A heartwarming story unfolds as a woman, Jasdip Sumal, welcomes her second child into the world through in vitro fertilization (IVF), 16 months after her husband’s demise. Jasdip, aged 38, gave birth to Amandeep on April 9, fulfilling a shared dream with her late husband, Aman Sumal. The couple’s journey took a tragic turn when Aman was diagnosed with a grade four brain tumor after experiencing seizures and persistent headaches in August 2020.
Aman underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his health deteriorated rapidly, and he tragically passed away in December 2021 at the age of 36. Devastated by the loss, Jasdip made the courageous decision to pursue their shared dream of expanding their family.
On Easter Sunday, just a week prior to what would have been Aman’s 38th birthday, Jasdip gave birth to their daughter, Amandeep, through the IVF process. Jasdip, a data analyst from Ruislip, London, shared her thoughts on the journey: “We had our son through IVF in 2019, and we always planned to have another child, but then Aman got sick, and everything after that was a whirlwind, so we never got the chance.”
Despite contemplating undergoing IVF while her husband was still alive, circumstances did not align, and Jasdip found herself coping with the overwhelming grief of losing him. Nevertheless, her desire to have a family remained unwavering. Jasdip expressed, “It was always the plan to have a sibling for Rajan, and that was important to Aman too, so I decided to go ahead with it. Aman’s strength is what showed me I could do it. He was so strong during what was an incredibly hard time, and I knew nothing I did would be harder than that.”
Initially, doctors believed Aman’s brain tumor to be low-grade, prescribing anti-seizure medication and scheduling regular scans every three months. However, following another seizure five months later, an MRI scan revealed worrisome areas, leading to debulking surgery. A biopsy disclosed the harsh reality: Aman’s tumor was a grade 4 glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive form with a prognosis of just 12 to 18 months.
In August 2022, eight months after Aman’s passing, Jasdip discovered she was pregnant, bringing a glimmer of hope. With immense support from her extended family throughout the process, Jasdip successfully gave birth to a healthy baby girl in April of the following year. Reflecting on her late husband’s wishes, she said, “Aman was over-the-moon with Rajan but always said, ‘I have one of me, and it would be nice to have one of you too.’ I know he would have been all over our daughter. It’s just such a shame he won’t ever get to meet her.”
Jasdip acknowledges the bittersweet nature of the situation, a sentiment shared by many who have experienced loss. However, she believes that Amandeep’s presence will help foster acceptance of Aman’s absence and embrace the next chapter for their family, centered around their children. Grateful for the unwavering support she received, Jasdip mentioned, “I have a big family and had so much support throughout. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Amidst the journey, Jasdip’s sisters-in-law accompanied her to appointments and served as her laboring partners, providing reassurance and companionship. Jasdip expressed her gratitude, stating, “Aman was obviously
