Hi, everyone. My name is Liz and this is my week to contribute to the blog. There are lots of controversial topics in the news today.. But I tried to really find something that interested me.
I recently read an article in my Glamour magazine (A girl's got to keep up with things, you know.) about a woman who decided to get pregnant while her cancer was in remission. Six years ago, Erin Zammett Ruddy was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Until recently, this type of cancer was fatal for most patients. Erin and her husband decided they would try to have a child of their own before exploring other options such as adoption.
Taking Gleevec during pregnancy is not recommended so Erin had to risk her life by going off her meds in order to have this child. Since the Gleevec is what is keeping her in remission, there is a great chance that her cancer could return. Erin's doctors informed her of a type of chemo that is supposedly safe for pregnant women should her cancer return. Considering that most women are extremely careful about everything during pregnancy, even what they put in their mouths, this sounds like a scary option to me.
At the time I read the article, Erin was 8 months pregnant and her cancer was still undetectable. She's been monitored closely by her doctors throughout her pregnancy, taking blood samples frequently to see if the cancer has returned. Erin says that every woman she's spoken to that went off Gleevec to get pregnant has relapsed.
She has been called selfish by many for choosing to risk her own life to get pregnant rather than adopting. Once the baby is born she will be unable to breastfeed while on Gleevec. Even if the pregnancy goes well, going off the medication could prove to be potentially fatal for Erin.
Personally, I believe that she should have the opportunity to have her own natural children with her husband. She has said that adopting is a great option that she and her husband could possibly explore in the future. Yes, there are risks involved with getting pregnant when you have cancer. But should this woman be denied the right to be a mother? I applaud her for going ahead with this deeply personal decision despite opposition. I certainly hope and pray that everything will work out for her and her family. However, if things do not--I do not think she will have died in vain. It will be out of love and her natural instinct to be a mother.
What do you think? Did Erin make the right decision? I would love to hear your thoughts! :)
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17 comments:
Personally I believe that it is a wonderful thing that she is willing to risk her life for her child. If anything she is the most selfless person on earth. Sure there are millions of children who are in foster homes or some other type of temporary living... BUT she wanted a child of her own blood which is HER decision. My father had cancer ten years ago and had the option of having his sperm frozen (so if he and my mother wanted to eventually have kids they could, or if my mother, even after my fathers death, wanted to have more children.. she could) My parents were both young at the time with young children and they could have quite possibly wanted to have more. Would it have been selfish of my mother to have had invetro after my fathers death? I think not. Having children with the one you love is like having a piece of your partner with you. THANK GOD my father lived and is just fine today. (and in my opinion THANK GOD they didnt have more kids :) but basically when it comes down to it, it was her decision and no one should judge her for it.
I love it!! My son being a cancer patient and survivor, I have learned that we only have one life on this earth. I commend her, if her life is cut short, she will have died knowing the beauty of pregnancy and childbirth :)
I looked her up and she is due on the 1st of September the baby is doing fine and so is mom, no sign of cancer. She has a supportive doctor and family and she keeps a good track on her health as well as the baby's. Check out her daily diary for more information and check for the blessed day of delivery at http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/blogs/editor
Her last post was Sunday and she thought her water broke. She seems to be living a normal "FUN" pregnancy, a time she will NEVER forget! Go Erin!
I think that this would be the one of hardest decision to make. I can see it from both sides, it seems selfish to bring a child into the world knowing that you may not be there for them, but also selfless giving your partner a part of you should something happen to you. Being a single mom I would never choose to bring a child into the world knowing that he would not have both parents. No matter how hard I try I can not compensate for both parents roles. However in the aftermath of the situation, I would not trade him for the world and I go to the extreme to try and make up for the fact that he has only one parent. But I agree with the fact that its nobodies decision but your own based on what you can handle.
Once again I take the position of your body, your decision. I don't think I could have chosen to get pregnant if I had cancer. It is not that I think that cancer patients do not have a right to have a child. I just think that if something happens to her after delivery, her child will be without a mother.
Worst case scenario...What if the mother relapses and dies before the baby is even 3 months old. Who is going to raise her? What if the father is too grief stricken and inexperienced to take care of the baby? What if the mother relapses and survives. Now the father is overwhelmed with the task of caring for both the mother and a newborn. Let me tell you from experience, it is not easy caring for a baby. I work at a children's hospital and I know miracles can happen. But what if this story does not have a happy ending. We portray having a baby as if it is some requirement that every woman must fulfill. I would not allow society or anyone else force me to have a baby in order to validate my womanhood.
I myself have four children, and would stop at nothing to risk my life for them. I think that every woman in the world has the option to adopt, but there's nothing like having your own flesh and blood. I look at this as being well let's just say what if? What if she was allready pregnant and found out in her second trimester that she had cancer, should she abort the pregnancy? This falls back on the womans choice. We are all grown-ups and have the right to make our own choices, and who are we to judge someone for the choices that they make in their life? Now, yes if she don't want to hear an opinion she shouldn't publish her story. But, we also need to think if it were us what would we do? Maybe we wouldn't do what she did but her choice is not our choice, ONLY OUR OPINION!!
This is amazing...and for other people to judge her, and tell her that she should adopt rather then have a child of her own, how disgusting. Every person has the right to do whatever they what. To adopt is a great thing (my sister is adopted) but that is a personal choice, and for anyone to try to force it on someone should be ashamed. It has to be a personal decision, because I dont care what you say, if you heart is not all in it, so many things can go wrong - at the very least the child is not shown as much love as a child should...but thats just my opinion :)
I think that it is an amazing thing! The fact that this woman would risk her life to create another life speaks volumes about her to me.
I think this was a very personal decision she and her husband made, it may not make sense to outsiders but I think anyone who has a child or has ever wanted to have a child can understand the desire to have a Legacy.
I hope that this family does get their "happy ending".
I agree with you that she has every right to become a mother. I don't think someone who gives life to another individual is selfish. Cindy, thanks for sending the link to the article so I could read it. My mom manages clinical cancer studies and pregnancy can cause cancer to grow at a faster rate. After reading this article, it appears she's doing well. I hope her cancer growth rate isn't affected by the pregnancy.
Although I am not a mother, I have one. I know that my mother would go to the ends of the earth for any of her children. I think it's this internal chip that you get as soon as the baby pops out. :-) Each woman has the right to have a child. Whether it be through adoption, invetro-fertilization, or the "old-fashioned"way.
I personally think that this particular woman must be very humble. In order to risk her life in order to give birth to another one. The word selfish never comes into my mind when reading the story. However, words such as compassion, determination, and drive do. I respect her for the decision that she has made, and for the burden that she is taking upon her self.
I see it like this: It's her body, her child, her husband, and ultimately her life. I think she and her family (husband) should discuss it and if they both agree, then go forth with the plans. The only way I would see this as selfish is if her husband was aposed to it. I applaud them for going forth with something to controversial.
Check out her web site, cool shows on TV tonight discussing her issues.
Go Erin
Sorry, the show is about her FRIEND Kris Carr and Erin is "IN" the show.
I think she should have the chance to have her own child, my husband and I adopted a child but there is not a day that goes by that he does't say "baby I want my own little girl that will look like me." Don't get me wrong we both love our kids but there is nothing like the joy of being pregnant and conceiving a child with the one you love.
I think its a good thing that she is willing to risk her life in order to have a child. I dont feel like she is being selfish at all. Ultimately its her decision. My girlfriends mother has cancer and I have personally seen how rought it can be. You should live life to the fullest while u can.
Wow! I think this is an excellent topic. I think Erin is blessed. She seems to be a woman great faith. This situation is one that you just put in the hands of God. Most likely I would consider doing the same thing if I were in that kind of situation. I don't think she is selfish at all. I think the fact that she has made it to her eight month is wonderful, and I could just imagine what she has gone through. To answer your question though, Erin made the right decision for [herself]. She did not let the doctors, her husband, her friends, or her family make the decision. That decision was all up to her. We don't know what is after this life, and God said to be fruitful and multiply. She is just trying to make sure her legacy lives on and her generations continues to grow.
I'm glad to hear that everyone is so positive about this! I really felt sorry for Erin when said she got a slew of hate mail after her article came out. I don't understand how people can be so judgemental about such a personal decision!
CHECK OUT THE WEB SITE......ERIN HAS A BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY! THERE ARE PICTURES OF HER AND THE SWEET BABY ALONG WITH DADDY! WOW HOW EMOTIONAL THAT MUST HAVE BEEN:)
http://www.glamour.com/lifestyle/blogs/editor
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