Stacie Crimm’s plight touches our hearts. She faced the agonizing decision of whether to end her baby’s life–or her own. You can read about her decision in the previous two posts. The Scriptures recognize both the fragility and the unfairness of life. “Man born of woman is short-lived and sated with trouble,” complains Job in chapter 14. “He blossoms like a flower and withers; He vanishes like a shadow and does not endure.”
Stacie’s plight also gives us much to complain about. No mother should be asked to choose between her own life and that of her unborn child. Her plight, however, also raises the question for other mothers-to-be with cancer. Is there hope for them and their baby?
“Many times there are chemo protocols that a pregnancy can tolerate–as well as surgical resection of cancer tumors,” reports Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com. In spite of the mother’s condition, therefore, obstetricians may find a window of opportunity for the baby to do well, typically around 32 weeks. Then the baby weighs 3.5 pounds. After delivery, “More aggressive treatment for cancer is implemented,” he says. Because pregnancy can also exacerbate some cancers, such decisions require involvement of the whole family.
Although limited, pregnant women with cancer do have hope.
