While life can be beautifully inspiring at times, it can also be bitterly cruel. I guess that’s part of what makes it such a journey—the unpredictability of it all.
Brianna Rawlings was 18 years old, 17 weeks pregnant, and looking forward to becoming a mom when she was dealt a devastating blow.
Doctors diagnosed the teenager with a rare and aggressive blood cancer, NK cell leukemia. Before that, all signs of leukemia had simply been dismissed by hospitals and doctors as “pregnancy-related symptoms.”
Almost halfway through her pregnancy, Brianna had the option to either terminate her baby’s life and begin treatment that could save her, or continue with the pregnancy and forgo treatment in the hope her son would live a healthy and happy life …
The young girl chose not to undergo treatment while pregnant and instead focused on bringing her son into the world. In a tragic turn of events, however, her sacrifice would ultimately claim the lives of both mother and baby.
Her son, Kyden, lived for just 12 short days. He was showered with enough love to last a lifetime, but ultimately passed away due to being born three months premature.
Brianna had contracted a blood infection, and with doctors worried it might be passed on to the baby, they were forced to deliver little Kyden via emergency C-section.
Brianna revealed in an interview with Femail, as per the Daily Mail: “Those 12 days I was able to spend with my baby boy Kyden—holding him, counting his toes and fingers, and talking to him like I did when he was in my tummy—were just so special. They were the best 12 days of my life.”
“It’s been very hard, long, exhausting, and painful,” she continued. “Even though Kyden is no longer with us, he gave me the strength to go on and beat this. I want to beat this horrible disease. I believe I can do this, and I made a promise to my son.”
At first, it genuinely seemed as though Brianna was getting better.
Her blood levels had begun to rise, and she was pushing herself to the limit in an effort to get her leg muscles working again.
Sadly, things took another turn for the worse. Her condition steadily deteriorated, forcing doctors to cancel the bone marrow transplant they had planned using a donation from her brother. Instead, they introduced a trial drug they hoped would give her a better chance at survival.
Despite the treatment costing an eye-watering $3,000 a week, her family managed to raise the necessary funds so she could begin a consistent course.
They were only able to complete two rounds of the drug before the cancer took her life.
19-year-old Brianna Rawlings lost her fight with leukemia on Dec. 29, 2018—but she fought bravely and passed with a dignity few of us could ever hope to match.
Such an incredible testament to the deepest love a person can have.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brianna Rawlings’ family. I think she was a wonderful person. She fought so hard for her baby.
Share this article if you stand with the fight against cancer and want to help raise awareness.
Together, we can hopefully defeat this terrible disease.
