Steph Houghton, a former England Lioness, announced on Saturday that she is pregnant with her first child. The 38-year-old shared the news on Instagram, posting an ultrasound image with the caption, "Half of You. Half of Me. Our family will soon be three." This announcement comes as she and her husband, Stephen Darby, navigate his battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

Darby, a former professional footballer, was forced to retire in September 2018 after his diagnosis with the rare condition. Houghton, who played for Manchester City, retired from the sport in 2024 to dedicate more time to caring for her husband. The couple had been married for just three months when Darby received his diagnosis, and he has now been living with the debilitating disease for nearly seven years.

Houghton has previously spoken about their hopes of starting a family. In an interview last year, she told ITV News, "It was always a dream of ours to be parents one day and that's still possible. It's something that we'll always continue to speak about." She expressed her admiration for her husband's strength, stating, "I love him to absolute bits, I know he's as strong as ever. He's willing to fight this for as long as possible."

The Impact of MND

Houghton has described the profound impact of MND on their lives, noting the difficulty of witnessing her husband struggle with everyday tasks. "How do you ever describe the changes that we've had as a family? It's so hard to see your husband who had so much promise in his football career," she said. "To see that being taken away from him, but also the simple tasks that we take for granted - being able to walk, being able to have food, being able to get up the stairs."

Darby was diagnosed after experiencing weakness in his hand and twitches in his arm. Following 18 months of testing, he received his MND diagnosis. In November, he was fitted with a feeding tube to ensure he received adequate nutrition. Houghton explained the necessity of this step, telling The Guardian, "We need Stephen to keep weight on and to eat. It hasn't been a great few months because these decisions are life-changing and it takes a lot of time to get used to. But ultimately it's the best thing for him. It allows him to relax a bit more."

Darby has been open about the challenges of living with MND, sharing in December 2023 that the disease makes him prone to falls for which he can no longer break. "As your body, arms and legs become weaker you are more susceptible to trips and falls. When you fall or trip you can't use your arms to break your fall," he wrote on Instagram. He added that such falls are difficult physically and emotionally for the family members who assist him.

Despite the hardships, Darby has focused on adapting and overcoming obstacles with his family's support. Houghton also emphasized the importance of discussing the realities of MND and expressed a sense of injustice over her husband's career being cut short. "But the more you dwell on it, the more that it harms you," she added. "So I've learnt how important it is to be positive."

Raising Awareness and Support

Houghton and Darby married in June 2018. Houghton has admitted that she had never heard of MND before her husband's diagnosis and initially felt upset and angry. Darby has actively worked to raise awareness since his diagnosis, participating in fundraising efforts, including a 178-mile charity march that raised £130,000 for MND research. He also encouraged Houghton to continue her football career before her retirement.

Currently, Houghton serves as an ambassador for Manchester City, has begun coaching, and works as a pundit and podcast host. She has acknowledged feeling guilt when her work requires her to be away from Darby but credits their strong support network of family and friends for helping them navigate this period. "Our families have been absolutely unreal as we've got such a good support network. It allows me to do what I need to do and for Stephen to have the best possible care," she said.

Motor neurone disease is a progressive condition that affects the brain and nervous system, leading to increasing weakness in the limbs, speech difficulties, and weight loss. According to the NHS, there is currently no cure for MND, although treatments are available to help manage its impact on daily life. The illness affects approximately 5,000 adults in the UK at any given time.