Woman, 21,
who was told she was infertile after battling cancer TWICE has 'miracle' baby
Madeleine
battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma twice in 18 months
Has miracle baby with partner she
met during chemotherapy
A young
cancer victim told she was infertile after having more than 300 hours of
chemotherapy is finally enjoying motherhood after the birth of her
"miracle" baby.
Madeleine
Telfer, 21, lost two-and-a-half stone in weight after battling Hodgkin's
Lymphoma TWICE in 18 months.
She was
devastated when doctors warned her that the constant chemotherapy had probably
left her infertile and she would never have children. But less than a year later she was stunned to
discover she had fallen pregnant with partner Stephen Batey, 27, who she met
during her treatment.
Madeleine
Telfer with her partner Stephen Datey and her miracle baby boy Harris who was
born on November 27, 2011
Now the
couple are celebrating the birth of their "miracle" baby Harris, who
is two months old.
Madeleine,
who is now trying for her second child, said: 'All I ever wanted was a family.
It's something I've dreamed of since I was a wee girl.
'And when
the doctors told me I would be infertile I was distraught.
'Of course,
losing your fertility is a small price to pay to save your life, but I was
devastated.
'When I
found out I was expecting Harris, I don't think I've ever been so happy.'
Three
sisters take drastic step of having their breasts AND wombs removed to avoid
hereditary cancer death sentence that killed their mother at just 32
In August
2008 Madeleine was a normal teenager studying child care when she began to feel
ill.
Her glands
swelled up and she lost two and a half stone in just a few weeks.
Her worried
parents Robin, 52, and Careen, 49, took their daughter to Crosshouse Hospital
in Kilmarnock, Scotland, where a biopsy revealed she had cancer.
Madeleine,
21, never thought she would be able to have children
From January
2009 she underwent a four-hour chemotherapy session every two weeks for six
months, notching up 48 hours of treatment.
Madeline
said: 'I was in my bedroom when my mum came in. She sat down, very calm, very
composed.
'She said I
had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I had cancer.
'I had a
lurching feeling in my stomach. It didn't make sense, it didn't feel real. It
was overwhelming.
'I was a
very lively, bubbly person but during treatment I felt rotten for months. I had
no energy but my family and friends were really supportive.'
The
treatment made Madeleine so weak she caught pneumonia but despite her illness
she was given to news that her treatment had been successful in August 2009 and
her cancer had gone into remission.
Life
returned to normal, Madeleine began to see friends and got a job in the
clothing store TK Maxx.
But on
January 12, 2010, Madeleine's world came crashing down for a second time when
she received the news a routine CT scan had shown the cancer had returned.
She was
rushed into 'salvage chemotherapy' and endured three gruelling 90 hour sessions
in isolation - a further 270 hours.
It was
during her recovery in the weeks following her treatment that Madeline met her
partner Stephen, a postman, while having a quiet drink with friends.
Madeleine,
who lives in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, said: 'My friends wanted to take me out
as a treat.
'I had been
in isolation for a long time during my treatment so we went a drink in
Kilmarnock and Stephen was there.
'I had a wig
on because I lost my hair, I told him my story and it went from there.'
Following
the treatment Madeleine was transferred to the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow
to replace stem cells destroyed during her treatment.
Madeleine's
brother Gary, now 24, and Carleen, 26, were tested and her sister proved a
perfect match.
But just
weeks before the operation Carleen fell pregnant and couldn't donate.
Madeleine
Telfer during cancer treatment in March 2010, when she wore a wig
Madeleine
added: 'I thought I was cursed. Nothing was going right.
'I was happy
for my sister because she had been trying for a baby for a while, but I was
devastated that it meant she couldn't donate.'
Madeleine
was given the all clear at the beginning of May 2010.
She added:
'I was over the moon, I was just so happy.
'It also
meant that stem cells that I had removed during my treatment, which we were
saving, could be put back into me.'
Madeleine
returned home and enjoyed Christmas with her family.
Her dreams
came true in March last year when she found out she was pregnant, something she
had given up hope on two years earlier.
Madeleine
was over the moon and gave birth to baby Harris on November 27 last year after
just a three hour labour.
She said: 'I
couldn't believe it I did about five tests to make sure.
'Life is now
just fantastic. I couldn't be happier. He is a little miracle.
'I have come
through a lot and as a result I am a completely different person.
'We would
love Harris to be joined by a wee brother or sister but I appreciate everything
I have. Everything is wonderful.'
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