“I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer when I was pregnant - and almost died before I got a chance to hold my newborn baby girl.

 

“The nightmare began when doctors discovered a tumour the size of a tennis ball blocking little Aaron's arrival.  They immediately delivered Aaron by C-Section - but Ihaemorrhage.  My bed sheets were soaked in blood and doctors couldn't get the bleeding to stop.

 

“As my life slipped away, docs warned my partner to expect the worst as he stood helpless with our baby in his arms.  He was left praying for a miracle - and fortunately for us, those prayers were answered.”

 

Suzanne continued, “My instincts told me all was not well.  There is cancer on my Dad's side of the family and that’s what kept nagging away in my mind.  But what choices did I have?  Treatment at that time would have damaged my baby.  I didn't want to face that, so I just retreated into myself and kept my fears secret.

 

“After months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a last chance 24-hour bombardment of radiation directly onto the tumour, I was eventually in remission.

 

“I had sailed through a trouble free pregnancy with my first daughter, Jordan, but I have to admit, the minute I fell pregnant with Aaron, I felt very ill.  I was sick all the time, I was in pain, I couldn't eat, and nothing could convince me that this was a normal pregnancy.  When I was expecting Jordan, my partner and I backpacked to India just in time before settling down with children.

 

“I felt so well throughout the pregnancy, mind you I was always relatively fit and healthy having just spent almost seven years as a Military Policewoman in Her Majesty's Services. 

 

“This time I thought, well no two pregnancies are the same.  I remember my partner and I agreeing that there would be no more babies for us.  I was dragging myself through the pregnancy.  I couldn't wait for it to be over.  Every now and then I'd start bleeding and end up in hospital.  But I think because of the position of the tumour, it simply didn't show up.

 

“When I was eight months pregnant, I was back at hospital for the umpteenth time after bleeding.  I've got a rare blood group - 'O' negative - so whenever I would take a bleed I'd have injections to stop the baby's blood being poisoned.  This time the doctor said she was concerned because I'd been in so often, that she'd like to examine me further.

 

“Nothing was showing on scans so she examined internally.  The pain was unbearable.  Then she told me there was a growth the size of a man's fist in my cervix.

 

“I had a biopsy and had to stay in hospital for the results.  That night was awful.  I lay awake wondering what was going to happen to us.

 

“Next day they told me.  I had Cancer, and because of the tumour, I wouldn't be able to deliver my baby normally.  I was in shock.

 

“I was rushed into theatre for an emergency c-section.  The baby was perfect.  I was so relieved.  But when I was in the recovery ward, my partner noticed that my bed was suddenly saturated in blood.

 

“The room was suddenly filled with nurses, but by then I was slipping in and out of consciousness.

 

“I vaguely remember nurses wrapping me up in silver foil.  They were wrapping themselves around me too, trying to raise my body temperature.  I was rushed back into theatre, and, after about two or three hours, the doctor came out and told my partner he was sorry but he couldn't stop the bleeding.

 

“He asked my partner to sign a form permitting them to give me a hysterectomy.  My partner said they should do whatever was needed to save me.

 

“I spent a while in hospital while my partner looked after the girls.  When I eventually did go home I was really worried about all the time I been apart from my girls, I hadn't had a proper chance to bond with my newborn.

 

“A bed was made up for me in the livingroom and I began my chemotherapy and radiation treatment the following week, just after New Year.

 

“Sadly, despite an intensive course of twenty treatments, the tumour was still there.  I couldn't believe it, after all that, the cancer was still there.

 

“During this time my partner was giving me intensive healing through Crystals, (Kes is a fully qualified Holistic Crystal healer) and this helped immensely.  His Sister, Al, would visit me (she is a qualified Reflexologist) and heal my body through healing to my feet, and a friend from Cancer Care came along weekly and gave me some hands on healing, all of which played a big part in my recovery, that I am positive of.

 

“I was then offered a 24-hour intensive course where they would bombard me with radiation non-stop using long metal rods directly onto the tumour.

 

“It was ghastly.  I couldn't move for 24-hours but in the end the tumour had shrunk.

 

“To be honest, I think it was the nurses and doctors who kept me sane.  When the tumour shrunk, I was still ill, but very, very happy.

 

“Along with the tumour, other organs had also shrunk and I needed more surgeries to repair the damage.

 

“I had ignored the little voice in my head which told me I had Cancer.  Like many people, I didn't want to hear that because I knew that any treatment would seriously damage or kill my unborn baby.  Today, though, I have two beautiful girls and a future.

 

“My daughter, Aaron, will celebrate her thirteenth birthday at Christmas, which will be an amazing experience for us all.

 

“I've since had to cope with more operations, skin grafts, scars, reconstructive surgery, arthritis and radiation damage and am continuing ongoing surgeries, but with my family by my side.........well, I made it, and later married my partner Kes Fernando on the tenth anniversary of the day we met - in a romantic ceremony at the Blacksmiths cottage in Gretna Green.  Accompanied by our two girls and our friends, we tied the knot – and were overcome with emotion. We were not the only ones.

 

“It was the happiest day of my life, after all we have been through.  Everyone was crying at the ceremony, it was a very emotional service.  It was a beautiful day and very romantic.

 

“We all went onto enjoy a wedding celebration in Annan in cottages overlooking the Solway Firth, with the memories of darker days well behind us.  We have come through a lot since we met in Blairgowrie in June 1995, when I had just left the military police to start work as a private investigator and met my portugese beau Kes.  We all enjoyed the day, especially our girls Jordan and Aaron and it will be a day we will never forget.

 

“I've since continued to raise awareness, fundraise, make presentations at various clubs and organizations, and more recently started a cervical cancer support group here in Ayrshire on behalf of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

 

“My daughters often join me at various events, they are as dedicated and passionate about cervical cancer as I am.  They have a fantastic time at various events knowing how much we could be helping to save someone's life.

 

“I've since built my own business working with children, am currently writing my first book, continue to work alongside Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and the Eve Appeal,and am continually raising funds and awareness throughout the year.  I was Scotland's first Cancer Research UK Ambassador and am now a qualified Cervical Cancer Support Group Leader.

 

“I had the pleasure of being invited by my local MP Katy Clark to the 'International Women's Day' and meeting the Prime Minister at No.10 to discuss new policies on Cervical Screening and raising cervical awareness.

 

“I try as often as possible to gain media attention for my local Cancer Care organisations too.  My main aim now is to introduce my new Cervical Cancer Support Group in Ayrshire.”

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