David Brooks cried tears of joy after he was told that he should become a father – something that the Wales feared would not happen after his diagnosis of cancer in 2021.
The wife of the Bournemouth wing player Flora revealed last weekend that she is pregnant, with the couple expecting their first baby in November.
It is the news of which the couple thought it would never come. Almost four years ago, Brooks was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma, and although he announced that he was cancer-free in May 2022, the long-term effects of the disease in terms of the father of children were unclear.
So it was with the highest joy that Flora shared a video on Instagram on Sunday with a sonogram of the upcoming arrival of the couple next to a Bournemouth shirt with 'Daddy' printed on the back.
“It is clear that when I was diagnosed, you have those conversations and there were never guarantees that I could have children in the future,” said Brooks, who has joined Wales team for their world cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Belgium.
“There was a chance that it would not have been possible and I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment it went normal again, so of course I was really happy.
“So we tried it wasn't a huge shock, but there were a few tears.
'We always wanted children at some point, but the situation took a bit out of the hands.
'So it is clear that everything comes naturally and continues a family.
“We are really looking forward to it, even though she is going to be pregnant because of everything that goes.”
Brooks was the Wales -hero in their last world cup qualification against North Macedonia in March.
His equalizer in the sixth minute of the stopping time provided a costly 1-1 draw, making it four points of the first two qualifications and Craig Bellamy's undefeated start as Dragon's manager extended to eight games.
“I think it's a bit of fear in who we play,” said Brooks.
'They know we will not give up, even if it is the 96th minute. It is a very positive.
'If the feeling was like a big goal in North Macedonia and it makes the table a lot better for us. I feel that we are on a good journey. '
Brooks says that he is now in the 'Old Box' at the age of 27, where the team of Wales has changed so much in recent years.
Gareth Bale and Joe Allen have been retired and captain Aaron Ramsey, the third striking member of the team that reached the semi -final of Euro 2016, is recovering from another injury.
Brooks said: 'This is probably the first campaign we had without them.
'There is a lot of young talent and many boys, including myself, who have waited for a chance to show ourselves.
“We all see as a collective to try to move forward, instead of being about the special person.”