Just how sick can women become?
MCP
By JOHN COLES
DEVOTED Lisa Wilkinson is set to achieve her dream of starting a family with
her husband - 16 months after his death.
Lisa and hubby Gareth had just got engaged when he was diagnosed with an
aggressive form of bone cancer.
They married in 2006, and Gareth died less than two years later at the age
of just 27.
But Gareth, a hospital care assistant, had some of his sperm frozen before
undergoing chemotherapy - and Lisa, 27, has now been given permission to
start IVF treatment.
Strength
Nurse Lisa told The Sun: "We had a long heartfelt talk and agreed I would
have Gareth's child, even if he wouldn't be there.
"Gareth always talked about starting a family and when we knew there wasn't
much chance of him surviving he wanted to give me a part of him to live on
with.
"It gave him peace of mind and it gave me strength, knowing I was going to
have the family we both wanted. We even agreed the names before he died -
Grace for a girl or Jack for a boy.
"This is the closest I can get to having Gareth back and I'm sure he'll be
watching over his child when it is born.
"There's a lot of uncertainty with the treatment but I'm so excited at the
prospect of his baby growing inside me."
Lisa, from Wellington, Somerset, is now due to begin her �5,000 IVF
treatment - paid for by the NHS - on December 28.
She should know by the end of February if it has been successful, but plans
to have a second attempt if it fails.
She added: "My husband was the perfect soulmate and his death at such a
young age left a gaping hole in my life.
"All this time I've been living for our future child. Gareth's family back
me completely as I will be giving his mum her first grandchild.
"Though a child can never replace Gareth it will bring an indescribable
sense of happiness and completeness."