A Bonhill mum who has been to “hell and back” after suffering seven miscarriages – one which almost killed her – says she has everything she has ever wished for as she prepares to celebrate her daughter’s first Christmas.
Kimberley Cassels, 38, and husband Stephen, 41, had given up hope of adding another child to their family, having faced three devastating losses trying to conceive their son Cole, 11.
Tomorrow morning the couple will wake up in their home in Pappert with Cole and their nine-month-old daughter River-Rose.
It is a dream come true for Kimberley, who suffered severe blood loss and almost had to undergo an emergency hysterectomy during her last miscarriage.
“I just look at her and I just can’t believe she is mine,” said Kimberley proudly.
“I just feel so blessed and grateful that I have my beautiful family, especially celebrating River-Rose’s first Christmas.
“It’s crazy to think how different things could have been for us.
“We have been to hell and back to get here, but it was all so worth it.”
Kimberley and Stephen, who have been together since their teens, spent six years trying to start a family before welcoming their first born in 2013.
Baby Cole arrived just in time for Christmas that year and Kimberley says he quickly became the centre of everyone’s world as the first grandchild.
Both Kimberley and Stephen come from big families, and dreamed of giving Cole a sibling – even if they knew they would struggle.
When Cole turned five, they decided to try again, but the mum-of-two feared what lay ahead.
What should have been an exciting time was filled with fear and dread – and seeing the positive on a pregnancy test didn’t fill Kimberley with joy.
Opening up about her losses to the Lennox, she said: “Once you have a miscarriage, and if like me you have multiple, when you find out you don’t get excited.
“It just becomes so overwhelming as you know it can end in heartbreak and your mind starts thinking about all the things that could happen again.
“It really impacted my mental health.”
The brave mum faced four more years of uncertainty and grief, losing another three babies at around eight weeks each time.
The last time during the height of covid was the worst, as they did not find out their baby had died until they attended their 12 week scan at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
Doctors explained to the devastated couple that Kimberley had a ‘missed miscarriage’ – which is when your body still thinks you are pregnant and shows symptoms, despite their being no heartbeat.
Due to this happening during the pandemic, she was unable to be admitted to hospital for a procedure, meaning Kimberley had to manage her loss isolated at home.
Kimberley explained: “The next two weeks were awful. I was totally numb and I just wanted to go into be put under so I didn’t have to experience it all again.
“This was all happening during Covid so I didn’t have the option to go into hospital.
“It was so confusing and I was so angry because I still felt pregnant but I knew my baby had died.
“I was given tablets to take at home which was the most horrific thing to have to do.
“It took two weeks to work, and during that time I was in agony. When it finally came away, I felt like something wasn’t right.
“All I remember is being in the bathroom and there being loads of blood and Stephen asking me if I was okay. The everything went black.”
A frantic Stephen called an ambulance, which rushed Kimberley to the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Paisley – where a doctor was standing by to take her into surgery for an emergency hysterectomy as they feared she was haemorrhaging.
Thankfully, she was able to receive help without the life-changing surgery after a last-minute ultrasound.
The terrifying experience, that left Stephen fearing for his wife’s life, prompted the pair to make a difficult decision.
She continued: “We decided to stop trying. I was devastated and I grieved for the baby I wanted.
“I felt so guilty as I knew I was so lucky to have Cole and Stephen was worried that something bad would happen to me.
“So we went for an IVF meeting and were told there was a two-year waiting list so we decided to stop trying and just wait and enjoy the life we had.
“I was studying for my psychology degree and we just focused on us.
“And then before I knew it, I was pregnant. We found out on our 20th anniversary. It was really special.”
Despite a difficult and emotionally intense pregnancy, which Kimberley said was filled with anxiety and fear, the family welcomed River-Rose by planned C-section on March 18 this year. I was terrified. I wouldn’t buy anything until a few months before she was born,” said Kimberley.
“Even her birth was a scheduled C-section as I was too scared.”
And the proud mum says that the moment she met her daughter, she felt like it was all worth it.
She added: “Seeing the bond my kids have – Cole is such a wonderful big brother to River-Rose.
“This time of year really makes me so appreciative of everything we have.
“I can’t wait to wake up on Christmas morning with my family.
“I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”