The twins born three years af ter dad’s death
Widow keeps pledge using her husband’s frozen sperm
AS David Kelsall lay dying from cancer, his heartbroken wife Lucy promised he would be a father one day.
Three years on, she has fulfilled her pledge. Mrs Kelsall, 37, gave birth to twin boys using his frozen sperm.
She named one David because he has the same green eyes as her late husband, while the other is Samuel.
Now 12 weeks old, both are healthy and doing well – but Mrs Kelsall, from Bristol, admitted the birth was very emotional.
‘A few days before David died I told him I was still going to have his baby and he was so surprised and happy,’ she said.
‘He looked so proud and he would have been an amazing father. It was so emotional at the birth, I still can’t get my head around the fact that I have a bit of David with me for ever.’
The couple had been married for less than two years when Mr Kelsall, a mental health nurse, was diagnosed with throat cancer in July 2014. They decided to freeze his sperm in case his treatment made him infertile.
He underwent three years of therapy and surgery but died in December 2017 aged 45.
Shortly before his death, Mrs Kelsall promised she would use his sperm to start the family they had always longed for.
‘David was amazing, such an inspiration and an intelligent and caring man,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t bear the thought of him leaving this Earth without passing on his genes, and the hope of having his child kept me going.’
Although the first round of fertility treatment failed and she was told her chances were slim, the community centre manager fell pregnant after the second round and was amazed to be told she was expecting twins.
They were born on May 15 at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, David weighing 6lb 7oz and Samuel 5lb 2oz. ‘The birth was difficult but so special and I know David would have the biggest grin on his face if he was here,’ Mrs Kelsall said. ‘Now I see a future again.
‘Little David has the same eyes and facial expressions as his father and Samuel has his dad’s long legs and big feet.
‘I will tell the boys about their dad every day so that he’s a part of their lives. We’ll visit David’s favourite places as a family – he loved the sea and Penarth pier, where I scattered his ashes.
‘I have some photo albums to show them of my and David’s life together, and I’ve saved some of his ashes for the boys to scatter when they’re older. Having these boys was a way of making sure David is never forgotten.’
Mr Kelsall’s mother, Wilma, 85, said: ‘I’m devastated about David but also so happy and pleased for Lucy. She’s given me the chance to be a grandma to David’s babies. I’m delighted because it’ll be carrying on the family name.
‘David would be so happy and feel so blessed, he would just look at them in amazement.’