Third Strand Baby Jefferson
“In 2018, my Dad had genetic testing as suggested by his doctors to best treat his advanced prostate cancer. His result, and my result were the same, BRACA2 positive. 85% risk of breast cancer and 25% risk of ovarian cancer. At 28 years old, this meant focusing on starting a family was top of mind for my husband and so to then have preventative surgeries by 35.
We welcomed Lincoln in April of 2019. I breast fed him until spring of 2020. During this time, we lost my Dad to his 5 year battle with cancer as the world began closing down to Covid-19. Months later, I was scheduled for a high risk MRI for my BRACA2 risk. This was the first MRI since before I was got pregnant in 2018. During the imaging, they found a suspicious spot. This later was determined as not cancer but during the additional imaging they found another spot. A biopsy later confirmed, cancer.
A month after my diagnosis, I had a double mastectomy, followed by an egg retrieval as we didn’t know how chemo would affect my fertility. I then completed 8 rounds of chemo, and started hormone therapy that I am still actively taking. Add in 3 infection surgeries, a port placement and removal, and reconstruction surgery. Since my egg retrieval, through 11 months of treatment and surgeries, my constant prayer has been to grow our family again. My hope was That God would give us the gift of another child. So I prayed, and I hoped long after my treatment.
In the fall of 2021, life seemed to be falling back into place. My hair was growing back, and my husband and I began looking into surrogacy. At this point, I knew, that carrying the baby myself, the fear and anxiety of reoccurrence would be overwhelming and overshadow the joy of the growing baby. My oncologist had given me approval to wait 2 years, then stop treatment to carry the baby. However, after lots of prayer we started looking for another option to avoid halting my hormone therapy.
Thanks to my OBGYN, who introduced Heather to me, she offered to carry our embryo after one dinner together. It was such a unique way of connecting, that I certainly believe only God could have orchestrated. With birthdays 5 days apart, Heather and I really hit it off during the first dinner and I think that really helped push along the friendship that has occurred. In 53 weeks from the day we met, baby Jefferson was brought into this world. Sometimes this process can take years! Months prior to baby’s arrival I had a friend approach me offering to give us some breast milk. Up until this point I assumed I would use formula. I gladly accepted and this is what we used once we brought Jefferson home and I am immensely grateful for such a precious gift.
One night a few weeks before Jefferson’s arrival, I stumbled upon a comment in a Facebook group “Babies after Breast Cancer”, where they were asking for options on how to feed your baby breast milk if you had a mastectomy or were in active treatment. Third Strand was mentioned. I immediately looked up the website and filled out an application. I was just shocked this organization would supply 2 months worth of milk to moms with breast cancer who could not supply it themselves. I was amazed when Kyle reached out offering to ship me 2 months of breast milk. This, again, is Gods provision and hope. I never imagined having a freezer of breastmilk to feed my son.
Jefferson Pierce, born 1-30-23, is our answered prayer. We believe only God could have created our unique introduction to our surrogate and take the my experience of breast cancer, to alter the way we grow our family, and create a lifelong relationship with our surrogate, and her family. I was reminded earlier this week, that we may not realize how much our experience may be hope someone may need right now if they are praying for the unthinkable. If you feel stuck in a valley praying for God to supply desires on your heart, I pray our story provides hope to keep pressing on. Keep praying. You never know when you will go to a routine Dr visit and return home with a number of the person who will eventually carry your baby. That was not my plan, but that was always Gods plan. We just had to wait for his plan to fall into place. I never expected to feed my baby breast milk after I opted for a mastectomy after my cancer diagnosis, but God provided it anyway. God hears your prayers and knows the desires of your heart and oftentimes his plan is far greater than you ever imagine. I’m not happy to have had cancer, but the people I’ve met, the way I’ve been blessed by others through this experience has been extraordinary.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
