Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A decade after losing her husband, Laura Orrico found a way to keep his legacy alive. After the actress met her future husband in 1999, the two built a life together filled with creativity and dreams of starting a family. But everything changed when Ryan, a graphic designer for television and films, began suffering severe migraines that led to a devastating diagnosis: a brain tumor. Determined to preserve their future, Ryan froze his sperm before undergoing treatment. What followed were years of hope and heartbreak. Laura and Ryan pursued multiple rounds of fertility treatment, along with one natural pregnancy. Despite their efforts, every attempt ended in loss, and Laura endured four miscarriages. As his condition worsened, the tumor eventually became resistant to treatment. He died in 2015 at just 39.
At 48, Laura made a life-changing decision, sharing, “I was definitely running out of time." She chose to try one final round of IVF using Ryan’s frozen sperm. “This wasn’t a quick or light decision,” she says. With the support of Ryan’s family, she moved forward, calling it “my last shot… definitely my miracle baby.” In this emotional interview, Laura opens up about what it’s like to become a single mom at 49. “I’ve learned I’m stronger than I gave myself credit for,” she says. And despite her fears of doing it alone, she adds, “I actually don’t feel alone.”
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A decade after losing her husband, Laura Orrico found a way to keep his legacy alive. After the actress met her future husband in 1999, the two built a life together filled with creativity and dreams of starting a family. But everything changed when Ryan, a graphic designer for television and films, began suffering severe migraines that led to a devastating diagnosis: a brain tumor. Determined to preserve their future, Ryan froze his sperm before undergoing treatment. What followed were years of hope and heartbreak. Laura and Ryan pursued multiple rounds of fertility treatment, along with one natural pregnancy. Despite their efforts, every attempt ended in loss, and Laura endured four miscarriages. As his condition worsened, the tumor eventually became resistant to treatment. He died in 2015 at just 39.
At 48, Laura made a life-changing decision, sharing, “I was definitely running out of time." She chose to try one final round of IVF using Ryan’s frozen sperm. “This wasn’t a quick or light decision,” she says. With the support of Ryan’s family, she moved forward, calling it “my last shot… definitely my miracle baby.” In this emotional interview, Laura opens up about what it’s like to become a single mom at 49. “I’ve learned I’m stronger than I gave myself credit for,” she says. And despite her fears of doing it alone, she adds, “I actually don’t feel alone.”
Subscribe to People ►► bit.ly/SubscribetoPeople
*CONNECT*
Web: 💻 people.com
Facebook: facebook.com/peoplemag
Instagram: instagram.com/people
TikTok: tiktok.com/@people
PEOPLE App: 📱 bit.ly/3H0bthA
*PEOPLE* remains the trusted authority at the center of pop culture. The PEOPLE brand features a unique mix of breaking entertainment news, exclusive photos, video, unparalleled access to the red carpet, celebrities, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling newsmakers of our time.
youtube.com/user/people
