A mother has claimed her unborn child saved her life after blood tests revealed she had a rare form of cancer.
Renata Rogers, 43, and her husband, Cory, 46, were overcome with joy when they learned they were expecting, however, it soon turned into a nightmare when Renata was diagnosed with cancer. The research scientist from Princeton, New Jersey, discovered her pregnancy in February 2021, just a month before they were set to start IVF, and were thrilled by their natural conception.
However, she struggled with nausea and sweating early in her first trimester so doctors advised her to undergo blood tests. After receiving an abnormal blood test, she was diagnosed with Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a type of rare blood cancer.
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Renata struggled with nausea and sweating early in her first trimester. (Renata Rogers / SWNS)
Baby Michael was born via emergency c-section after his heart rate dropped (Renata Rogers / SWNS)Renata was immediately asked if she "wanted to keep the pregnancy", and she chose to keep the baby, feeling that they were a "package deal." Doctors devised a treatment plan that accommodated her pregnancy and recommended she start chemotherapy immediately.
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She underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy and gave birth via an emergency C-section to her son, Michael after developing bacterial meningitis in 2022. Through it all, she had to continue fighting her cancer and had more chemotherapy, radiotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and lymphocyte infusions.
Since July 2023, she has been in remission and is slowly gaining her strength again, but has said her son, Michael, is "phenomenal" and doesn't appear to have been impacted by the chemotherapy. Recounting her time back in 2021, she explained the whole experience of her treatment and her pregnancy.
Renata underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy and gave birth via an emergency C-section to her son, Michael. (Renata Rogers / SWNS)She said: "They said ‘you have cancer', and I said 'but I’m pregnant’. 'I was asked if I wanted to keep the pregnancy. It wasn’t a question. I felt my child and I were a package deal. My son saved my life. I don’t know if I’d have gone to the doctor to get blood work if not."
Renata began to feel sick in February 2021, and after her period was late she was elated when she found out later that month she was pregnant. She and her partner Cory had been due to start IVF the following month, so couldn't believe their luck in falling pregnant naturally.
Renata explained that she was feeling a bit "run down" in February 2021 and "everyone said it's because I'm pregnant." But her sickness continued, and the symptoms showed much earlier in her pregnancy, and she was recommended a few blood tests in April 2021.
"Doctors called me and said one of my test results came back abnormal. My white blood count was 38. It’s supposed to be between four and 11," she said.
Renata explained that she was feeling a bit "run down and everyone said it's because I'm pregnant." (Renata Rogers / SWNS)She was told to immediately go to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, and was admitted and isolated on a ward. She explained: "My temperature was 100 degrees [Farenheit]. I was so tired."
Renata's blood tests were re-run, and it was then that she was diagnosed with leukaemia and asked if she wanted to terminate her pregnancy as she'd be unable to wait until he was born to begin her treatment. She chose to keep her baby and doctors worked to devise a treatment plan to save both her and the baby.
Renata began seven rounds of chemotherapy while 12 weeks pregnant in April 2021. She also had brain surgery to insert a port into her scalp so doctors could access her spinal fluid.
"I felt so unattractive," Renata shared. "You couldn't really see I was pregnant because I lost so much weight."
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Even though there were no signs of cancer post-chemotherapy, her chromosome mutation was still showing up - meaning the chances of the cancer coming back were higher. She explained: "I started having fevers and spinal headaches."
Renata was rushed to the hospital where her fever developed and she began to feel baby Michael moving less. Doctors realised she had developed bacterial meningitis from an infection in her port and chose to take her for an emergency c-section when the baby's heart rate dropped.
Renata's pulmonary function test showed decline, "I kept having low grade fevers. I couldn't breathe." (Renata Rogers / SWNS)Unfortunately, she was given anaesthesia for the operation, and didn't get a chance to see the moment her baby was born, weighing 3lbs 8oz, on September 19, 2021. She said: "They got him out in a minute and a half. He was in the NICU for 37 days. He was a little fighter. I didn’t get to see him a lot because I was so weak."
Though she was enjoying life as a new mum, Renata struggled to get her strength back and received devastating news shortly after. In December 2021, it was confirmed that she had relapsed.
She was given a different drug but was told she'd likely need a bone marrow transplant if the mutation didn't disappear. Renata said: "My whole life flashed. If I didn’t get the transplant I was going to die. I had my son. I just cried. I knew I had to fight again."
Renata has to be separated from Michael for three months (Renata Rogers / SWNS)Doctors opted for a reduced intensity transplant as Renata was failing her pulmonary function test, which is used to show how well the lungs are working. She recalled: "I kept having low grade fevers. I couldn't breathe."
Following a week of chemotherapy and radiation, she underwent the transplant in October 2022. She had to spend three months away from Michael as she was recovering, but the mother and son were reunited in December 2022.
But, in February 2023, Renata relapsed again. She received three donor lymphocyte infusions from her half brother and has had the all clear since July 2023.
Renata won't be declared cancer free until 2027, after five years in remission, but she has been able to get back to walking and caring for her son. She reflected: "It's made me such a stronger person.
"My son is the best thing that's happened to me. I'd go through it again for him. He's doing well. He wasn't affected by the chemotherapy. He has a little speech delay but he's phenomenal.
"He's a special little boy. His kicks kept me going through chemotherapy. I want people to know there is hope. Cancer isn't the end."
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