a simple guest post :: a young mother’s cancer journey

A Young Mother’s Cancer Journey

The day that I became a mom was one of the happiest days of my life. I gave birth to my sweet girl Lily on August 4, 2005, when I was 36 years old. My husband and I could not believe how much love we immediately felt for our precious daughter. We woke up each day excited to see and care for her.

We never could have guessed how quickly our joy would turn to fear. I went back to work when Lily was just four weeks old. Since I was a new mom, I expected to be tired, but I was experiencing extreme fatigue and weight loss at about 5 to 7 pounds per week. I underwent several tests to discover the root of the problem, but it was more serious than I could have ever imagined.

Lily was just three and a half months old when I received the diagnosis that I had malignant pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. I was shocked to find out this information, and I discovered that I had been exposed to asbestos when I was a child without ever knowing it. My doctor grimly told me that I only had a life expectancy of around 15 months unless I received treatment.

My husband and I immediately knew that we wanted to do everything possible to fight mesothelioma. This meant taking drastic steps. One of the hardest decisions I had to make was sending Lily to live with my parents in my childhood home in South Dakota while I was treated at a hospital in Boston. I hated saying goodbye to my baby, but there was no way we could care for her adequately when I was hospitalized.

While I was in Boston, my surgeon performed an extrapleural pneumonectomy. This surgery removed my cancerous lung, half of my diaphragm and a good amount of surrounding tissue. After 2 months of recovery I began radiation and chemotherapy.

I cannot even explain how difficult it was to be away from my daughter while she was growing and changing every day. However, I am so grateful for my parents and other family members who cared so lovingly for Lily.

Life is not always easy, but I believe that we should try to find the positive aspects in any situation. Cancer has given me a new perspective on life. I realize that nothing is more important than the time that I spend with my family.

connect with Heather ::
Follow her blog