Baby boy miracle

I was both angry and concerned about the fact that so many people would judge us before we even knew if we were going to have a happy ending!

Now I relish the opportunity to share our story and our experience. I hope there are lots of viewers who enjoy our story this evening.

Why? Because we have been contacted by so many people who say we have inspired them, which is an honour I am not really sure we warrant, but more importantly because they say we have given them hope.

Hope is the most amazing emotion, where there is hope there continues to be a reason and opportunity. Once hope is gone it is much harder. But you know what? Five years ago when Pete and I first met we inquired about our ability to have a family and we were told there was no hope.

Fortunately it was not the be all and end all for us, so we moved on with our lives. What we know now is that there are an unlimited number of people who go to bed each night with aching hearts because they have not yet been able to have their own little baby and often for no obvious medical reason.

One of the reasons that I have chosen to share our story and to publish my book, Unplanned, First Time Mum at 50, is to say thanks to the generosity of people who have congratulated us, but more importantly because of people who have contacted to say how they have found new hope since hearing our story.

Pete and I did not plan to have a baby, in fact it was the furthest thing from our reality. When I found out I was pregnant I was beside myself and could not understand, and still don't, why I have become the statistic of being the oldest, first time, naturally conceiving mother in Australasia, if not the world. We have however been given the beautiful gift of life and our son is so happy, incredibly healthy and hopefully will keep us young.

People have written to me asking for advice on how we conceived, on IVF, on same sex couples having children. They ask how am I managing as an older mum, and has anyone had a go at me about being a parent at my age? While I have been expecting this ever since Nicky was born, to date we have only had positive contact, but I am sure there are others who will feel we are selfish. My question to those people is what would you have done if you were me, would you have aborted?

Have a look at how beautiful our son is, surely he has the much right to life as the rest of us.

Not long ago I received a lovely letter from a gentleman in his 70s who explained to me that his mum was in her late 40s and his dad significantly older again when he was born and raised as an only child.

The reason for his letter was to tell me he had his parents until he was in his 20s, and he continues to love them and think of them every day.

We need to be thankful for every day we spend together as a family.

I shall treasure that letter along with the lesson, to appreciate every day, and to know that my son is fortunate to have two parents who live together, who will always love him very much. Sadly so many children these days are not that lucky.

So I am happy to open up an occasional can of worms, it is good for us to challenge our values and to be challenged, it makes for a richer and more understanding society.

I have felt really humbled that our story has touched so many hearts in so many different ways. I try to answer everyone who contacts me with honesty, and I try not to judge, but to give thoughts that might give confidence, ease pain and encourage people to follow their hearts and believe that what is meant to be will be.

I can be contacted by emailing antheanicholas@bigpond.com or via my website www.antheanicholas.com.

Best wishes

Anthea.