Frozen at 18, a mother at 44: Kassandra Bacon's 25-year journey
In 2001, aged 18 and facing cancer treatment, Kassandra Bacon had a slice of her ovarian tissue frozen. No one knew if it would ever work. Twenty-five years later, she’s a mother. Here’s her story, what it means for fertility preservation, and how it differs from egg freezing.
On 9 September 2026, Kassandra Bacon gave birth to a baby boy called David. He arrived 25 years after she first fought to protect her chance of becoming a mother.
"I look down at him and it is a bit surreal," she told The Times. "He is healthy, he's thriving, he's such a cool, calm, little man."
Her story is being hailed as a global scientific milestone. It is also a powerful reminder of what determination, and a decision made early, can make possible.
A diagnosis at 18
In 2001, just days before her 19th birthday, Kassandra was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Doctors told her she needed high-dose chemotherapy straight away to survive.
She knew the treatment could end her chances of having children. So, she pushed for a quick, experimental procedure at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. A thin slice of her ovarian tissue, containing thousands of immature eggs, was frozen and stored.
At the time, no one knew if it would ever work. "I just thank my younger self for being so determined," she says now. "I was very maternal, I just wanted to be a mother."
A decade of not giving up
Kassandra survived cancer, but the treatment badly damaged her ovaries. At 32, when she and her partner decided to start a family, she was told she was menopausal with no viable follicles.
What followed was a decade-long search. Finding a team able to perform the transplant proved difficult, largely because her tissue had been frozen before UK storage regulations were introduced in 2007.
She finally found a specialist team overseas who agreed to perform the transplant. In May 2024, her tissue was grafted back. Months later she had her first period in years, and on Christmas Day 2025 she learned she was pregnant.
Why her story inspires us
Every day, we meet people thinking about the families they hope to have. Some are ready now. Some won’t be for years. Kassandra’s story shows what planning ahead can make possible.
Kassandra's tissue was frozen at 18 and helped her conceive at 44. It is the longest reported stored ovarian tissue known to have led to a pregnancy.
It's worth being clear about what she had. Ovarian tissue freezing is a specialist procedure, mostly used when urgent cancer treatment leaves no time for anything else. Around 350 babies have been born worldwide this way since 2004. Egg freezing is different: eggs are collected after a short course of hormone stimulation, then frozen individually.
But the lesson at the heart of her story applies to both. Frozen eggs and tissue don't age in storage. Their quality reflects your age when they were frozen, which is why the age you freeze is one of the biggest factors in your chances of success.
Time in storage matters less than many people fear. Since 2022, UK law allows eggs to be stored for up to 55 years, with consent renewed every 10 years.
No fertility treatment can guarantee a baby. Success depends on many factors, especially age at freezing and how many eggs are stored, and a consultation is the best place to understand your own chances.
A message of hope
Kassandra's journey to motherhood took 25 years, and she never gave up.
Her story is a reminder that thinking about your fertility early gives you more options later. Whether you're facing medical treatment or simply not ready for a family yet, you don't have to work it out alone.
If you'd like to understand your options, our egg freezing team at London Women's Clinic is here to talk them through with you. Book a consultation to find out more about egg freezing.
Kassandra Bacon's story was first reported by The Times. She is not a patient of London Women's Clinic.
All of our blog posts are written, edited, or produced by the London Women's Clinic Content Team. This is a collaboration between our expert writers, health editors, and the leading researchers and senior doctors at our Harley Street clinic.
What Our Patients Say
‘We we under the care of Canterbury LWC for all scans and blood tests and Bromley for egg collection and transfers. The team and Canterbury were particularly amazing, so supportive and reassuring throughout. No question was ever too much, they treated you as individuals and were caring and compassionate throughout the process. The receptionist were lovely, knew you from the offset by name, remembered you which makes a difficult process so much easier when you are treated as an individual. We were NHS funded and I never felt we were treated any different to private patients. The nursing staff at Bromley were also brilliant, I always felt so looked after through some really tough and emotional procedures. We were under the care of Dr Uppal who was excellent, explained everything clearly, gave us options and listened to our concerns. Would highly recommend. Currently 26 weeks pregnant ☺️’
Rose S
25 October 2026, LWC Canterbury
‘We are incredibly grateful to London Women’s Clinic, Harrow, for helping make our dream of becoming parents come true. We are now blessed with a beautiful baby! A special thank you to Dr Gill for the care, guidance and support throughout our IVF journey, and to Carla and Maria for making the entire process smooth and reassuring. We had a wonderful experience and will always be thankful to the whole team. Highly recommend! ❤️’
P S
23 October 2026, LWC Harrow
‘LWC are fantastically supportive at every stage of your journey. They try to be as flexible as possible with appointments, giving good advice about supporting yourself (and partners) as you prepare for different procedures. It is a tough journey but Louise, Rute, Dr Arthi, Trianni, Dr Bishista and Ashley are incredibly supportive. Highly recommend them to anyone considering or needing fertility support.’
S W
23 October 2026, LWC Cambridge
‘I honestly cannot fault Kind IVF. From start to finish, I have been so incredibly impressed with the care, compassion and professionalism shown by the entire team. Going through IVF can be such an emotional and overwhelming journey, but they have made the whole experience feel so much more reassuring and positive. Every step of the way, I have felt cared for, listened to and supported. The team have been amazing at answering questions, putting my mind at ease and making sure I felt comfortable throughout the process. You can really tell how much they care about their patients, and that makes such a huge difference during a journey that can be so personal and emotional. I am so grateful to everyone at Kind IVF for everything they have done for us. Choosing them has been one of the best decisions we have made, and I genuinely couldn’t recommend them enough to anyone considering IVF. The standard of care has been outstanding, and I cannot thank them enough for helping us on this journey. ❤️ Thank you, Kind IVF, for being so amazing!’
Georgia Burt
22 October 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells
‘I highly recommend the London Women's Clinic Brentwood. The staff were very supportive, patient, and always available to answer questions. They guided me through an emotional process with clear explanations and genuine care. The staff were always available and happy to help.’
S Begum
21 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘Choosing an IVF clinic is such a big decision and I'm so incredibly glad that we chose this one. IVF can be such an emotional and overwhelming journey but having a clinic that offers so much support and genuinely cares for you makes such a difference. The care and kindness that we have received has been exceptional. We can't thank LWC Brentwood enough ❤️’
Laura Keary
21 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘I honestly can’t thank London Women’s Clinic enough for helping me achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a mum. It wasn’t an easy journey, but the team were absolutely fantastic and supported me every step of the way. Their kindness, care and reassurance made such a difference during what was a really emotional and challenging time. I always felt supported and in safe hands. A special thank you to Carla, Ana-Maria and Dr Goswami. You have all been absolutely fantastic and I am so grateful for everything you have done for me. I’ll never forget the support and care you have shown me during such an important and emotional journey. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for helping me achieve something I have wanted for as long as I can remember. It means more to me than words can say. I would recommend London Women’s Clinic to anyone going through their own fertility journey.’
Sarah
21 October 2026, LWC Harrow
‘We started our treatment in July, and I have had a very positive experience with this clinic. Lorraine on reception especially made me feel like nothing was too much trouble and always knew me by name which is such a nice personal touch, especially at such a sensitive time. Along with Dr Safwat Ashour he always recommended the best treatment for us and just had such a kind caring attitude towards us while explaining our options and being very honest with us too. One of the nurses (so sorry I can’t remember your name) she only recently started in July and I felt so at home with her and cared for. To finish off we are currently pregnant with our IVF miracle all thanks you this clinic. Thank you all so much, no thanks would ever be enough for the gift you have given us!’
Sophie Jay
21 October 2026, LWC Darlington
‘Very professional and very welcoming, and very clean I was given time to feel relaxed and I didn't feel like I had to rush this made me feel very comfortable.’
Ryan Harmer
21 October 2026, LWC Brighton
‘My wife and I have had a brilliant experience with LWC throughout our fertility journey. We always felt listened to, supported, and in control of the decisions we were making. Our PCC Suzanna, Dr Verstraete, and the nursing team were consistently friendly, responsive, and knowledgeable, which made navigating the shared motherhood process feel so much easier. We’re incredibly grateful for the care and support we received.’
Megan Nelkon
20 October 2026, LWC Harley Street
‘I’ve had a great experience with the clinic so far. From the very beginning, I’ve felt incredibly well cared for and supported throughout my egg freezing journey. Daenira on reception is always so lovely, welcoming and helpful, and Liv, my nurse, has been fantastic! She’s made me feel comfortable, reassured and well looked after at every step. Dr Wade has also been absolutely brilliant and I have complete confidence in the care and guidance I’ve received. I would highly recommend this clinic to anybody considering egg freezing.’
Saffy
20 October 2026, LWC Oxford
‘The most amazing experience with the clinic from start to end Nothing is to much for them They will answer every Question Worry or concern no matter how big or small, My experience and care they have shown in one of the hardest times and most worrying experiences they were there every single step of the way, I honestly couldn’t thank every member I’ve dealt with anymore and would recommend this clinic to anyone thinking about it , hardest decision but best decision every made and all the staff here made this possible for me you are all amazing caring people And I thank you from the bottom of my heart 🙏🏼🩷’
Stephanie
18 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘I truly feel blessed and thankful to God that we are in such a wonderful place and in such caring hands during one of the most precious journeys of our lives. The clinic has been outstanding throughout my treatment, making the entire journey feel as smooth as possible. The whole team at the Brentwood clinic is absolutely amazing, everyone is so warm, welcoming and supportive. The treatment has been incredible so far, and we are extremely satisfied with the care, support, and overall service we have received throughout our journey. Fingers crossed, I truly believe that the best news is just around the corner! ❤️🤞 I would wholeheartedly recommend Brentwood clinic for the care and support they provide in parenthood journey.’
Harika
14 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘London Women’s Clinic, Reading were fantastic and Nurse Nicky was such a supportive and reassuring professional. Thank you for journeying with me Nicky!’
Sope Adekola
14 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘Where to start… Fertility treatment is the last thing any of us expect to need. But if you find yourself on this journey, Brentwood London Women’s Clinic is where you want to be. Carina’s warm welcome sets the tone the moment you arrive, and every single nurse is wonderful, kind, calm, and reassuring. It’s a complicated and sometimes difficult road, but they walk it beside you. We’ve experienced both joy and heartache here, and through every moment we’ve felt cared for and supported. They truly get to know you, and the care feels personal and bespoke. Today we have our precious 3-year-old, and we will forever be thankful to this amazing team. They are everything you could hope for kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely there for you. We couldn’t recommend them more.’
Sarah Tidey
13 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘We honestly can’t thank London Women’s Clinic in Brentwood enough for everything they have done and continue to do for us. They helped us create our now 3 year old, and we are incredibly grateful to be back with them on our journey to hopefully have another little one. Angela and Katie are truly incredible nurses. They go above and beyond to make you feel comfortable, listened to and supported every step of the way. They take the time to explain the process, answer any questions and put your mind at ease, making what can sometimes be an overwhelming and emotional journey feel that little bit easier. It means so much to be cared for by people who genuinely seem to care about you and your family, rather than just seeing you as another patient. Their kindness, compassion and reassurance make such a difference, and we feel very lucky to have them supporting us again. We will always be grateful to London Women’s Clinic for helping us bring our little girl into the world, and we have every hope that they will help us grow our family once more. We couldn’t recommend the team highly enough. Thank you, Angela, Katie and everyone at the Brentwood clinic, for being such a special part of our journey. ❤️ Also a special mention for the smiley face in the reception. Carina, you are great!!’
bethan philp
13 October 2026, LWC Brentwood
‘Came here after my treatment at LWC Darlington as I needed to be part of the failed implantation team. The care and communication was second to none. It was everything and more, no question to my coordinator was never too much. They were extremely accommodating when I had to travel from up north multiple times and were always happy to let me have my then 2 year old son come to monitoring appointments. I’m grateful for their expertise in failed implantation as my 3rd egg collection was successful and my fresh transfer worked first time & I’ve just gave birth to my second LWC baby in September 2026. Would always recommend LWC - especially London Bridge / Harley Street.’
Jeni J
13 October 2026, LWC London Bridge
‘Great experience. Very kind and supportive.’
Jesylin Luka
12 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘My experience with London Women's Clinic Brighton has been wonderful so far. The staff are kind and patient, as well as exceptionally knowledgeable. I have had all my questions answered (and have been encouraged to ask more whenever!), and I feel assured that I'm receiving transparent, evidence-based advice.’
Jess Smith
12 October 2026, LWC Brighton
‘Excellent service, highly recommend!’
Lenka Kalafutova
10 October 2026, LWC Tunbridge Wells
‘Lovely people. Truly!’
Eve Reiser
8 October 2026, LWC Reading
‘My experience was positive throughout. The team at the clinic was friendly at every visit. Suzanna was always very responsive and kind and happy to answer any questions. Dr Verstraete was always empathetic and knowledgeable! Most importantly: the outcome is a healthy baby :)’
Mir
8 October 2026, LWC Harley Street
‘Thank you so much Dr Naware, Linda and Emmanuella’
Moyo T
7 October 2026, LWC London Bridge
‘Going through the IVF journey is always going to be difficult, but the team at London Women's Clinic in Harrow have made it the best experience possible. We've had constant support, check ins, and they have really got to know us and understand our concerns and issues. No question has ever felt like a silly one, and they've been incredibly accommodating when we've needed it too. The whole team have been amazing, but in particular Carla, Ana-Marie and Dr Goswami. We actually relocated away from Harrow 12 months ago, but have continued to go back to the team there as we've built such a great relationship with them, and their support through such a difficult journey has meant the world to us. I can't recommend them highly enough. And probably the important bit for anyone considering going to them - we're expecting our first baby in February!’
Emma Dunning
6 October 2026, LWC Harrow
‘I’d like to say a massive thankyou to everyone at the Cambridge London clinic there all loverly, with out you guys we wouldn’t be were we are today with our little journey of having a baby 😊 not only did they help us with our pregnancy but the amount of support they have given us has been incredible. We had to have a frozen ivf and as you can imagine we were so nervous but we have been lucky enough for ours to work first time and now my partner is 7+weeks 😊 the whole way through this process has been nothing but support and kindness all members of the team that we had dealings with our amazing and it’s actually kind of sad to be leaving but we would love to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for everything’s that you guys have done for us. If your looking at going through ivf process London clinic Cambridge is the best place for this. Again thankyou so much guys we will miss you all ❤️ (April + Ricky )’
Ricky Watson
5 October 2026, LWC Cambridge
Related Posts
Need more information?
Whether you're ready to take the next step or just want to explore your options, we're here to help.
Contact us