Kelsey Parker has announced she’s expecting a “rainbow baby” less than a year after the tragic loss of her son, Phoenix.
The widow of The Wanted singer Tom Parker celebrated her joy by sharing her baby scan on Instagram last week.
“A year ago next month, we lost our beautiful baby boy, Phoenix,” she captioned the post. “And somehow, through all the heartbreak, it feels like Tom and Phoenix have sent us another little gift from heaven, our little rainbow baby.”
The happy news has brought up a mixture of emotions for Kelsey, 36, who was left devastated after her son was stillborn at 39 weeks.
5View 5 ImagesKelsey revealed she is expecting another baby
5View 5 ImagesKelsey and her boyfriend Will are expecting again after suffering heartbreak
“She is overjoyed with the news of her new baby, but it is bittersweet,” says our source. “She’s calling it a rainbow baby and feels that Tom and Phoenix will be guiding her and looking after the baby.
“It’s heartbreaking losing a baby, you never get over that. She’s been to hell and back and you can never imagine the grief she’s gone through.
“But she feels the angels are looking after her and she’s able to have this rainbow baby.”
Just last month, Kelsey – who is mum to Tom’s children, Aurelia, six, and Bodhi, five – opened up about how she was hoping to expand her family.
“We would love to have more [children],” she said. “The children wanted Phoenix so badly and it was going to be the light at the end of our tunnel… but it’s not actually happened that way for us. I do think the children would definitely want a sibling.”
Our source says her baby news couldn’t have come at a better time for the star, who last month hosted the fourth annual Tom Parker charity football match in memory of her late husband.
“She’s delighted and everyone is thrilled for her,” says our source. “She’s been praying for this and her prayers have been answered.”
Last June, Kelsey revealed that the baby she was expecting with partner Will Lindsay was “born sleeping”, compounding an already devastating few years of loss.
The stillbirth came three years after Tom tragically passed away following an 18-month battle with a glioblastoma – a rare form of brain cancer – aged just 33.
At the time of his death, Kelsey – who married Tom in 2018 – wrote a touching tribute on Instagram, saying, “Our hearts are broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence.”
Despite having tree surgeon Will, 29, at her side when she lost Phoenix, she recently revealed how the ordeal tested her in ways she couldn’t have ever predicted.
“It’s been a real struggle,” she said last month. “We’ve both grieved in completely different ways, and that has been really tough.
“What’s been tough for me is, obviously, when I lost Tom, it was just me and I had the kids, and I was like, ‘Right, I’ve got to do this and I’ve got to be that.’ With Will, I’ve had to be there for him, as well as myself.”
Opening up about her healing journey since losing Tom, she added, “People say time is a healer, but does time heal? I don’t necessarily know if it does. I think you learn to grow around your grief. I still feel exactly the same now.
“I just can’t believe it’s been four years and how much my life has changed.”
She and Tom first met on a night out in 2009, before he found fame with The Wanted. She has described their connection as “love at first sight” and, after a two-year engagement, the couple wed with Tom’s bandmates Max George and Jay McGuiness at their sides.
Since Tom’s death, Kelsey keeps his memory alive through “happy” daily conversations with children Aurelia and Bodhi.
She has also thrown herself into fundraising for organisations including the brain tumour awareness charity Ahead Of The Game Foundation, and, more recently, baby loss charity the Lily Mae Foundation.
5View 5 ImagesTom is dad to Kelsey’s oldest son(Image: being_kelsey/Instagram)
5View 5 ImagesSince Tom’s death, Kelsey keeps his memory alive through “happy” daily conversations with children Aurelia and Bodhi(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Last month, the star, who co-hosts the Mum’s The Word podcast with Georgia Jones, staged the latest annual Tom Parker charity football match at Bromley FC, which saw big-hearted celebs including Jake Quickenden and Traitors star Leanne Quigley pull on their boots to support the cause.
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Now, as she looks to the future, our source says things are finally looking up.
“This is the best news ever,” says our source. “Kelsey feels like her luck has changed. She doesn’t think she can feel any more pain than she’s felt – after all, she’s felt more than some people have in a lifetime. This is her time for happiness.”
What’s more, her two little ones are over the moon to be welcoming a sibling. “Aurelia and Bodhi are really excited,” continues our source. “Her partner Will is a really lovely guy and so supportive. He’s so understanding about the situation and they’ve really gone through it together.”