Couples celebrate extra special gift

More than 250 babies will be celebrating their first Christmas this year after couples all over the region were helped to conceive thanks to a West Midlands clinic.

Midland Fertility Services (MFS), based in Aldridge, has helped thousands of couples over the years with IVF treatment.

One of the latest successes was four-week-old Neve Ebony Jackson, whose proud parents tried for a baby for eight years.

Mum Tracy, who received treatment through Walsall teaching Primary Care Trust, popped in to see staff this week to thank the staff. The 35-year-old, married to 44-year-old David, gave birth on November 17 following a frozen embryo transfer.

"This Christmas will be so special for me and David," she said.

"Not only will we have both our mums, six sisters and a brother and their five children with us but Neve is now in our lives too. We hoped luck would shine on us this Christmas and our beautiful daughter will make it the most perfect ever."

Neve is one of more than 250 babies who will be celebrating their first Christmas after their parents received fertility treatment at the clinic.

Clinic bosses have announced that 259 have been born since last Boxing Day.

Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director at MFS, said: "Christmas can be a tough time for couples experiencing infertility, and so we are delighted that families will be enjoying an extra special Christmas with their much longed-for babies." MFS, set up in 1987, offers procedures including IVF, ICSI, egg donation, egg and embryo freezing and sperm recovery. In May 2002, the UK's first frozen egg baby was born following treatment at the clinic.

In July 2006, the 3,500th baby was born after treatment at MFS, and the clinic registered its 15,000th patient in January 2007.

Dr Sam Ramaiah, director of public health for Walsall tPCT, said: "It's really nice to hear the success stories. A big congratulations and a Merry Christmas to the family, especially the new edition Ebony. We are delighted the tPCT have been able to support them in becoming a family."

Walsall PCT handed out £125,000 to 51 couples wanting first cycle IVF treatments during 2006-07. Already this financial year, £145,000 has been given to help new couples entering treatment.