Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Premature Baby Born In Lockdown Helps Dad Adorably Propose To His Partner Of Eight Years

Premature Baby Born In Lockdown Helps Dad Adorably Propose To His Partner Of Eight Years
John Sellors put an engagement ring and a note inside his newborn son's incubator (Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust/PA)

A mother who gave birth prematurely during lockdown has celebrated getting engaged after her newborn son helped her partner propose.

John Sellors, 29, put an engagement ring and a note inside his son Cobie's incubator two days after he was born.


Sian Stafford, Mr. Sellors' partner, said she “didn't even notice the note or the ring at first," describing the proposal as a “surreal but happy moment."

Miss Stafford gave birth to Cobie 10 weeks early – weighing just 3lb 9oz – at King's Mill Hospital in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England.

The note from Mr. Sellors asked Miss Stafford if “mummy would marry daddy."

Mr. Sellors, who has been with his fiancée for eight years, said:

“I'm not usually the romantic type, but I really wanted to do something to lift Sian's spirits and she had been dropping hints for a while about wanting to get married."
“The nurses were great and really helped make it a special proposal to remember."
“They just told me to take Sian for a coffee and that they would sort it out for when we got back."
“When we got back the message and ring were there and it was such a lovely moment, I can't thank them enough."

Miss Stafford, 26, added:

“I was so shocked, I really didn't expect it and I was really overwhelmed."
“When we got back on to the unit, the nurses told me that Cobie had been taken off his CPAP breathing machine and so I needed to go and look, as I would be able to see his face more."
“I was concentrating so much on Cobie that I didn't even notice the note and the ring at first."
“But then John said, 'look, I think Cobie wants to know something!' Then I read the note and it was such a surreal but happy moment."

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said Cobie is still on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, but is doing well and continues to improve.

The couple hope to bring him home in the next few weeks.

Talking about the birth and her time in the hospital, Miss Stafford, from Pinxton, Derbyshire, said:

“It's been a bit of a whirlwind as Cobie arrived so early, we had to call an ambulance and I didn't really believe I was in labor until I was on the birthing unit with John and they were saying I was going to have Cobie that day."
“The midwives, nurses and all the staff have been amazing and so supportive. It's really difficult at the moment, as I feel that I'm having to split myself in two to see my daughter Ruby, whilst also seeing Cobie on the unit, as she can't come in to see him due to the [lockdown] restrictions, but it will all be worth it in the end."

Lynsey Lord, deputy sister on the neonatal ward, who helped to plan the surprise proposal, said:

“It was such a special moment to be part of."
“It's not often we get the chance to be involved in a proposal on the unit and this was certainly a first for me, but it was so lovely to see the family all so happy, especially during what has been such a difficult time for everyone."
“It was so nice to help celebrate such happy news."

Asked if they had made any wedding plans, Miss Stafford said:

“We are currently concentrating on getting Cobie home, but yes we will hopefully start planning once things have settled down for us."

More from News

Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump; Barack Obama
Suzanne Plunkett-Pool/Getty Images; Scott Olson/Getty Images

Resurfaced Trump Tweet Criticizing Obama Over Iran Comes Back To Bite Him

Amid tensions with Iran, President Donald Trump was criticized for hypocrisy after social media users resurfaced a 2013 tweet in which he accused former President Barack Obama of planning an attack on Iran because of his "inability to negotiate properly."

Trump has declined to clarify whether the U.S. is edging closer to launching strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, following a warning from Iran’s supreme leader against any attack and a rejection of Trump’s demand for surrender.

Keep ReadingShow less