaine Defoe, who played for Sunderland from 2015 to 2017 and got to meet the starstruck youngster on many occasions.
The duo’s friendship first began in September 2016 when Sunderland-mad Bradley was a mascot for their Premier League match against Everton.
Bradley received a round of applause during the match at the Stadium of Light that afternoon while supporters from both clubs sang ‘there’s only one Bradley Lowery’.
His mother, Gemma, set up The Bradley Lowery Foundation in his name in August 2017 to serve as a lasting legacy for her son and to support other parents enduring a childhood cancer fight.
She also announced her pregnancy on the Facebook page, writing: : ‘Now this decision didn’t come lightly, Carl and I have so much love to give, so after lots of conversations, I have some news to tell you…….
‘Baby Lowery number 3 on its way, we decided to start trying in January for a baby and it didn’t take long to see them two lines on the pregnancy stick.
‘Bradley is going to be the best guardian angel to his little brother or sister. Myself Carl and Kieran are absolutely over the moon and very excited for November to meet our prince or princes(s).’
Neuroblastoma develops from specialised nerve cells left behind from a baby’s development in the womb and affects around 100 children every year in the UK.
The Bradley Lowery Foundation aids research into this rare disease and childhood cancers and is currently developing plans to support a £600,000 holiday home in Scarborough.
Speaking in the wake of Bradley’s passing in 2017, Dr Guy Blanchard, chair of Neuroblastoma UK, said: ‘All in the neuroblastoma community will be saddened to hear the news of Bradley’s death.
‘Bradley’s story raised significant awareness of a disease that is responsible for one in six of all children’s cancer deaths.
‘Through the world-leading research funded by Neuroblastoma UK, into improving both diagnosis and treatment of the disease, we will find a cure for neuroblastoma.’