June 7th 2024.
Renata Rogers is a 43-year-old mother who went through a challenging journey to bring her baby, Michael, into the world. Renata and her husband, Cory, were beyond thrilled when they found out they were expecting a child. However, as Renata entered her third trimester, she began feeling unwell and was eventually diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2021. This rare form of blood cancer is known for quickly affecting the bone marrow, which is responsible for producing blood cells.
Facing a difficult decision, Renata chose to continue with her pregnancy and undergo chemotherapy to treat her cancer. Her doctors had initially advised her to terminate the pregnancy, but Renata felt that her and her baby were a "package deal." She credits her son for saving her life, as she may not have sought medical attention if she wasn't pregnant.
Renata's cancer diagnosis came as a surprise, as she had only found out she was pregnant a month before. Initially, she thought her symptoms were just morning sickness, but after experiencing ongoing nausea and sweating, she went for blood tests. Her white blood count was found to be significantly above the normal range, and she was transferred to a hospital in Philadelphia for further treatment.
At the hospital, Renata was given the option to terminate her pregnancy, but she chose to continue carrying her baby despite the risks. She started chemotherapy at just 12 weeks pregnant and also underwent brain surgery to better access her spinal fluid. Despite losing a significant amount of weight, Renata's cancer showed signs of remission after the chemotherapy. However, she was later rushed to the hospital with bacterial meningitis, likely due to an infection in her port, which required her to have a c-section.
Renata's son, Michael, was born prematurely on September 19, 2021, weighing only 3lbs 8oz. He spent 37 days in the NICU, and although Renata was weak and couldn't see him often, she knew he was a fighter. Less than three months after Michael's birth, Renata went into remission, but she still needed a bone marrow transplant. The transplant took place in October 2022, and Renata had to spend three months away from her son, only to undergo another transplant in February 2023. Fortunately, she has been in remission since July 2023, but she won't be considered officially cancer-free until 2027.
Renata's journey has made her a stronger person, and she is grateful for her son, who she describes as her "special little boy." Despite undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Michael was mostly unaffected and even gave Renata the strength to keep fighting. She wants others to know that there is always hope, even in the face of cancer. Renata's son is her greatest blessing, and she would go through everything again for him. She hopes to spend as much time as possible with Michael and cherish every moment with him. Cancer may have been a challenging obstacle in Renata's life, but it has also shown her the true strength and resilience of a mother's love.
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