As mothers, all we want is for our kids to be happy and healthy, right? And I think it's safe to say that we'd do pretty much anything in the world to ensure their well being and safety, even if it means putting ourselves in harm's way.
A woman in the U.K. named Sarah Brook was put to the ultimate test when she had to choose between possibly saving her own life or saving the life of her unborn baby. When she was six months pregnant with her daughter, she got the devastating news that she was battling bowel cancer. She'd been suffering from back aches and morning sickness, which are two symptoms that can typically be attributed to pregnancy -- and she was no doubt shocked when she learned that she actually had a life threatening disease.
Sarah was faced with a gut wrenching dilemma when she had to choose whether to start chemotherapy and risk the life of her baby, or to delay treatment altogether in the hopes that her child might live.
Ultimately, she decided that the life of her baby was more important than her own, so she put off chemo and wound up delivering her baby girl, Polly Jean, premature at 27 weeks.
The baby is now 4 weeks old, and her condition is improving -- and odds are good that she will go on to lead a full and happy life. But sadly, 32-year-old Sarah is nearing the end of her fight. The cancer has spread to her lungs, pancreas, neck, and intestines. And this is a battle she knows she isn't going to win. Doesn't that make you want to break down and cry? This is seriously one of the most heartbreaking and unfair things I've ever heard of a mother having to go through.
Holding her tiny baby in her arms and knowing that she won't live to see her grow up is beyond devastating. But at the same time, I can't help but feel inspired by her selflessness and her incredible love and devotion for her child. I mean, the thought must have crossed her mind more than once that delaying her treatment may cost her the ultimate price, but she still chose to put the health of her child above her own survival. If that doesn't speak volumes about the level of unconditional love in her heart, then I don't know what does.
Knowing her time with her baby girl is running out, I'm sure she's savoring every single second she has to cuddle her, smell her tiny, perfect little head, and tell her how much she loves her. This little girl may not remember her mother growing up, but hearing the story of the incredible sacrifice she made will remind her of just how much she loved and cherished her -- even before she was born.
I only hope that Sarah can find some peace in the fact that she saved her baby's life, and that her legacy will live on in her daughter forever.
What would you do if you were faced with a decision like Sarah's?
Image via Family O'Abé/Flickr
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Comments 62
How selflless and brave of Sarah. this is a very sad story. I don't think many people would have done what she did. I hope her child grows up knowing how much her Mom loved her. There was a teenaged girl who made this same choice. The teen's name was Jenni Lake. Here is a link to her story
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2079137/Jenni-Lake-17-dies-days-delivering-baby-saved-foregoing-chemotherapy.html
When I was expecting my first child (my sweet son Daniel), my husband actually had this conversation-- if there was ever a question of whether to save my life or the life of my child. We both have agreed without question that it was the life of my child that would ALWAYS trump my own life! In fact, we thought that was almost a decision we would have to make as I had a very traumatic and dangerous deliver of my DS. However, the Lord was gracious and we both are super! :) We need more mothers like this Sarah!!!
What a women!. I was in tears reading this. So sad and inspiring. I would also choose the life of my children over my own hands down. I would not choose the life of my fetus ove mine own though. My other babies need me and until a certain gestational age I don't see it as a baby, personally, and would not die for it. But other people are free to choose according to their beliefs and I applaud this women for following her heart.
I wish this women and her child all the hapiness their life can bring for how ever long it lasts.
I think the choice would be much harder if you already had other kids like Darlene mentioned above but if it was my only child my husband and I would have to decide together as ultimately I would be leaving him as a single dad right from the start.
My husband and I have heard of stories like this. We both agreed that it's best for me to live. Of course it's not an easy decision to make, but we figure we would hope that the treatment would work and later we might be able to try getting pregnant again. We already have a 5 year old son, and he needs his mama.