When Russell Watson was diagnosed with cancer, he doubted whether he would pull through, let alone fulfil his dream of becoming a father.
But five years on, not only has he survived, but he and his wife Sarah have welcomed baby Molly into the world – after having his sperm frozen all those years ago.
The couple were devastated in August 2012 when Mr Watson was diagnosed with the blood cancer non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after suffering from a swelling in his throat.
Russell and Sarah Watson pose as proud parents with their miracle baby daughter Molly
He was told he needed aggressive chemotherapy, which would make him infertile, as well as stem cell treatment to stop the cancer spreading to his brain.
In the days before the treatment began Mr Watson had his sperm frozen at a fertility clinic, in the hope of becoming a father if he survived.
Once he had pulled through, the couple started fertility treatment using his frozen sperm and Molly the ‘ice baby’ was born at the first attempt.
Mr Watson, 41, a maintenance engineer supervisor, said: ‘It is amazing to be a father at last after everything I have been through.
‘There were times when I worried that I wasn’t going to make it through, let alone be a father. Having Molly now is a dream come true. After all those years she is finally here with us.’
The couple started fertility treatment using frozen sperm and Molly the ‘ice baby’ was born
Describing their shock at learning of her husband’s cancer, Mrs Watson, 34, said: ‘We thought at first that he had tonsillitis and he had antibiotics but those weren’t working.
‘The GP sent him for a biopsy straight away. It showed that he had a very rare form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
‘It was devastating to hear. We never expected such a diagnosis. He seemed fit and healthy.’
Mrs Watson, a learning development manager, added: ‘Our main priority was for Russell to survive, but we had talked about starting a family.
‘The chemotherapy would make him infertile, so there was no time to lose.’
When Mr Watson was diagnosed with cancer, he doubted whether he would pull through, let alone fulfil his dream of becoming a father
The couple, from Northampton, had Mr Watson’s sperm frozen at their local Care Fertility clinic days before his treatment began.
Mr Watson had chemotherapy until June 2013, and the month after he had a stem cell transplant when a stem cell donor from Germany was found for him through the Anthony Nolan register.
Once Mr Watson was able to leave hospital he returned home for a long recuperation while his new immune system built up.
When he was feeling stronger, the couple’s thoughts turned back to children.
They underwent a course of fertility treatment in September 2016 using Mr Watson’s frozen sperm.
Mrs Watson said it was ‘so overwhelming that she is actually here with us after everything’
Mrs Watson discovered she was pregnant two weeks later and last June gave birth to Molly, who weighed 7lb 12oz.
Mrs Watson said: ‘When we look at Molly it’s so overwhelming that she is actually here with us after everything that has happened. We feel like the luckiest parents in the world.
‘When she is old enough to understand we will tell her of the battle her dad overcame to see her arrive into the world.’
A spokesman for Care Fertility said: ‘We are thrilled for this couple, and that Molly has been born after being in the freezing process for all those years.’