Cancer fighter Neil beats the odds to become a father again
A DAD told he may never have more kids after undergoing gruelling chemotherapy for incurable brain cancer is celebrating the arrival of a baby boy.
Neil Taylor, 36, and wife Alex, 28, welcomed their second child, Harvey, into the world weighing 7lb 3oz on January 6, almost three years after intensive treatment.
Neil was diagnosed with a brain tumour on his left frontal lobe in February 2017 when Alex was 13 weeks pregnant with their first child Annabelle.
He had surgery to debulk the tumour but it was identified as a grade three astrocytoma, which would require further treatment. He had an intense course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but feared he would not be able to have more children as the treatment can affect fertility in men.
However, the couple, from Middleton, were given the best news ever last May when Alex, a solicitor, found out she was pregnant and the couple were blessed with a baby boy.
Neil, a McDonald’s franchise supervisor, said: “We knew the chemotherapy may affect our chances of conceiving again, but despite the odds, we were so pleased when we found out Alex was pregnant again.
“Alex and I were both juggling working from home and childcare for the first part of lockdown, before we were granted a period of furlough leave.
“It was another topsy turvy year but we, like many other families, made the most of the situation and enjoyed spending more time together at home.
“Obviously, going into another lockdown at the beginning of 2021, just before Harvey’s due date, wasn’t ideal but we’re both ecstatic he’s here and he’s healthy and that’s all that matters.”
Neil, whose symptoms were first dismissed as seizures, has to be monitored with routine MRI scans every six months. His most recent scan results in September 2020 were stable, meaning he can relax for the time being. His next one is scheduled to take place in March. He added: “My last four scans have given really positive results. It’s a massive relief and I feel really well at the moment.
The couple have been fundraising for the charity Brain Tumour Research since 2017 and have raised more than £20,000. They hope to continue to raise funds to improve treatments for brain tumours, which kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.