British mum Karen Steer can’t believe how lucky she is after she gave birth to a little miracle against odds of 100 to one.
The 41 year old conceived a child using the sperm of her late husband who passed away from lung cancer in 2011.
After numerous failed attempts, Karen welcomed a baby girl named Johren, a combination of the couple’s forenames, in May.
“I’m so glad I kept my promise to John. When he died it felt like I had lost him for ever but now thanks to our baby it feels like I have a part of him back,” she told the Sunday Express.
“I cannot tell you how lucky I feel. When they placed her on my chest I fell in love immediately. She looked so much like her father with her mop of black hair and dark brown eyes.”
Karen and John had been together 18 years before John was tragically struck down with inoperable cancer in 2010 and was told he had between two and six months to live.
“We thought we had all the time in the world to get married and have a family. It was too much to take in,” Karen said.
The pair quickly arranged a wedding and married after a 15-year engagement in September 2011. John died just a week later at the age of 43.
Karen’s first attempt at IVF – using sperm taken from her husband during his battle with cancer – failed, with Karen finding out just days after John’s death.
But a heartbroken Karen vowed she wouldn’t give up and on her fourth and final attempt she conceived a baby girl.
Recalling the moment she found out she was pregnant, Karen says she took her husband’s ashes to the bathroom while she took a pregnancy test.
“I just started to laugh and looked over to John’s ashes. I could not believe we had done it,” she said.
“When John died I didn’t think I could feel happy again but thanks to the incredible gift he left me I have not stopped smiling.
“When she smiles her whole face smiles and I know John is with us.”
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