13th June 2014
A cancer survivor who was told he would never be a biological father is preparing for his first Father’s Day as a Dad. Kevin Byrne was 16 years old when he found that, having lived with non-Hodgkin lymphoma since the age of four, he could not have children. However thanks to recent advances in male fertility treatment the 38 year old became a father in November. As he prepares to celebrate his first Father’s Day with son Arthur and wife Natalie, Kevin said he hoped his decision to seek treatment might help others.
The Dad from Soham, Cambs said “He’s a very special little boy. I was concerned my family line would stop with me, but now Arthur is here he can go on to have a family of his own”.
The couple were referred for IVF treatment at Bourn Hall Clinic in Cambridge and were advised to try a procedure called testicular sprem extraction before considering sperm donation. The operation was successful in finding healthy sperm which was frozen until the couple were ready to start a family.
Oliver Wiseman, the Byrne’s consultant, commented that couples struggling to conceive should take an equal role investigating the causes of infertility. He said “Boosting fertility with good diet and improving general health can increase the chances of natural conception. Couples should also consider having a semen analysis as this can identify or eliminate issues early on and determine if further medical help may be required.”
Kevin and Natalie’s story was featured on the Paul Stainton show on BBC Radio Cambridgedhire.