Pregnancy after Cancer : delivering a baby with a hemipelvectomy

I have already posted on Terry Fox and his Incredible Marathon of Hope to fight Cancer.   I have also posted the story of a friend's niece who has been living with brain cancer for the last 5 years - 1/3 of her life.

 Here is another story of someone who lost a leg to cancer.   My best Girlfriend has a close childhood friend who is an Amazing person.  This year I went to a Woman's Show and was fortunate enough to meet Glenda and her two friends -  all whom have had  Cancer - and buy a signed copy of their book.

She and her two friends have started a worldwide movement for people who have faced any kind of adversity and have chosen to smile in the face of it.  It evolved from the book they wrote - "Choosing to Smile".

 The book  "Choosing to Smile" is the incredible story of these three women.



Glenda was found to have Cancer at age 32,  and subsequently had not only a leg amputation but also a Right hemipelvectomy -  which is the removal of the leg, hip and the Right Pelvic floor (pelvic bone).  Her positive outlook throughout the surgery and afterwards is nothing short of inspirational.

Glenda became pregnant 2 years after her surgery.  She needed a prosthesis that would support her body throughout her pregnancy.    Here is her story:



Having had an "easy" delivery with her first baby 2 years prior to her amputation,  she really didn't know what to expect with this one.   She describes her labor in her book:

"The doctors were all wondering what to expect from a delivery where the mother only had a pelvis on one side.  Kevin's birth had been so easy.  I was expecting this delivery to be a breeze, but four hours after inducing me, the baby still hadn't arrived.  My specialist anticipated a long night of labor so he decided to take a supper break.  I lay on the bed watching the baby inside my bulging belly move with each contraction.
I realized suddenly that with each contraction, the baby's head was pushing into my stump.  It was as if he was looking for the door but kept bashing into the wall!  I decided to lie on my side and push really hard on my stump every time I felt a contraction coming.  Basically, my hands took the place of my missing pelvis and within a few short contractions I had guided the baby's head into the birth canal.


"Where's the doctor! Get a doctor quick!  The baby is coming!"  The nurses called my family doctor and the specialist, but the baby wasn't going to wait for them to arrive, so a young resident stepped into the room.  Dr. S. looked like a deer in the headlights.  I'm sure he'd never imagined he'd come on shift that night to deliver a baby to a lady with no hip or pelvis on her right side.  Yet,  here he was, gloved and gowned, doing just that."****

She delivered a healthy 7 pound 14 ounce baby boy.  

To read about how she coped with her baby at home.....you will have to read her book.   Go to their website and order a book  - $19.95 (plus S&H ).....it is a very good read.

On another note, this past July, Glenda sent out this email to everyone:

"Hiya!

Can you do me a favor - once a day or every other day could you log onto our website- www.choosingtosmile.com - Julie is going through chemotherapy and we put in a 'world map' that shows where people are who are sending her positive thoughts as she's going through her chemo... every time you go to our website the dots grow bigger... it's updated every 24 hours so once a day is great! Pass this along to everyone on your email list - near and far - so she knows people all over the world are sending her positive thoughts and prayers... Thanks thanks thanks! It only takes a second to log on and it will mean the world to Julie...


Love ya!


Glenda"

Julie, by the way, is an RN and a Registered Midwife - and one of the other authors in the book.  The third author - Michelle - also is a Cancer survivor and volunteers with the Cancer society. 

What with it being the 30th anniversary of the Terry Fox's run......and Cancer still not beaten.....I thought it appropriate to post a link to my blog about his run again and encourage people to do what they can in the Fight against Cancer.   I can't stress it enough. 

On one final parting note -  each of the gals who are in "Choosing to smile" have a blog so you can keep current with their daily lives.


****excerpt posted with permission from author (copyright)