Katie Piper, 41, heartbreakingly reveals how emergency surgery forced her to give up desire to have a third child
The TV presenter, 41, is a mother to two daughters - Belle, 11, and Penelope, seven - and revealed she and her husband Richard Sutton tried for a third child.
She said spending a mother with jailed mums in New Orleans Parish Prison - while filming TV show Locked Up - made her want to try for a third baby, after hearing heartbreaking stories from prisoners who were missing their children.
She told The Mirror: 'It started to make me think, 'This is my last chance to have another baby, I'm going to be 40. And if I don't do it now, I never will.'
Shortly before her 40th birthday, Katie and Richard started trying to have another child before she had to undergo an emergency surgery on her eye.
Katie had to go under general anaesthetic for the operation on her left eye - which was damaged in a horrific acid attack in 2008, orchestrated by a man she briefly dated.
'I had to have a general anaesthetic and you can't be trying for a baby and also be having unexpected surgeries,' Katie explained.
'So that scuppered that and we had a break. We tried again, but it just didn't happen.'
Katie considered IVF, but after enduring over 250 operations since the 2008 acid attack, she couldn't face more hospital appointments or the emotional toll if it didn't work, so reluctantly gave up the dream of having a third child.
However, Katie still felt something was missing, so, Katie started volunteering at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, where she adopted an adorable puppy.
She began volunteering and dog walking while still trying for a baby, and the decision to get a dog came naturally.
She added that her friend Alison helped her to pick the right dog for her family – a female half cockapoo puppy called Sugar with a calm temperament.
Katie's life was changed forever when she was attacked with acid aged just 24 back in 2008 her ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch and accomplice Stefan Sylvestre in 2008.
Katie, who had been dating Daniel for just two weeks, was brutally raped by the steroid-fuelled martial arts expert in a hotel room when she tried to leave their relationship in March that year.
He then obsessively stalked her before ordering then 19-year-old Stefan to throw sulphuric acid on her face, leaving her with severe burns and in need of 400 operations.
Daniel received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years after being convicted of rape, GBH and ABH at Wood Green Crown Court in 2009.
His co-conspirator, Stefan, who threw the acid at Katie, admitted GBH and was given a life sentence with a minimum term of six years.
He was released in 2018 but was recalled to prison for breaching his licence conditions. Police have since said they believe he has fled the country.
Despite her traumatic experience, Katie regularly volunteers in women's prisons and believes in the power of rehabilitation.
Locked Up In Louisiana, her latest TV show, follows her meeting women imprisoned or awaiting trial for murder.
It follows her previous documentary, Jailhouse Mums, which explored motherhood behind bars.
Katie noted that gun violence and violence against women are rampant, with many women facing 'shoot or be shot' situations.
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