LEMONT, Ill. – Michelle Jahnke describes herself four years ago as being at the top of her game. She was an attained television news producer, globe traveler, wife, avid runner and was “as healthy and balanced as can easily be.” And to top it all of off she located out she was pregnant.
But suddenly her whole globe changed.
“The day that I located out I had cancer, I say it was adore a death sentence. I knew that if the illness wasn’t going to kill me, the choice that they [doctors] were telling me to make would,” said Jahnke.
Courtesy Jahnke family
Even prior to she received the official diagnosis of phase III colorectal cancer, she described obtaining a biopsy on a mass in her colon and doctors telling her, “‘This tumor should go. So you’re gonna have actually to terminate your child.’ And I knew that if I was to do that, I would certainly have actually died from a broken heart,” said Jahnke.
Jahnke, that was 31 at the time, was determined to not just survive, However to conserve her unborn kid as well. She invested sleepless nights crying for hrs leaning on her husband Mark that kept telling her that it will certainly all of job out.
After 5 doctors told her to terminate she still believed “there has actually to be an additional way.”
She met with, Dr. Blase Polite, an oncologist at the University of Chicago that “finally lose some light on just what had been finish darkness.”
Jahnke said he described to her and her husband a specialized treatment strategy that would certainly start along with performing chemotherapy throughout her pregnancy, which could consist of risks.
Ultimately Janhke knew that this was her finest shot at saving the 2 their lives.
“Going to chemo emotionally was among the hardest points I’ve ever done,” said Jahnke. “It took a great deal of faith to understand that you’re placing so a lot poison in to your body, However yet believe that everything’s gonna be OK.”
The next couple of months were an emotional roller coaster for Jahnke. She was frequently battling depression and at the exact same time fighting to be solid for her family.
About a month prior to her due date Jahnke had a planned C-section on November 30, 2012.
Elana Jahnke was born healthy, 19 inches long, weighing 6 pounds. “Excellent in every solitary way. Not one edge effect from the chemotherapy,” said Jahnke.
Michelle and Elana Jahnke
Courtesy Jahnke family
With a huge smile she calls her their “little miracle baby.” “all of that treatment, all of that uncertainty, it was so worth that moment. And she was so – oh, she was so beautiful,” Janhke gushed along with her hands on her heart.
Just two months after Elana was born Jahnke had to begin radiation. After that a lot more chemotherapy, along along with surgery to remove the tumor.
She is now 35 and has actually been cancer free for two years.
Jahnke desires her daughter to understand through her battle for survival that, “You’re constantly more powerful compared to that you believe you are.”
“Individuals say, ‘You’ve saved her life. You were the brave one.’ She saved my life. Had I not been pregnant, I don’t understand if I would’ve fought so hard. However discovering that I had to fight for her, for her life so that… she could be born, and I can easily observe her grow in to a woman, I mean, that’s every need to live,” said Jahnke.
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