A mum who was being treated for cancer gave birth to a ‘miracle’ baby girl just months before she died.
Cancer sufferer Danielle Kelley, 30, and her partner Liam, 25, were told against all odds in March 2020 that she was pregnant.
Liam said the couple’s “miracle baby” was a “gift” as Danielle – who already had two boys from a previous relationship – had undergone months of chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The couple, from Widnes, were told by doctors it was unlikely she would ever have any more children because of the treatment, Liverpool Echo reports.
Liam said: “Danielle was due to go for a six monthly check up and they asked her if she was pregnant and obviously she said no.
“They did a pregnancy test just to make sure she wasn’t and it came back positive.
“We were all in shock and we couldn’t get our head around it.”
After getting over the surprise news, the couple were overjoyed but Danielle started to suffer with pain during her pregnancy.
Liam said: “Through the pregnancy Danielle was having really bad pains in her stomach and lower back.”
In October 2020, the pains became more severe and Danielle’s skin started to turn yellow.
Her health visitor was unhappy with this and she was told to go Whiston Hospital to get it checked out.
After tests, the doctors delivered the devastating news that Danielle was suffering with secondary liver cancer.
Liam said: “And then it all went fast. Within four days they brought the baby early, she was six weeks premature.
“They brought her by emergency C-section and they started Danielle on chemotherapy straight away.”
Although premature, Danielle had given birth to a healthy baby girl the couple named Everlyn.
After the birth, the chemotherapy Danielle was on started to take its toll and over Christmas she was rushed to hospital with sepsis and pneumonia.
Liam said: “She was fighting for her life. I was allowed to stay in hospital with her because of how bad she was.”
Danielle was again able to recover and put on a different course of chemotherapy.
Sadly, after having a procedure to drain fluid from her stomach in February this year they found the cancer had spread.
Danielle was given only months to live, and then only days later, they were told she had weeks left at most.
Liam said: “I phoned the hospice one morning and asked if Danielle was okay because she hasn’t messaged me back. They said I needed to go in straight away as the doctor wants to see you.
“The doctor said I’m so sorry, Danielle has taken a really bad turn in the night. I only think she’s got a few days to live.
“I couldn’t get my head around it, I was crying. I phoned all the family members and told them to come down and say their last goodbyes.
“On the Saturday (February 27) she finally took her last breath.
“She didn’t have her wedding ring or engagement rings on as her fingers had shrunk.
“I had them on a chain around my neck and I took it off and said, ‘look babe, you can’t go without wearing these otherwise we’re not married – you’ve got to wear your wedding ring.’ As I put them on her fingers I stepped back and she took her last breath.”
A Just Giving page has been set up in memory of Danielle to help Liam and their three children following her death.
Liam said: “We’re struggling, I won’t lie to you. I’ve never felt pain like it.
“It’s hard to explain how I feel really, I don’t think I’ve got the words to describe the pain I’m suffering.
“Everyone thinks I saved her but I feel like she saved me. She just changed me for the best really.”
Danielle is survived by husband Liam, boys Alfie 10, and George seven, and baby Everlyn 19 weeks.