EXCLUSIVE: My Kitchen Rules star Pete reveals triple tragedy

There is a special reason why it is popular My cooking rules Contestant Pete is eager to take down this year’s contest.

If he and teammate Mike win, Pete plans to donate 25 percent of his share of the prize money to Perth’s King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women. The hospital and its dedicated staff have helped Pete through some of his darkest moments, namely when it comes to his quest to become a father.

In a candid conversation with New IdeaPete, 49, shares that starting a family is something he and husband Chris, 40, have always wanted.

However, her first attempt at fostering a child through adoption was unsuccessful. Pete explains that trying to make it in Australia as a same-sex couple makes it “harder”.

“I don’t like to use the word impossible, but it is very close to impossible”, he tells us.

After trying to take in a needy boy (which again didn’t work out in their favor), Pete and Chris had almost given up hope of ever becoming parents. Then they met Katy and Rae, a lesbian couple who were eager to help them.

“It was nothing short of a miracle. They had wanted to help someone (have a baby) for a number of years, but had never found someone to match,” explains Pete. “(Everything) seemed very serendipitous, like fate.”

Using Pete’s sperm and Katy’s eggs, it wasn’t long before they were pregnant with a boy, whom they decided to name Leo. However, at 14 weeks, tragedy struck.

“We lost him. I still remember exactly where I was, walking home when I got the call. It’s probably the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had,” says Pete, taking a deep breath.

Despite the heartbreak, they were all determined to try again. It took time, but unfortunately the second pregnancy did not go according to plan and ended in a non-viable birth.

“He was born alive… We have to take Malachi and say goodbye,” says Pete.

Fingers crossed that it would be third time lucky, both couples became pregnant again the following year. This time they had a daughter on the way, Francesca, but sadly lost her in a traumatic birth.

Pete says the King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women played a big role in helping him and Chris overcome their grief.

“I think it’s really important that people realize how common (losing a child) is. It’s okay to talk about it, to be sad and cry about it,” says Pete.

He says that when you’re experiencing grief that you’ve never experienced before, you have to work to understand it, and not deal with it on your own.

“Grief changes over time,” she says. “It doesn’t necessarily disappear, it just changes shape, for lack of a better word,” he says.

Pete and Chris still light a candle for Leo, Malachi and Francesca every night.

“I have an irrational fear of forgetting their names, which I’m sure would never happen. But just having that moment to light the candle reminds you of them, allows you to say hello or good night,” he says.

Pete says his marriage to Chris is stronger because of what they’ve been through, and they’re open to another shot at starting their family through foster care.

He adds: “I think in a perfect world, we would be parents to one or two young children.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by any of the issues in this article, help is always available. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14