Mother Who Delayed Cancer Treatment To Save Life Of Unborn Baby Passes Away

Oct 31, 2018

Getting a cancer diagnosis will shake you to your very soul. Getting that diagnosis when you are 16 weeks pregnant takes things to an entirely different level. A British mother had to choose between saving her own life and that of her unborn child. She chose her child's life.

Back in 2014, Gemma Nuttall found out she was pregnant. Unfortunately, she also found out something else soon after learning about her pending bundle of joy. At the 16-week mark of her pregnancy, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

This put Gemma in the most difficult position possible. Doctors were recommending that she abort the fetus and have the cancerous ovary tissue removed surgically. After surgery they wanted her to undergo chemotherapy. Would she go through with the abortion or take her chances while carrying the pregnancy to term?

Gemma chose to keep the baby and postpone treatment. This allowed the baby to continue to grow undisturbed in her uterus. Unfortunately, as the baby continued to grow, so did the tumor on her ovary. At 36 weeks, Gemma's doctors decided that it was time. They delivered baby Penelope by Caesarian section and removed the cancerous tumor all at the same time. With the cancerous growth gone and the baby safely delivered, all seemed right with the world.

Unfortunately, cancer returned in 2016. It came back stronger than before, quickly spreading beyond her ovaries into her brain and lungs. Doctors recommended that she undergo a round of immunotherapy to treat this aggressive disease. However, she would have to pay for the treatment herself.

It would cost $400,000 USD. Gemma didn't have that kind of money. Friend and family started a GoFundMe campaign to raise the money. Word spread about her fight and a couple of very famous people decided to lend their fame for Gemma's cause.

Kate Winslet learned of Gemma's fight against cancer and the circumstances of Penelope's birth. Winslet, best known for her role on the movie Titanic, is a mother and understood the dire decision that Gemma had had to make when learning of her cancer so soon after learning of her pregnancy.

Winslet decided to help Gemma out. She enlisted the help of her Titanic co-star Leonardo di Caprio. They helped raise donations by auctioning off three dates where they would play their iconic Titanic characters. The auction did the job to raise the money required and Gemma was able to receive treatment. The cancer was in remission for two more years. Until it returned again in 2018. Unfortunately, it came back even more aggressively spreading to her brain, lungs, and spine.

Gemma Nuttall lost her fight on October 14, 2018, leaving behind her precious daughter Penelope as well as her mother Helen. Winslet reacted to the news of Gemma's death with an emotional tribute. She noted that Gemma's fight had been difficult but that the young mother had handled it with dignity and grace to the end. She had been a pillar of strength from the moment she was diagnosed to the very end. Penelope had lost her mother to the fight.

Gemma's story is one of both hope and tragedy. Please give your family and friends the chance to read her story for themselves, so Gemma will never be forgotten. Have you heard anything this inspiring before? Tell us in the comments.