For some reason this really touched me

[Edbear]

What an incredibly brave woman!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/maori/news/article.cfm?c_id=252&objectid=10659513

[mashman]

That is truely sad and touch wood that never befalls my family...

On a related note, a friend of mine was given the Big C all clear today...

[dogsnbikes]

Hats off:yes:.......she has given the ulimate gift of life

[Edbear]

I agree with both of you. Never take your family or life for granted. What a horrible decision to have to make. I feel humbled to read her story.

[2wheeldrifter]

Doesn't make you appreciate just how lucky we are at times....

[Paul in NZ]

Shit - that just makes me feel like a big fat coward for all my snivling of late... Must try harder...

It would be nice to think the Govt would dish out some help to brave folks but - well - they don't. Inspirational...

[imdying]

Had to, she was on a promise.

[Insanity_rules]

Was going to come in and make a rude comment about someone touching me and then I read the article. Feel like a complete asshat now. Reading that was very humbling.

[spacemonkey]

Shit that's a big call to make.
My condolences to her whanau, I think we lost someone special. :(

[Milts]

Not intending to troll, but am I the only one reading this thinking that she's either incredibly arrogant or denying reality? The assertion that she was confident she could beat the cancer and have the kid ('I'm going to beat this anyway, I'll show them') to me shows a lack of connection to reality.

To me, her choice makes no sense from either a biological, logical or even emotional viewpoint. She has now left her family to care for her two children without her. Imagine the suffering she has inflicted on her older child by making the decision that she did, let alone her partner and extended family. What a selfish choice to make.

[willytheekid]

Not intending to troll, but am I the only one reading this thinking that she's either incredibly arrogant or denying reality? The assertion that she was confident she could beat the cancer and have the kid ('I'm going to beat this anyway, I'll show them') to me shows a lack of connection to reality.

To me, her choice makes no sense from either a biological, logical or even emotional viewpoint. She has now left her family to care for her two children without her. Imagine the suffering she has inflicted on her older child by making the decision that she did, let alone her partner and extended family. What a selfish choice to make.

YES! your the only one!

As a new father (baby boy named Ryder) and an EX cancer victim (had cancer of the spine...and fought for my life for over a year to beat it) I take my hat off to this woman and the difficult choice she had to make.

Cancer is pure EVIL! to beat it once...is truly a miracle, to beat it twice...is sadley nearly impossible!
it dosn't just kill you physicaly...it crushes you mentally, physicaly and emotionaly... and the treatment is pure hell.
I had to watch a beautiful 16yr old girl go through kemo the same time as I was under going treatment..... watched that poor kid fight like hell to beat the cancer for nearly six months!, we even had our "treatment" times changed so we could meet up and keep each other going.....then one day only her parents where there to greet me. (they came to the hospital just to tell me) -there Kid had lost the fight.
I try my best not to post negative shit on here....but this post hurt...ALOT!
>'I'm going to beat this anyway, I'll show them'<....is the mind set required to beat cancer! because with out hope and the greatest mental effort of your life...the cancer WILL win!
The woman in question made the hardest life choice possible, and as far as I see it...the right one!
Your post to me shows a lack of understanding to the reality and heart break that is cancer.

[Milts]

For sure fighting cancer takes a lot of guts and a strong mind. But it seems irresponsible to introduce a new child into that world while increasing the risk of your other child losing their mother, your partner suddenly becomming a widdower, and given her occupation probably a main source of income to the household being cut off as well.

[Winston001]

Not intending to troll, but am I the only one reading this thinking that she's either incredibly arrogant or denying reality? The assertion that she was confident she could beat the cancer and have the kid ('I'm going to beat this anyway, I'll show them') to me shows a lack of connection to reality.

To me, her choice makes no sense from either a biological, logical or even emotional viewpoint. She has now left her family to care for her two children without her. Imagine the suffering she has inflicted on her older child by making the decision that she did, let alone her partner and extended family. What a selfish choice to make.

You are entitled to your view but I disagree.

Breast cancer is a particularly virulent cancer in young women. The survival odds at 5 years is 50% - it's deadly.

If this lady had chosen radiation and chemo she'd have lost the baby and likely still died, particularly as this was a resurgent cancer. Instead she traded her life for that of her baby - and I admire her for that.

Her determination to "beat this thing" is a vital part of treatment. The mental element of positive thinking makes a huge difference for a sick person and those close to her. And miracles do happen. There is a high chance you know at least one person who's cancer went into spontaneous remission. People do survive.

[willytheekid]

For sure fighting cancer takes a lot of guts and a strong mind. But it seems irresponsible to introduce a new child into that world while increasing the risk of your other child losing their mother, your partner suddenly becomming a widdower, and given her occupation probably a main source of income to the household being cut off as well.

Good points, I understand what you mean..but the facts are clear, she was diagnosed for a second time with cancer, not many people survive the first round! and the stats for surviving a second round...are not good at all!
So she could have terminated the baby and crossed her fingers for ANOTHER miracle, or she could ensure the survival of the at least ONE of them by focusing on the kids life instead of her own.
Im sure her family, friends and doctors played a big part in the decision as well.
Take it from a survivor.....just beating it the first time takes EVERYTHING from you....and you would not want to face it again...its the brigde to far effect....I couldn't do it again...never again!
But I do understand where your coming from :)

[jack_hamma]

Not intending to troll, but am I the only one reading this thinking that she's either incredibly arrogant or denying reality? The assertion that she was confident she could beat the cancer and have the kid ('I'm going to beat this anyway, I'll show them') to me shows a lack of connection to reality.

To me, her choice makes no sense from either a biological, logical or even emotional viewpoint. She has now left her family to care for her two children without her. Imagine the suffering she has inflicted on her older child by making the decision that she did, let alone her partner and extended family. What a selfish choice to make.

Wow..... guess if you got told you had cancer you would just curl up like a wet weak and say ok I'm fucked, you must give up on things real easy you pussy.
Sounds like your saying "kill the baby" it has no say or rights... beat you are all for abortions.

What a calass prick

[scissorhands]

Emotions are great but intellect can be damn good too.

beat=bet callass=callous

Having a baby so soon after recovering from cancer was not a good idea, and put herself and her current family at risk. Irresponsible decision. Many women wish to become pregnant under less than ideal conditions, often in desperation. Not good.

[Edbear]

I can't believe the negative comments here and the criticism of her and her family! If you read the article properly, she had "previously beaten cancer after being diagnosed on her 30th birthday in 2006".

Many women have beaten breast cancer and gone on to live active lives for many years! It was tragic that only days after getting pregnant she was told the cancer had returned. I'm sure she and her husband talked about many things having had the awful scare of cancer once already, and I can't for the life of me imagine she was being selfish or ignorant in any way at all.

She was obviously a highly intelligent and lovely woman and it sounds like her family was a very close ad supportive one. To choose her baby over herself is something I believe many women would do as women are by their nature, sacrificing for their family. TO be faced with such a horrible decision to make is agonising even to contemplate and coupled with her determination to beat the cancer again, shows how incredible a spirit she had. Who knows, it was not certain she would die, even though the odds were stacked against her, and I believe her children will grow up knowing what a heroine she was and her newborn will grow up appreciating her gift forever.