Murphys Creek Chilli Festival 2021 attendees Kimberley and Kim Armstrong-Egan welcome son Javier

A couple who say a popular event in the region helped them conceive their first baby have welcomed their son into the world. See their incredible story here.

Javier Armstrong-Egan is one baby with an extraordinary story of how he came into the world.

In September 2021, mere weeks away from welcoming Javier, Lockyer Valley couple Kim and Kimberley Armstrong-Egan attended the Murphys Creek Chilli Festival and revealed that the event had somewhat helped them conceive their first baby.

The couple began their IVF journey and in preparation for their second egg transfer, after their first unfortunately didn’t stick, the couple attended the Murphys Creek Chilli Festival in March last year.

Kimberley and Kim Egan have welcomed their son Javier, with help from the Murphys Creek Chilli Festival.

After indulging in some chilli products, including chilli-infused beer, the following day they went in for their egg transfer.

A few weeks later, they saw the “two pink lines” on a pregnancy test that they had been hoping for.

They say their day at the festival, and those chilli products, are to thank for their success.

“From the moment I heard his cry my entire universe just shifted around to him,” Mrs Armstrong-Egan said.

“I understand the saying now that your heart walks on the outside of your chest.

“It feels like he’s always been here and time is flying by.”

It’s not lost on parents how lucky they are to have Javier in their arms, having gone through the emotional and gruelling process that is IVF.

Mrs Armstrong Egan said she knows people that have waited years, even close to a decade to conceive, to no avail.

“It’s okay to feel every emotion,” she said.

Kim Egan is sure her pregnancy was helped along by chilli beer from the Murphys Creek Chilli festival last March. Sunday, September 26, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“You will experience every emotion, your highest of highs, the lowest of lows.

“It’s an anxiety-ridden experience, it’s almost too much for words at times.

“We know we’re extremely lucky to get Javier when we did.”

The pair are preparing now for another round of IVF, and Mrs Armstrong-Egan said they will be following the same recipe for success.
“We’re gearing up to give him a sibling and starting the IVF process again,” she said.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get a transfer in September this year, after we got to the chilli festival of course.”

For now, the Armstrong-Egans are relishing in raising their firstborn, whose name was inspired by his mother’s Mexican-American heritage, and means “home” or “castle”.

“Every day is like coming home to him,” Mrs Armstrong-Egan said.

“He is home to us.”