Chantelle Thompson's IVF was successful on the first attempt, according to multiple reports. Joe Thompson had stage four lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, and is survived by his wife and their two daughters, Thailula and Athena Rae. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013, recovered, had the cancer return four years later, and recovered a second time before retiring in 2019.
According to Daily Mail - Home, Chantelle Thompson described the pregnancy as meaning absolutely everything, noting it will not replace Joe but bringing his baby into the world is beautiful. She also said the IVF worked first time, contrasting with three years of attempts for a previous pregnancy. Joe Thompson gave his wife a name for a future son before he died, but that name has not been disclosed.
It just means absolutely everything. I know it's never going to replace Joe obviously. Joe's Joe. But to be able to bring his baby into the world again is beautiful.
Chantelle Thompson has received an email revealing the baby's gender but has not opened it yet, waiting to host a small gathering with both families for the reveal. According to Daily Mail - Home, Chantelle Thompson described Joe having a vision of her and their children with a baby boy about six months before he passed, and later realizing he might not be physically present. She added that she hopes it was a boy because she only has a boy's name.
After retiring, Joe Thompson worked as a pundit on MUTV, held an ambassadorial role at Manchester United, and worked as a motivational speaker and life coach. Chantelle and Joe Thompson lost their baby Dre just three days before he was due prior to Joe's death. Manchester United paid tribute to Joe Thompson after his death.
He actually had a vision of us sat outside with a baby boy. This was maybe six months before he passed, and he assumed that it was all of us.
And then maybe two weeks before he passed, we were just sat in the garden and he just had a realisation and was like, 'I think I was watching you with the baby and the girls in the garden, not me physically here with you.'
I hope [he was] because I've only got a boy's name.
It means absolutely everything, and to be blessed for it to work first time. We'd gone through IVF for three years trying to get pregnant with baby Dre. But I just knew, I knew the timing was right, I knew Joe's messages were right.