With her sister’s dreams of a family dealt a blow by her cancer battle, Dannii Minogue says she’s making sure Kylie won’t miss out on children, reports Matthew Denby.
An emotional Dannii Minogue has opened up about her plans to share her first child with sister Kylie.
While Dannii, 38, is over the moon about her forthcoming baby with partner of 18 months Kris Smith, she is keenly aware of the emotional impact her pregnancy will have on Kylie, 41.
Her older sister has long wanted a child. Kylie had two unsuccessful IVF attempts with her former partner, French actor Olivier Martinez, before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She then had to abandon her quest for motherhood to undergo life saving chemotherapy.
Kylie reportedly underwent an experimental procedure ahead of her treatment, having slivers of her ovaries surgically removed and preserved for reimplantation at a later date.
But despite finding love with Spanish model Andres Velencoso, 31, her dreams of motherhood remain just that.
So three months pregnant Dannii – who gushes “my boobs are definitely bigger, my tummy’s started to change shape, too” – says she will be sharing every minute of her pregnancy with her sister. Determined Kylie won’t miss out on what life has so far denied her, the former Young Talent Time star is going all out to spread the joy.
“I’m sharing my pregnancy with Kylie,” Dannii last week told UK magazine Glamour.
“My brother is thrilled and my sister … well, it’s a different dynamic between sisters and you feel like you’re sharing the experience, as I’d feel if Kylie had kids first.
“She loves children, just adores them, so we’re sharing it together.” Kylie has embraced Dannii’s offer, telling of her plans to buy her new niece or nephew “all sorts of things in every toy store around the world”.
Kylie – who tweeted “I am so happy to be an auntie again” after hearing Dannii’s news – is overjoyed at the prospect of another Minogue, to join her brother Brendan’s two sons, Charles and James. It’s the perfect outcome for Dannii, who feared her good news might bring up feelings of sadness and regret for her childless sister.
“Dannii knows the idea of having a family is massively important to Kylie, but it’s no secret Kylie’s treatment may have lessened her chances of conceiving and this breaks her heart,” a friend told UK magazine Look.