A young widow hopes to have her late husband’s child using his frozen sperm – and has kitted out a wardrobe of baby clothes already.

Isobel Barnes, 22, lost her husband Luke, 34, after he was diagnosed with heart muscle disease in 2019.

He died from multiple organ failure while waiting for a transplant in March 2023.

Bereaved Isobel sold their house and went travelling for two months to complete Luke’s bucket list - and competed a skydive and hot air balloon ride.

Now back in Nottingham and in a new home, Isobel hopes to have a "baby Barnes" – using Luke’s frozen sperm."

Isobel wants to start the IVF process in the next 12 months, when she feels ready, and has already started buying baby clothes – including matching football shirts for her future child and her late husband.

Isobel, an emergency medical dispatcher, said: "We always knew he was facing death so we could still continue our family."

"A lot of people are not that lucky."

"I’ve kitted the wardrobe out with kids' clothes, and I have one with the word daddy on it."

"It’s heart wrenching to see couples with pregnancy announcements or coming out of hospital with their babies."

"Knowing my child won’t have that. I won’t have that."

"I wonder if it’s selfish to bring a child not the world without that, but baby Barnes will have a dad."

"He’s just not here anymore but he’ll know about him."

Luke - who was an IT service desk manager - was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy four years ago following a test for a dislocated shoulder.

After routine six-monthly MRI scans, his health began to worsen, and he was put on the list for a heart transplant in March 2022.

But Luke's health continued to take a downward turn and he was kept in hospital permanently in November 2022 - while he waited for a heart.

He had a BiVAD (biventricular assist device) administered in December to help blood move through his heart.

He passed away peacefully after suffering a catastrophic haemorrhage and multiple organ failure due to excess bleeding from a BiVAD failure on the March 17, 2023.

Knowing how much Luke loved exploring, Isobel decided to take the plunge after he died, and solo travelled around Australia and Bali for two months.

She spent their one-year wedding anniversary on a beach in Bali looking at the stars in June 2023 – as well as doing a skydive and an air balloon on her trip.

She said: "It was very bittersweet."

"I stayed in the bubble hotel on our anniversary and looked at the stars. That was special."

Isobel arrived back in the UK in July 2023 and has moved into her new home in Nottingham.

She said: "Since I’ve been back, I have really struggled."

"The reality sinks in. I have to recreate my own life."

"Everything reminds me of him."

Although she doesn’t feel she is the right place to have a baby right away Isobel "can’t wait" to have one when she is ready."

Isobel said: "I can’t wait to bring a little Barnes into the world."

"I’ve got to listen to my body."

"I want to start the process of IVF when I’m ready."

Despite not being ready to start the process yet, Isobel has already started buying children’s clothes and said her family refer to the future baby.

She said: "Everyone talks about baby Barnes even though he’s not here yet."

"It’s so taboo - the conception of a child after death."

"It’s amazing. Such a precious gift."

Isobel hopes sharing her story will change the talk around grief and organ donations.

She said: "Of course the only thing I want to do for the rest of my life is make my husband proud."

"But through sharing his story on social media so many people have said they are now donating their blood or planning to donate their organs one day."