A young woman tragically lost her husband and decided to do artificial insemination with his sperm. But is it legal?
Isobel Barnes lost her husband, Luke, when she was just 22 years old. Her 34-year-old husband had a heart condition, dilated cardiomyopathy, which was diagnosed in 2019. Luke was awaiting a heart transplant when he succumbed to the disease on March 17, 2023…Leaving his wife, Isobel, disarmed and distraught. She chose to tell her story on social networks, to pay tribute to her husband and try to regain a taste for life. After traveling for two months in Australia and Bali to fulfill her husband’s wishes, she is now back in Nottingham, England alongside her family.
Isobel Barnes does not let down, she shares her memories with her husband on social networks but also his new projects. When they learned that Luke was sick, they decided to save his sperm so Isobel could start a family if she wanted to. And that’s exactly what she’s going to do… She will start an IVF process quickly but still wonders about the scope of her gesture.
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The loss of her husband at just 22 turned her life upside down
Isobel’s life is forever changed by the loss of Luke, but she doesn’t give up: “I have to recreate my own life. And I can’t wait to bring a little Luke into the world.” A process that nevertheless raises many questions for the young woman: “I wonder if it’s selfish to bring a child into the world without a daddy, but baby Barnes will have a daddy. He’s just not here anymore, but I’ll tell him about him. Of course, the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life is make my husband proud.” Indeed, post-mortem insemination is a subject that is widely debated around the world. But the mother has chosen not to ask the question, her whole family is happy to live this new project and can’t wait to meet the baby she will give birth to.
In England, post-mortem artificial insemination is completely legal. In France, the situation is totally different, it is a practice that is prohibited. In some cases, when the matter is taken to court, it may be possible to do this, but the practice is still prohibited by law.
Parenting writer
Zoé is on a work-study program, she joined the aufeminin team in September 2022, she writes for the parenting section. Committed and curious, Zoé likes to write to advance…