Pregnant teenager receives cancer diagnosis at 13 weeks
Birthdays and life-changing moments collide in this tale that begins with Gina Lee Gossett's 32nd birthday and pregnancy announcement. After a trip to Machu Picchu and the Seattle Sounders FC winning their first league championship, the Montana couple was ready to start a family. But, like any good yarn, this one took a twist.
Three months after returning from Peru, Gina made the joyous discovery that getting pregnant was a breeze. However, her excitement was short-lived as Zika concerns made her wait even longer to start trying. Little did she know, her excitement would return with a vengeance - just not in the way she expected.
Early Woes and a Stunning Diagnosis
Christmas came and went. Gina's pregnancy nausea suddenly vanished, replaced by peculiar discharge. She feared a miscarriage, but an ultrasound at six weeks eased her worries. The baby, looking like a tiny sea monkey, was still alive and kicking. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, and Gina thought it was all over.
But it wasn't. The doctor noticed a bump on her cervix during the follow-up visit, which led to a colposcopy and a shocking diagnosis: cervical cancer.
"I couldn't believe it," Gina says, still sounding numb. "I was just shell-shocked."
The Quest for Care
Gina spent the next few days in a daze as her family and husband Dan made calls to cancer care centers across the country. Many refused to take on a pregnant patient, leaving only a consultation at a healthcare organization in Texas. Gina decided to call UW Medicine to hear her options.
Dr. Barbara Goff, the chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at UW Medicine, and Dr. Edith Cheng, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, came up with a plan to salvage both Gina's life and her pregnancy. They aimed to perform a cone biopsy to remove the cancer, followed by removing her cervix and stitching up the lower portion of her uterus to maintain the pregnancy.
Challenges and Heartbreak
A week after the diagnosis, Gina was in Seattle for a consultation. But a pregnancy condition called placenta previa, which affects around 2% of pregnancies, threw a wrench in their plans. The doctors couldn't risk a massive hemorrhage and had to come up with a new strategy.
The next day, Gina came down with a 104-degree fever. Doctors in Montana couldn't figure out the source of the infection, prompting an ambulance ride to Missoula and a flight to Boeing Field. Gina was finally admitted to the intensive care unit at UW Medical Center, diagnosed with sepsis, and received medication and an IV in her neck. Unfortunately, she lost the baby due to a lack of amniotic fluid caused by the infection.
Resilience and Rainbows
Dark days followed, but Gina held on to the hope that Cheng had given her: "I see our journey ending with me handing you a baby of your own." Cheng's prediction came true, thanks to simultaneous cancer treatment and fertility preservation through IVF.
With Oliver born on July 26, 2018, Gina and her husband, Dan, were handed the baby they had been promised. They couldn't stop crying, finally able to let go of the fear that something would go wrong again. Gina is now planning family trips, like an African safari when Oliver turns seven, and is forever grateful for her incredible friend Lori and the medical team who saved her life and made her dream of becoming a mom a reality.
Goff attributes this journey's happy ending to teamwork, highlighting UW Medicine's comprehensive cancer center that offers obstetrical care, exceptional fertility services, and the ability to coordinate care for patients in need. For Gina, she just can't wait to see what the future holds for her family.
- Gina's medical journey, after the diagnosis of cervical cancer, led to a quest for care, with unexpected challenges such as placenta previa and sepsis.
- Despite the heartbreaking loss of her baby due to a lack of amniotic fluid caused by an infection, Gina's resilience was rewarded with the successful birth of her son, Oliver, through IVF and simultaneous cancer treatment.
- Gina's tale of parenthood, filled with twists and turns, serves as a testament to the interwoven worlds of science, medical-conditions, health-and-wellness, and the unwavering support of her family and medical team.
