'I gave birth to my late husband's baby three years after he died'

A year has almost passed since Sian met her beautiful baby girl, a child she shares with her husband, who died three years earlier.

Sian Goodsell's life journey turned unexpectedly from a romantic beach proposal to a heartbreaking cancer diagnosis. 

Sian and Jason's love story began with a spontaneous beach proposal. Little did they know that their life was about to take a devastating turn.

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A rollercoaster of emotions

Their world was shaken six days after Jason proposed on a beach in Bunbury, Western Australia in 2017, when the love of her life was diagnosed with stage four bowel and liver cancer.

The couple, accustomed to carefree days by the beach, suddenly immersed themselves in a whirlwind of medical appointments and treatments.

Jason's battle against cancer was fierce, marked by moments of hope and despair. At one point, remission gave them a glimpse of normalcy, only for the cruel return of the disease to shatter their dreams.

The proposal was met with a different surprise just six days later. Source: ABC

Tragedy strikes

As the engaged couple planned their wedding, tragedy struck on the eve of their special day. Jason's health deteriorated rapidly, and he passed away just hours before their special day in 2019.

Faced with deciding whether to proceed with the ceremony, Sian celebrated their love in his honour.

A promise of tomorrow

Jason and Sian had dreamed of having children together, and this dream remained alive even after his passing. Jason's foresight led them to freeze his sperm before treatment began. The possibility of IVF became a beacon of hope.

After taking time to heal and gather her strength, Sian decided to embark on the journey to motherhood. She secretly pursued IVF, surprising her loved ones with the joyful news when success came on the first attempt.

Through the incredible preservation of Jason's sperm, Sian welcomed their daughter, Matilda, into the world three years following his untimely passing. Source: ABC

"There was only the one embryo out of that IVF round, but it worked, and my daughter's here today," she told the ABC.

The birth of their daughter, Matilda, in 2022 was a miracle, even though it occurred 17 weeks premature.

Despite the challenges, Matilda thrived with the support of the NICU staff and Sian's unwavering love.

As Matilda grows, Sian sees Jason in his daughter's every smile and expression, "It's just like looking into a mirror."

The 34-year-old widow added: "I tell her stories about Jason and I every day, and talk about what he was like.

"I always keep his memory alive and have photos throughout the house.

"Tilly will always know her dad."

Originally published as 'I gave birth to my late husband's baby three years after he died'