A CANCER survivor who was told he would probably never be able to father a child has become a dad against all the odds.

Neil Fitch, 30, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 27.

After seven months of chemotherapy, doctors told him he was unlikely to ever become a father naturally.

But in April last year – on their honeymoon – Neil and his wife Bec, 27, of Spring Chase, Wivenhoe, discovered they were expecting a baby.

He is now the proud father of Poppy, who was born at Colchester General Hospital last month, weighing 8lbs 1oz.

Neil, a Network Rail maintenance worker, said: “We got married at Colchester Register Office on April 17, and two days later on the drive up to Norfolk, Bec felt tired and sick.

“It continued on the honeymoon, so we bought a pregnancy testing kit and were shocked when we found Bec was pregnant.

“What with planning for the wedding, we’d never even discussed IVF and I think we had both accepted we would only ever be an uncle and aunt.”

The former Colne Community School student underwent emergency surgery at Colchester General Hospital in September 2008.

He spent four weeks in hospital after his operation, including some time in critical care.

Dr Bruce Sizer, a consultant oncologist who has cared for Neil, said: “He was exceptionally young to be diagnosed with bowel cancer and when he was first brought to us the outlook was extremely grim.

“Becoming a parent for the first time is always special, but especially for Neil when you consider the seemingly insurmountable odds he overcame.

“Given what he has gone through, I am sure that he will appreciate fatherhood even more than most new dads.”