Baby arrives 15 months after his father's death

A man has fathered a child 15 months after he died of cancer.

His wife, Coralie Thomas, gave birth after his sperm was saved for fertility treatment.

Michael and Coralie Thomas married in February 2004 after 13 years as a couple because they wanted to celebrate their life together. The Palmerston North man died that September.

They had a son, Joshua, then 3, and now Mrs Thomas has had another boy, Dylan Michael Graham Thomas, the Manawatu Standard reported.

His birth notice in the newspaper thanked the Wellington Fertility Clinic for its help.

The notice said Dylan's "incredible journey started when we found out my daddy, the late Michael, was very sick".

Mrs Thomas is not talking because she has a contract with a women's magazine.

Last October she told the New Zealand Woman's Weekly her dying husband had told her from his hospital bed she should go ahead and try to have his baby after he was gone.

Both Mrs Thomas and Joshua had counselling and a relative paid for the $12,000 IVF treatment.

Mr Thomas' mother, Charleen Salmon, said her grandson and Mrs Thomas were doing well.

Family friend Carole Hawley said news of the birth was "absolutely lovely".

"It was the best thing she could have done. His memory will live on forever now."

Fertility NZ executive director Sian Harcourt knew of only one other New Zealand woman who had saved sperm to have a child after her partner died.

"It is increasingly common for men who contract cancer to save their sperm to protect it from the treatment [radiography or chemotherapy].

"But I can only vaguely remember one other birth in New Zealand to a father who had died where IVF or intrauterine insemination was used."

She said there were significant issues attached to the situation and it was a sensitive topic.

"But it's a decision no one can make until you've walked in that person's shoes."

Mrs Harcourt said the child would be very wanted.

"It is very precious and very loved and that's the important thing."

The couple were married after a chance conversation in a cafe.

Mrs Hawley, owner of The Verdict cafe, had been having a chat to Mrs Salmon, a customer, who spoke about her son's terminal cancer and the couple's situation.

Mrs Hawley and friends went into action, organising rings, flowers, dresses and the venue.

-  NZPA