Breast cancer survivor feared she may not ever have a child after chemo - however now she's a proud mum - WalesOnline

A breast cancer survivor who became warned that chemotherapy may stop her from having a baby has turn into proud mum to a "miracle" daughter.

Leanne Hugglestone was 32 when she become diagnosed in may additionally 2012 and realised she desperately wanted a household when she become warned concerning the impact of definite treatments on fertility.

"i believed it will on no account happen – she really is a miracle child," pointed out Leanne, a civil servant from Heath in Cardiff.

Thea Cerys Hope changed into born weighing 5Ib 8oz at the university medical institution of Wales on October 28 at 12.22am – all over Breast cancer attention Month.

'i assumed it would in no way happen'

however Leanne admitted there have been instances when she feared she may also in no way be in a position to have toddlers.

When she received her prognosis, Leanne turned into warned treatments like chemotherapy might affect her skill to turn into pregnant and decided to have her eggs frozen.

She went to an IVF clinic following her lumpectomy in might also 2012, where fertility consultants managed to keep three of her eggs.

Leanne began chemotherapy a month later before taking half in a radiotherapy trial and starting a route of tamoxifen in January 2013.

Leanne during her medicine

She also had a preventative double mastectomy, which she agreed to have filmed for a tv documentary referred to as Mastectomy And Me.

"I come from a huge family unit and i'm used to having kids round," she explained. "once they informed me I could no longer be capable of have babies, I realised I did want a baby."

Leanne, who's single, went via two rounds of IVF at the Wales Fertility Institute ultimate year using her frozen eggs and sperm donation from america, but they have been unsuccessful.

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"After two attempts failed, i thought that became the end," she recalled.

Leanne then had IUI remedy in February, after being given fertility drugs to boost her chances of conceiving.

discovered she become pregnant on her birthday

She went for a comply with-up appointment on February 16 – her thirty sixth birthday – and changed into informed she turned into pregnant.

"i used to be in total shock when I found," she recalled. "i was overwhelmed, bowled over and excited, but in utter disbelief that it had labored."

She saw her child for the first time on the six-week scan.

Leanne's first scan

"I couldn't accept as true with it," she stated. "I could see this tiny aspect, no greater than a kidney bean, with a heartbeat.

"i wished the treatment to work so badly, I hardly ever dared to let myself trust it. All I might believe turned into: 'It's failed before, how has it happened now?'"

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Leanne had morning disease except 20 weeks and cravings for strawberry milkshake and breaded onion rings.

She discovered on the 20-week scan she turned into expecting a woman.

Proud grandparents

"i used to be keen to find out, as i needed to be organized," she spoke of. "Doing it on my own, I knew i wanted to be organised and equipped."

Leanne couldn't wait to share the information along with her family unit – mum Ann, dad David, sister Mel, and twin brothers Neil and Andrew.

"My parents had one grandson, so it become attractive to let them understand they'd be having a granddaughter," she pointed out.

Thea became born 5 days late and Leanne spoke of the labour become "awful".

Thea Cerys Hope changed into on the university clinic of Wales on October 28 (picture: Peter Bolter)

Her contractions begun on the Monday and she or he changed into triggered on the Wednesday, earlier than spending Thursday on the consultancy ward "in ache".

She became transferred to the labour suite on the Thursday night, together with her sister Mel and pal Angelica "working shifts" so she all the time had somebody together with her.

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"After a couple of hours, the baby turned into in distress and that they misplaced her heartbeat a few instances," she stated.

"That's once they hit the emergency button and i changed into rushed to the theatre."

Thea turned into born through C-section and Leanne's mum Ann became allowed into the theatre to be along with her daughter.

'a unique moment'

Leanne referred to: "Mam held her first and it changed into a distinct second to listen to that first cry and spot her face for the first time."

The proud new mum chose names Thea, that means mild, Cerys, meaning love, and Hope.

She noted: "Love, mild, hope – three issues to maintain me fantastic and reveal how an awful lot she potential."

Thea's names suggest love, gentle and hope (image: Peter Bolter)

Leanne observed it changed into "surreal" to take her daughter home for the primary time.

"After two years of making an attempt, I didn't enable myself to get excited," she mentioned. "Yet right here i'm, at home with a bit human. It's brilliant – I still pinch myself that she's here.

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"every person is in love along with her. I've had to install a timetable for company, as she had so many neatly wishers!

"My folks are over the moon to have their first granddaughter and my sister and brothers are super happy."

She introduced: "I'm single, but I'm lucky to have a great community of family unit and chums.

'don't hand over hope'

"I knew my existence wasn't going to be a fairytale and i became under no circumstances going to attend round for Prince Charming.

"It's all about weighing up what you desire from life. Going via a cancer prognosis does give you a sense of viewpoint and i realised I in reality did want children."

Leanne was able to state preferences on the sperm donor kind – dark hair, fair dermis, green eyes – and noted americans have commented that Thea appears similar to her.

Leanne's message is 'do not surrender' (photograph: Peter Bolter)

She nevertheless has every year breast melanoma verify-americaat the Llandough Breast hospital and Velindre.

Leanne hopes her experiences will give hope to different cancer sufferers.

She introduced: "if you move through breast cancer at a young age, that doesn't mean you have to give up hope of having youngsters.

"The probability is there for fertility remedy, even with even if you're a straight couple, a gay couple, or single like me. It's an extended and emotional manner, but don't hand over."