The day a unique advert was placed in Coventry newspaper and helped make a couple's dream come true

This month marks 25 years since a couple desperate to start a family made a last-ditch attempt to find an egg donor. In 1999 the Coventry Telegraph ran an advert that was more unusual than most.

It explained that Sandra Ingram and Phil Henderson were looking for an egg donor. Sandra, then 39, had been told the devastating news that her dream of becoming a mother would be impossible because her ovaries were too damaged to conceive naturally.

Fearing her age would put her to the bottom of the IVF waiting list, Sandra and Phil reached out to the Telegraph to help.

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It stated: “Childless couple urgently need egg donor to fulfil their dreams. Donor must be under 35 and have had one child. Discretion assured.

Miraculously, a reader, Joanne Wood from Bedworth, came forward to make their dreams come true. And on February 10, 2000, Bradley William Joseph Henderson was born, weighing a healthy 7lb and 4oz.

The last time we caught up with the family was in 2014 when Bradley had just turned 16. Sandra said at the time that Bradley knew ‘all about’ the IVF and had read through the history of his conception, including the advert and even pictures of the eggs.

He said at the time: “If it wasn’t for the help of modern science I wouldn’t be born and for kind people like Joanne Wood.”

Sandra added: “Bradley, I’m so proud of you. You’ve achieved so much in your life thanks to Joanne Wood.

“If it wasn’t for kind people, you wouldn’t have achieved any of this.

“Happy birthday to my miracle baby, I love you.”

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