About Me: Female, 44, Prattville, AL, member since Nov 2007
Our first daughter, Kathryn, was an achievement of science and nature. We both had infertility issues that were preventing pregnancy. We worked for 5 years with our OB and RE to achieve a sustained pregnancy. She was conceived on our first attempt using Follistim inj
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[More]ectibles and an IUI in 2004.
Lauren, our second daughter, was a surprise. We had just visited our RE to set up our next course of action when we discovered we were pregnant. However, I had found a lump in my breast while breastfeeding of our first daughter earlier that year. Initially it was misdiagnosed as a lactating adenoma. At my routine follow-up, I had a biopsy that showed invasive breast cancer, very aggressive, stage III. I had a mastectomy when I was barely 8 weeks pregnant, began chemo (Adriamycin/Cytoxan) at 13 weeks.
My father passed away from advanced prostate cancer the January before Lauren was born. He had told mom that I needed her more than he did. I had told him that I would beat him if he didn't make it to see Lauren. I guess I'll have to hunt him down and beat him now. Somedays, though, I think I hear him laughing........
Lauren was born at 33 weeks 5 days gestation on March 20th of 2006 so that I could continue my chemo regimen. Our little premie was 5 pounds 10 ounces. Can you imagine if she had gone to full term?
I began my last 4 rounds of chemo (Abraxane) 10 days after her birth and completed on 6/6/2006. 42 treatments of radiation followed that summer of 2006 which was relatively easy. I finally had my tram reconstruction completed in the summer of 2007. That was pretty tough to get through, but everything came out beautifully. A tummy tuck and a boob job all in one sitting!
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