Breast cancer survivor who had Covid-19 gives birth to "miracle" baby girl

Intensive care nurse, Kate Foxall, 36, from Charminster, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and battled the disease for four years.

Her hopes for a second child were dashed, after six months of chemotherapy, two months of radiotherapy and years of hormone treatment left her body ravaged with her oncologist giving Kate just a ten per cent chance of conceiving.

So when a pregnancy test turned blue in August last year, Kate and her partner Daniel Bundy, a matron in the cardiology unit at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, were stunned and delighted.

Kate said: "I had asked my oncologist for a year off the hormone treatment so we could try for a second child. Every year at Christmas Athena would ask for a brother or sister.

"After ten months I did a test, half-an-hour before seeing my oncologist. It was positive. My oncologist was pleased but told me to remain cautious."

Early March and Daniel began long shifts as coronavirus became prevalent. And while he was careful, fastidious with washing, a test revealed coronavirus.

Two weeks before Kate was due to give birth, she was struck with a high-temperature, a loss of taste and smell and a persistent cough. A hospital swab showed coronavirus and the family went into isolation.

"I was frightened. If I went into labour, who could we ask to come to a Covid house? Nor did we know the effect of the disease on pregnant women or their babies."

On May 15, three days after ending isolation, Kate gave birth to Ostara at St Mary's Maternity Unit in Poole weighing 8lb 9oz. But joy turned to fear when the newborn was rushed back into hospital with a rash and high temperature.

"I was so scared. Daniel wasn't allowed in the ward and we didn't know what was wrong with Ostara. We thought it may have been a delayed response to coronavirus or Kawasaki disease. But luckily, Ostara recovered and is now happy and healthy.

"Ostara is my miracle baby."