IVF couple 'will fight for others'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A couple who were told they were too old to have fertility treatment on the NHS pledged to continue the fight for other couples in their thirties as they showed off their three-week-old son for the first time yesterday.
Julie and Michael Seale thanked the anonymous businessman who paid for the test-tube baby treatment which enabled them to become a "real family" but added that they would keep pressurising the Government to adopt a national policy on fertility treatments.
Mrs Seale, 38, from Sheffield, was told two years ago that she was too old to be accepted for in vitro fertilisation [IVF] treatment under her local health authority's rules, which lay down an upper age limit of 35. Had the couple lived in Wakefield - just eight miles from their home, but covered by a different health authority - Mrs Seale would have been eligible for NHS treatment until she was 42.
The couple unsuccessfully took Sheffield Health Authority to the High Court to challenge the policy, as they could not afford the pounds 2,000 cost of the treatment which had only a 25 per cent success rate. After they failed, an anonymous businessman donated the money and Mrs Seale, who was treated at the reproduction research and treatment unit and Nottingham University, became pregnant. Their baby, Jordan, was born on 5 February.
Mrs Seale told their benefactor, who has been sent pictures of Jordan via his solicitor: "I want to thank you for making us a family . . . If it wasn't for you, Jordan would not have been born." She added: "We are going to keep up the fight for other couples even though we may be a small voice in the wilderness."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments