Natalie and Zafar Rushdie have revealed they are expecting their second child.
Admitting their baby news ‘feels like a new chapter’, the couple announced they are expecting a little girl next April, who will baby sister to their three-year-old daughter Rose.
Speaking to HELLO! magazine about the big news, Natalie, 37, confessed: ‘It’s nice to have a positive lovely thing to look forward to. The whole family have experienced turmoil over the last couple of years.’
It’s certainly been a tough few years for the family, with Natalie spending 12 days in hospital ‘fighting for her life’ with Covid in 2021, while her father-in-law Sir Salman also faced a near-death experience the following year.
The award-winning author, 76, was stabbed as many as ten times on stage as he prepared to give a lecture in New York last August, and lost an eye and the use of one hand.
Baby joy: Natalie and Zafar Rushdie have revealed they are expecting their second child and will welcome their second daughter next April
The British-American novelist had to be put on a ventilator in hospital for six weeks following the frenzied attack.
The suspect, Hadi Matar, has been charged with attempted murder. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.
Sir Salman was understandably so shaken by the incident that he admitted he is unsure if he will ever appear at a public event again.
Yet his son Zafar has revealed the news of becoming a grandfather again has helped lift his spirits.
The PR executive, 44, mused: ‘The whole family is really excited to welcome another baby.’
Natalie added: ‘[Salman] was so shocked when we told him. He said: “this is wonderful news.”‘
Sir Salman was one of the first family members to meet their daughter Rose after travelling to the UK from his home in New York in full PPE for 12 hours with two weeks of self-isolation in the UK.
Speaking in a sweet interview, Natalie joked that her father-in-law is like the ‘baby whisperer’.
Shocking: Natalie shared her excitement at having ‘positive’ things to look forward to – a year after father-in-law Salman Rushdie was nearly killed in a knife attack (pictured Nov. 14)
When Rose turned eight months old, tragedy struck as Natalie fell seriously ill with Covid.
The jazz singer spent 12 days in hospital ‘fighting for her life’ before her tearful reunion with her baby daughter.
In an emotional video shared to her Instagram account Natalie said she has a ‘long struggle’ ahead explaining that her lungs need to heal and that her liver has been damaged.
‘I have dreamed of this moment to see and hold my baby.’
Issuing an update alongside the heartbreaking video, Natalie penned: ‘Going home [heart emojis]. Finally after 12 days in hospital I have been released. I have dreamed of this moment to see and hold my baby.
‘It is time to recover at home, I have a long struggle ahead of me building my strength, my lungs need to heal, my liver has been damaged, my body is covered in bruises I am now immune compromised and I have to rebuild my confidence.
‘I am grateful to the NHS who were truly amazing who gave me the support I needed to fight this terrible disease.’
Signing off her post, Natalie wrote: ‘Thank you to everyone who has sent me a message I have truly been touched and reading them has given me strength during some very dark hours.
‘I hope in time when I gain my strength I can thank you all individually. Be safe.’
Adorable: The couple’s second child will be a little sibling for their adorable three-year-old daughter Rose
