This Morning viewers have praised Lisa Faulker, after she appeared on the show to discuss her devastating fertility battle.
While married to first husband Chris Coghill, she embarked on a journey towards motherhood – never thinking it would lead to multiple rounds of IVF and being told she’d never conceive.
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But, she now reveals, she has no regrets because it led to her adopting her daughter Billie.
When the EastEnders actress, now 47, discovered she wouldn’t be able to have biological children, she says her entire expectations for life were derailed.
But she found another way to build a family, and went on to adopt 12 years ago.
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on the ITV morning show, Lisa spoke openly about her difficult journey to motherhood which she has written about in her new book, Meant To Be.
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Lisa explained: “I wanted to write a book that gave that little bit of hope… Infertility is a really hard one.
“Just when people start trying to have babies and it doesn’t quite go to plan… It goes from ‘oh, we’re just going to try and see what happens’ to ‘okay, rigid trying’ and then that doesn’t work and IVF and everything else didn’t work.
“I just wanted to be a hand to hold for those people… There is positivity and there are other ways to have a family.”
On eventually having an ectopic pregnancy, Lisa revealed: “We were trying and I was so excited and to have that pregnancy stick that said ‘yes’. I still have it actually, which is really funny.”
Lisa continued: “And it ended up that I had an ectopic and I didn’t understand what was happening to me. I was filming and I literally passed out and had to tell people as I was rushed to hospital.
“And when I got there everyone kept saying it was an ectopic pregnancy and because it still had pregnancy in the title I thought that I was still pregnant.
“I thought that maybe they could move it as they had said it was growing in the wrong place.
“I had no idea that it wasn’t viable… And it all sort of spiralled from there. But that moment of feeling that I was pregnant and it was amazing was just shattering.”
On her IVF journey, Lisa revealed: “I think it was really difficult and I think that anyone going through IVF will understand that moment where you build up all your hopes and put your trust into your doctor and it’s a bit like you can be carried along on a sea of medication and everything for a while.”
She continued: “Then it doesn’t work and everyone else in my round got pregnant. And the feeling of failure was just crippling and I did feel like a failure for a very long time.”
After being told she was unable to get pregnant, Lisa and her then-husband began the process of adoption which took years, but they eventually adopted Billie.
Although Lisa and Chris split up, partly due to the painful process, she insists they remain great friends and share custody of their daughter.
Lisa told Phil and Holly she was “glad” her IVF didn’t work because it means she got to adopt Billie, which she “wouldn’t change for the world”.
Fans watching from home praised Lisa for her honest testimony, with one saying: “Lisa Faulkner speaking eloquently and emotionally on This Morning. Really brilliant.”
Another said: “Wow, Lisa Faulkner. Putting everything into perspective. Too much to deal with this morning – what an inspiration.”
A third added: “Serious mascara warning! What a wonderful interview with @lisafaulkner1 – inspiring, amazing, giving hope to many.”
“What a great interview with Lisa,” said another. “I sobbed all the way through. Been there, got my little boy, feel blessed every single day. #lovetoallonivfjourney.”
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