Kelsey Parker, the widow of The Wanted star Tom Parker, has shared the first set of pictures of newborn baby River. The podcaster and author shares two children with the late singer, who died in 2022 of terminal brain cancer. She is now in a relationship with tree surgeon Will Lindsay, with whom she parents Aurelia Rose and Bodhi – who were respectively two years and 12 months old when Parker died.
Most emotional first weeks
Last June, Kelsey shared the news that she had suffered a miscarriage, tragically losing their child – named Phoenix – just a week before her due date. One week ago, Kelsey and Will welcomed daughter River to the world, describing the infant as 'our little bit of hope.' She's now shared more images, calling this 'the most emotional first few weeks of my life.'
In a post to her Instagram grid, Kelsey wrote: 'Somehow my heart feels fuller and more fragile all at the same time.' Sharing snaps of herself and Lindsay cradling the baby, she wrote: 'Soaking up every second of this little bubble.
'The sleepless nights, the slow mornings, the cuddles, the tears, watching Aurelia and Bodhi become the most incredible big brother and sister… all of it.
'After everything we've been through, I don't take a single moment for granted. Life can hold so much love and so much loss at the same time. And right now, I'm just letting myself feel it all.'
She signed off the post – which also included images of Aurelia and Bodhi with their sibling – adding: 'Our little River, you have brought so much hope with you. 🌈🤍✨'
Celebrity reactions
Commenters on her announcement last week included Rochelle Humes, Susanna Reid and reality TV star Holly Hagan-Blyth. The comments below Kelsey's latest post were similarly full of love from internet commenters and famous followers.
Lottie Tomlinson, entrepreneur and sister of One Direction's Louis Tomlinson, commented: 'Congratulations beautiful.' Meanwhile, former Emmerdale star Sheree Murphy posted a series of red heart emojis in response. 'Beautiful,' said Great British Bake Off 2016 winner Candice Brown. Said Towie star Amber Dowding: 'So so happy for you.'
Kelsey previously revealed River's name in a post which featured the baby's arm next to a painted plaque. 'Welcome to the world, River. 🌹🤍 Our little bit of hope. ✨' she captioned it.
Pregnancy journey and loss
Earlier this year, Kelsey revealed that she was pregnant again, documenting the news in a series of posts. Reflecting on the loss of baby Phoenix, she penned: 'I want to be really honest about what that feels like, because I don't think anyone says it out loud.
'It doesn't feel like the end of the grief. It feels like carrying two enormous things at once and hoping my arms hold. I am so excited. I am also missing Phoenix so much this week that it takes my breath away.
'Both. At the same time. Every single day.'
She continued to keep followers updated on her pregnancy, including a post in which she shared her experience of falling pregnant again after losing a child. 'Everyone assumes you're just happy. And I am. I promise I am. But I'm also counting. Every day, every kick, every appointment,' she said.
'I've never once been able to just assume it'll be fine, because I know what it's like when it isn't. If you're in this too you're not being dramatic and you're not being ungrateful. You're being someone who knows too much.'
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she shared: 'It has taken me a year to process what actually happened to us.
'Straight away we called the ambulance; they took nine minutes to come, and when they arrived – the only way I can describe it – was like I was in a film and it wasn't real and it wasn't happening to me,' she added. 'Because they came in and they took him from me. I only ever got to hold Phoenix for nine minutes.
Earlier this year, she also marked four years since the death of her husband. In an emotional message, she wrote: 'Dear Tom, my Papi … It's been 4 years… 4 whole years without you. Words can't even explain how much I miss you.
'I wish we could have just one more day… To laugh, to sing, to gossip, to be together. To party together. To put the world to rights like we used to at ridiculous o'clock. To talk before bed… to be parents together,' Kelsey wrote.
'I wish you had more time with your babies… Time that was taken far too soon. You only got two and a half years of being a Dad, and life just feels so unfair.'
