The amazing love story of a British woman who moved 13,000 miles to be with a man suffering from ‘locked in’ syndrome who she met online now has a nappy ending after she gave birth to ‘miracle’ triplets.
And after overcoming disability, illness, fertility issues and everything else life has thrown at them, Nick and Nicola Chisolm, 47, are celebrating the arrival of three beautiful babies.
Nicola gave birth to the two girls and a boy just as New Zealand’s Government introduced drastic steps to stop the Coronavirus spreading across the country.
The former English teacher from Spalding, Lincolnshire, moved there a decade ago after falling in love on a dating website.
Nicola Chisolm, 47, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, moved to New Zealand a decade ago after falling in love with Nick on a dating website (pictured together)
The former teachers gave birth to the two girls and a boy just as New Zealand’s Government introduced drastic steps to stop the Coronavirus spreading across the country. Pictured, with Dakota, Ruby-Soo and Loki
Despite being confined to a wheelchair and needing constant care after suffering a brain injury in a rugby match, she set up home with architect Nick in Dunedin and in 2013 they married.
Now, after a four-year fight to fund IVF and conceive the loving couple have overcome another challenge and can’t wait to get their ‘little miracles’ home, once the lockdown is lifted.
Announcing the new arrivals from her hospital bed Nicola said: ‘So, on the first day of lockdown here in New Zealand (March 26) we welcomed our three miracle babies, they’ve been a long time coming.
‘Nick Chisholm and I are so proud of them, they’re amazing and doing so well. I have had several health problems but getting better.
First born at 10.04am was little Ruby-Soo, weighing in 1695g, (3lbs 7oz) second at 10.05am was our little boy Loki weighing 1740g (3lbs 8oz) and last but not least was our Dakota who weighed in at 1820g! (4lbs)
‘All three are amazing and doing so well… lockdown sucks but we are keeping safe and hoping to go home soon.’
For Nicola, who has a grown up son from a previous relationship, the birth of the babies is another milestone in an incredible journey.
The romance began in June 2008 when schoolteacher Nicola switched on her computer and saw a message from an online dating site saying: ‘Nick Chisholm is interested in you’.
Nicola said an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage had hindered the couple’s quest to have a child naturally, so the couple (pictured together) launched a fundraising drive to help with the costs of IVF
After swapping emails with the man whose profile had taken her eye on the internet dating website, she immediately fell for his charm.
But within hours of those first messages he hit her with two bombshells. Not only did he live in New Zealand, he suffered from a bizarre disability which had left him trapped inside his own body.
He sent her a clip from a TV documentary about him and his condition then typed the message: ‘Hope you’re not just talking to me because you feel sorry for me?’
She replied: ‘No, it was because I fancied the pants off you when I saw your picture!’
Nineteen years ago the sports mad 46-year-old banged his head during a rugby match.
In hospital he had suffered a series of major brain stem strokes leaving him deep in a coma and on life support.
After winning the fight for his life he now lives with physical and emotional pain everyday. Cruelly his brain functions normally, but his body is paralysed.
Nick, who was also a talented runner and cyclist before his injury, requires 24-hour care and is fed through a tube in his stomach. He can only communicate using a specially designed letters board.
But from the moment Nicola flew to the other side of the world to visit him they’ve both knew they would be together.
After nine months and 9000 emails Nicola finally made the 30 hour plane journey from Heathrow to New Zealand in April 2009.
‘I rushed straight over to him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It felt strange at first because he couldn’t hug me back, but we didn’t really need to speak to each other to be able to feel the sparks that were flying between us.’
After a couple of years travelling back and forth she decided to give up everything to be with the ‘beautiful’ man she knows will never be able to say: ‘I love you’
Asked about the move she said: ‘It was an easy decision, because after first meeting Nick it felt right. It’s Nick the person not Nick the disability at the end of the day.’
Four years ago born battler Nick, who spends hours in the gym and has regained some movement in his arms, and Nicola, launched a fundraising drive to help with the costs of IVF.
The couple are excited to start their new life as one big happy family together following the arrival of their triplets. Pictured, Nick
Nicola said an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage had hindered the couple’s quest to have a child naturally.
Then a fertility specialist told them the best path to parenthood was to use an egg donor and recommended a clinic in San Diego, California.
The couple saved £6,000 for IVF treatment and raised another £5,000 from generous donations.
Now after the arrival of triplets the Chisholms just want to start their new life as one big happy family together. And their joy has been shared by friends and family online.
Nicola’s mother Sue Lewis-Smith commented: ‘I’m so very proud of my amazing daughter and over the moon to welcome three beautiful new grandchildren to our family, we are truly blessed!
‘They will all be reunited with Daddy Nick very soon and family life begins.’
And Jo Smith wrote: ‘Congratulations to both you and Nick. Such amazing happy news we all need at the moment. They are beautiful, just wish you were closer so I could have a cuddle!!
‘The girls are so excited to meet their cousins one day! We hope you feel better soon and send you all the love in the world.’