On the surface, Benji and Zoe Marshall appeared to have an almost perfect life.
In love and newly married, their respective careers in rugby league and the media were going from strength to strength.
But in the four years since their wedding, there’s one thing that has eluded them – parenthood.
The couple are due in February.
Zoe blames her long battle with severe stage-four endometriosis for their struggle to fall pregnant and admits that, in her darkest moments, she feared she would never have a child.
“We always knew we wanted a baby, so living with that uncertainty was tough. It was always in the back of my mind,” she tells Woman’s Day exclusively.
So in January, after years of trying to fall pregnant naturally, Zoe turned to Chinese medical practitioner Dr Shuquan Liu for help.
Six months later, on her 33rd birthday, Zoe received the news she and Benji had been hoping for – she is pregnant and they will welcome their first child in February!
Benji and Zoe can’t wait to meet their baby!
“This is my dream come true,” Benji, 32, told Woman’s Day.
“I’ve always believed that I was put on this earth to have a family. I have been waiting for a long time – I have wanted to be a dad forever.”
Zoe believes their pregnancy news is a sign from her beloved mother Jan, who died from breast cancer 11 years ago.
Benji is returning to the Wests Tigers next season.
“I was so shocked I fell on the floor crying. Benji was still half asleep. He’s like, Pregnant?!'”
“I felt a mix of relief and happiness because I really didn’t know if this was going to happen for me. I can’t explain why I did that test that morning – the fact that it was my birthday was a sign for me.”
“We’re going to raise a healthy, happy child!”
For Benji, who never met his biological father, the pregnancy is the realisation of a long-held desire to be a dad.
Proudly telling us, “We’re going to raise a healthy, happy child.”
“I’ll be the greatest dad of all time!”
For the couple’s full story and stunning pregnancy photo album, be sure to grab a copy of Woman’s Day magazine – on stands tomorrow!
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