Janet Dalby, who at 17 had a baby despite knowing that she could die in pregnancy, has died at the age of 58.

Janet, of Bearwood, a Friedreich’s ataxia sufferer, was told that having a baby could kill he and she and husband, Graham, were faced with an agonising decision – go ahead with the pregnancy and risk both lives or agree to a termination and sterilization. The traumatic situation made headlines all around the world in the 60s.

Friedreich’s ataxia is a progressive disease that damages the nervous system and Janet was told that her heart could not take the strain of giving birth.

The Express & Star reported the story of the girl willing to risk her life for her baby and the story won the hearts of the nation. The birth of Paul Richard in June 1967 was reported internationally.

Read the full story in the Express & Star. 

Janet Dalby, who at 17 had a baby despite knowing that she could die in pregnancy, has died at the age of 58.

Janet, of Bearwood, a Friedreich’s ataxia sufferer, was told that having a baby could kill he and she and husband, Graham, were faced with an agonising decision – go ahead with the pregnancy and risk both lives or agree to a termination and sterilization. The traumatic situation made headlines all around the world in the 60s.

Friedreich’s ataxia is a progressive disease that damages the nervous system and Janet was told that her heart could not take the strain of giving birth.

The Express & Star reported the story of the girl willing to risk her life for her baby and the story won the hearts of the nation. The birth of Paul Richard in June 1967 was reported internationally.

Graham, now 63, of Devon Road, Bearwood, still has the cuttings in a scrapbook but the woman he shared more than 40 years of his life with lost her battle with cancer on Monday as she died at at home in the arms of her husband.

The couple were introduced by their mothers and spent their first date watching ‘Those Magnificent Men Their Flying Machines’ at the pictures. Graham was aware that Janet suffered from a progressive nervous condition, but swore that he would always care for her.

He said: “She meant the world to me, she always has. I swore that whatever happened I would be there for her. She knew, right from the start that she was having a boy and had the name ready – Paul – after Paul McCartney. She had to stay in hospital from the day she made the decision to keep the baby to the day she gave birth – seven months in total. 

“When she had Paul she was very ill, her heart struggled through the next 24 hours, but she made it and I was so proud of her.”

In 1976 Graham gave up work as an engineer in Oldbury to care for his wife, by then in a wheelchair, at their Devon Road home, which they shared with her brother Colin.

Paul has worked as a car body builder since he left school and  is married to Yvonne. They gave Janet and Graham grandaughters Emma, now 12, and Samantha, who is eight this week.

Janet’s funeral is on Tuesday, at Newton Road Crematorium.