A mother who defied doctors’ advice to abort her pregnancy in order to receive treatment for cancer has been given less than two years to live after giving birth to a health baby boy.
Sarah Milner, 30, sacrificed her own health to save her baby after receiving the heartbreaking diagnosis that she had an aggressive form of cervical cancer at 21 weeks pregnant.
Medics had advised the mother-of-three, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to abort her pregnancy in order to receive chemotherapy, but Mrs Milner gave birth to Louis on April 1, who is a healthy bundle of joy.
Mrs Milner is now receiving life-prolonging chemotherapy and has been given less than two years to live after the cancer spread through her body.
Sarah Milner, 30, sacrificed her own health to save her baby after receiving the heartbreaking diagnosis that she had an aggressive form of cervical cancer at 21 weeks pregnant
Mrs Milner said: ‘I was 21 weeks pregnant and diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer, which was described to me as being aggressive.
‘When I heard the diagnosis I couldn’t believe that this was really happening to me. It didn’t seem real. I was devastated.
‘When I was 26 I had a smear test which came back clear. I had my next one booked in, but I had to cancel as I was pregnant with Louis.
‘Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, the doctors advised me to terminate my pregnancy. However, I really didn’t want to do that. I wanted to have my baby no matter what.’
Medics had advised the mother-of-three, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, to abort her pregnancy. Pictured with husband James
Mrs Milner married her partner James last month after being granted a special licence. Pictured with her mother and father on the wedding day
Mrs Milner with her elder children, Bobbie and Lily-Grace
After giving birth to Louis via C-section at 31 weeks in April last year, Mrs Milner immediately had a hysterectomy and lymph node removal in a bid to fight the cancer.
But by November, another lump was found and the cancer had spread throughout the mother’s body.
Mrs Milner added: ‘After I had given birth I was told that it was good news, they had removed most of the cancer and I had a good chance of being given the all-clear.
‘I was over the moon. I thought my decision had paid off and everything was going to work out well for us.
‘Throughout the summer I was having radiotherapy to treat some of the cancer that was in the lymphatic channel and then in October, I had a scan which was expected to come back all clear.
‘I received the results for the scan in November. Another lump had been found and the cancer had spread everywhere.
Mrs Milner holding Louis days after he was born. After giving birth in April Mrs Milner had a hysterectomy and lymph node removal. But by November another lump was found
‘I was told it was stage four and there was nothing else they could do for me.
‘I couldn’t believe what they were telling me once again. My world completely fell apart.
‘The news crushed me. I knew the risks that I was taking, but it just was not what I was expecting to come back from the scan.
‘My kids, Lily-Grace, who is nine, Bobbie, who is seven and Louis are going to be without their mum.’
James proposing to Sarah. The pair received a special licence so that they could have a last-minute wedding on 14 December
Pictured (left to right) James, Louis, Sarah, Bobbie and Lily-Grace on the wedding day at Stoke-on-trent registry office
Mrs Milner, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy to prolong her life, married her partner James last month after being granted a special licence.
She said: ‘I am now receiving life-prolonging chemotherapy every three weeks. I have been given around two years to live, but as my cancer is very aggressive, it is likely to be shorter.
‘Since receiving that devastating news, my partner of three years, James, and I got a special licence so that we could have a last-minute wedding on 14 December.
Sarah’s son Bobbie, her husband James, Sarah and her daughter Lily-Grace
‘It was a really lovely, local wedding at Stoke registry office. The kids and both of our parents were there and a local wedding shop gave me a dress and a veil to wear.
‘I am just happy that we managed to get married. It was one of the most important things to me.
‘We also managed to get away for a mini-honeymoon for one night in the Lake District. It was amazing.
‘I want to leave special things for the kids once I am gone. I am writing them birthday cards for the future, and cards for other special occasions such as weddings.’