TEENAGER Jordan Jasper cradles in his arms the baby he never thought he would have.
It's a miracle moment in the young dad's life after he underwent gruelling treatment to beat his cancer.
"I was told there was a 99.9 per cent chance I would not be able to have children because of the chemotherapy," said 18-year-old Jordan, who lives with his girlfriend, Ellie Phillips, in Heanor.
"Baby Lilly Eryn is a miracle. She's our miracle baby."
Doctors encouraged Jordan to freeze his healthy sperm before he started chemotherapy treatment to beat acute myeloid lymphoma.
He agreed to have a sample frozen and stored at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre.
"I only had chance to put one pot in the freezer," said Jordan, who is a former pupil at Lees Brook Community School.
"My consultant wanted to start my chemotherapy straight away and there was no time to give any more.
"At the time, I suppose I was happy that I'd done that. But now, I don't need to worry.
"I've had a baby daughter without using the sperm sample and that is fantastic. I love her to bits. She's adorable.
"She's everything I wanted. I can't believe I'm a dad when I honestly thought that I wouldn't be able to have children.
"She's got the most beautiful blue eyes. But she's being a monkey at the moment because she's not sleeping very well at night."
When Jordan got together with Ellie, 18, a former pupil at Heanor Gate Science College, he was open about his cancer.
He told his girlfriend that he might not be able to have a baby without undergoing fertility treatment.
Jordan said: "Ellie was OK about it. We were only just starting our relationship and neither of us were thinking about having a baby.
"Ellie was understanding and I was happy to use the frozen sperm when we decided we wanted a baby."
Two months later, Ellie started feeling ill.
Ellie, of Millward Road, said: "I didn't know why I was off it. I didn't think I could be pregnant.
"Then I started thinking about it some more and that's when I went out and bought a pregnancy test.
"Three tests later and the news was confirmed. I was pregnant.
"It was quite a shock. We never thought for a moment that this would happen.
"Jordan had been quite clear about his damaged sperm and we knew we had options when we wanted to start a family."
Lilly Eryn was born on Christmas Eve, weighing a healthy 6lb and 12oz.
Ellie had to be induced after midwives became concerned about the baby. Lilly's heart rate had started to rise.
"I came home on Christmas Eve," said Ellie. "She was the best present ever. We are so in love with her."
Jordan battled cancer for six months after being diagnosed in September 2012. He had just started an animal welfare course at Broomfield Hall, Morley, when he got sick.
"It all came out of the blue," he said. "I went to see the doctor and was told I had a virus. When I continued to feel dizzy and ill, I went back and had a blood test.
"Before I knew it, I was in hospital and doctors were rushing round all over the place.
"I was told that my red and white blood cells were low and so were my platelets. The following day, I was told I had cancer."
Jordan was diagnosed with AML – acute myeloid leukaemia – a rare cancer in people under 40.
"The news didn't sink in at first," he remarked.
Jordan was told that he had abnormal cells inside his bone marrow. The cells grow quickly and replace healthy ones. Eventually, the bone marrow, which helps fight infections, stops working.
"I was told that the hospital would be my home for the next six months," he said. "It was then that I was encouraged to give a sample of sperm.
"After that, the chemo started. One day I was at college and, the next day, I was in hospital."
Since being with Ellie, Jordan said life had been is great. They have solid plans for the future.
"We're living with Ellie's mum and stepdad at the moment and that's great," said Jordan. "But when we get on our feet, we'd like our own place.
"I've got a job lined up in April and Ellie will go back to her waitress job in November.
"Once we've got some money coming in, we'd like to move out and get a house."
The pair are already engaged but say they plan to tie the knot when Lilly is older.
"We want her to be our bridesmaid," said Ellie.
Asked about the prospect of having more children, Jordan said: "We don't know if I'll be able to have any more naturally, but one day, I think we'd like another. It would be good for Lilly."
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![Derbyshire teenager Jordan Jasper beats cancer and 10,000/1 odds to become a dad]( "Derbyshire teenager Jordan Jasper beats cancer and 10,000/1 odds to become a dad")
