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| Norwich couple have miracle baby after cancer and IVF failure | |
| (25 days later) | |
| Rose and Tom with their son Freddie | Rose and Tom with their son Freddie |
| A couple have described their joy at having a "miracle baby" after a cancer diagnosis and unsuccessful fertility treatment. | A couple have described their joy at having a "miracle baby" after a cancer diagnosis and unsuccessful fertility treatment. |
| Childhood sweethearts Tom and Rose, from Norwich, had been looking forward to starting a family when Tom discovered he had testicular cancer at the age of 28 and had to undergo an urgent operation and chemotherapy. | Childhood sweethearts Tom and Rose, from Norwich, had been looking forward to starting a family when Tom discovered he had testicular cancer at the age of 28 and had to undergo an urgent operation and chemotherapy. |
| They turned to IVF in the hope of having a baby so when it failed and Freddie was conceived naturally three years later, it came as a wonderful surprise. | They turned to IVF in the hope of having a baby so when it failed and Freddie was conceived naturally three years later, it came as a wonderful surprise. |
| "He really is a miracle baby. I think we really treasure that because we didn't know we would have that situation," says Rose, 33. | "He really is a miracle baby. I think we really treasure that because we didn't know we would have that situation," says Rose, 33. |
| Rose and Tom married after meeting each other at college | Rose and Tom married after meeting each other at college |
| Tom noticed a swelling in his groin one Sunday in March 2019. | Tom noticed a swelling in his groin one Sunday in March 2019. |
| He went straight to see a GP who found a lump in his testicle and was told his quick action was the reason the cancer had not spread. | He went straight to see a GP who found a lump in his testicle and was told his quick action was the reason the cancer had not spread. |
| "I almost felt a bit numb, a bit blind to it," says the secondary school maths teacher. | "I almost felt a bit numb, a bit blind to it," says the secondary school maths teacher. |
| "I knew the steps that needed to be taken but it was almost worse for everybody else." | "I knew the steps that needed to be taken but it was almost worse for everybody else." |
| The shock of the diagnosis had a profound effect on Rose, who felt all their future plans were in doubt. | The shock of the diagnosis had a profound effect on Rose, who felt all their future plans were in doubt. |
| Years later she felt ready to write a poem about the experience and the emotions that came with her husband's sudden diagnosis. | Years later she felt ready to write a poem about the experience and the emotions that came with her husband's sudden diagnosis. |
| "I just sat down with my laptop and started typing. It was if it was meant to be. The words just flowed," she explains. | "I just sat down with my laptop and started typing. It was if it was meant to be. The words just flowed," she explains. |
| The poem was initially just for Tom, also 33, to read, but after they shared it with friends it has now has been turned into a film by the local Norfolk charity "On the Ball", and is even up for a national award. | |
| Rose's poem captures the emotions she felt five years ago when Tom was diagnosed with testicular cancer | Rose's poem captures the emotions she felt five years ago when Tom was diagnosed with testicular cancer |
| Tom underwent chemotherapy and lost his hair during treatment | Tom underwent chemotherapy and lost his hair during treatment |
| Tom's round of chemotherapy at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was expected to affect his ability to have a child so he decided to bank his sperm for fertility treatment. | Tom's round of chemotherapy at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital was expected to affect his ability to have a child so he decided to bank his sperm for fertility treatment. |
| When IVF failed, the couple instead took the decision to look into the possibility of adopting. | When IVF failed, the couple instead took the decision to look into the possibility of adopting. |
| They were left overjoyed when Rose discovered she was pregnant and Freddie was born at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in 2023. | They were left overjoyed when Rose discovered she was pregnant and Freddie was born at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in 2023. |
| Rose and Tom say Freddie's arrival came after IVF attempts failed | Rose and Tom say Freddie's arrival came after IVF attempts failed |
| Tom is now using his experiences to talk to youngsters about the importance of early diagnosis | Tom is now using his experiences to talk to youngsters about the importance of early diagnosis |
| Five years on from his diagnosis, Tom has been given the all-clear. | Five years on from his diagnosis, Tom has been given the all-clear. |
| He is now keen to raise awareness about what is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 35 where early treatment is crucial. | |
| Tom holds assemblies at the school where he teaches, to educate the boys about the symptoms. | Tom holds assemblies at the school where he teaches, to educate the boys about the symptoms. |
| "We just hope the film will influence people to go and get themselves checked," he says. "I'm a very positive person and I feel my job now is to help others." | "We just hope the film will influence people to go and get themselves checked," he says. "I'm a very positive person and I feel my job now is to help others." |
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