Rare cancer survivor with no ovaries gives birth to ‘miracle’ baby
A 38-year-old woman has given birth to a “miracle” baby boy, after having her ovaries removed to save her life and beat an exceptionally rare form of cancer.
Stacey Broadmeadow, from Stockport, was diagnosed with pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) in 2017, of which the chances are one in a million.
She is now clear of the cancer and has managed to give birth to a biological son, Harry, after freezing her eggs between surgeries.
Baby Harry was born against all odds, as only two of her embryos were viable for IVF treatment. Her first attempt ended in miscarriage and the egg that created him was her last hope.
‘Something doesn’t feel right’
Ms Broadmeadow began feeling sharp pain near her appendix in 2017. Soon after, she started spotting between her periods.
She contacted her GP, who ruled out pregnancy and scheduled her for an ultrasound. This led to further tests including an MRI and CT scan, when doctors spotted fluid in her womb.
Ms Broadmeadow was referred to the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester – the largest and most advanced cancer treatment centre in Europe.
After an assessment, her oncologist told her they suspected she had PMP and that she may lose her ovaries.
“I was devastated, absolutely devastated,” she said.
“I literally just thought, ‘Well, that’s it. I’m never going to be a mum. I’m never going to have the dream that I’ve always wanted’.”
A battle for survival
Ms Broadmeadow underwent initial surgery but was told she would also need a second operation.
This would take eight hours and remove her spleen, gallbladder, layers of tissue, fallopian tubes and both ovaries.
Ms Broadmeadow and her baby son Harry
It was followed by heated chemotherapy (HIPEC) put directly into the abdomen, to kill any remaining tumour cells.
Luckily, she was able to get support with IVF.
“I was very fortunate that in between the two operations, I was able to have my eggs harvested on the NHS,” she said. “I managed to get 17 eggs, which I’m very, very grateful for.”
‘He is an absolute miracle’
In 2021, the process of creating baby Harry began.
From the 17 eggs harvested, only eight were usable after being defrosted. From those eight, only two eggs were able to be fertilised – meaning Stacey had just two embryos.
Tragically, the first attempt ended in miscarriage.
“I kind of thought the dream was over, and I was never going to have a baby, but I thought ‘well, I’ve got one last chance, I’ll give it a go’,” she said.
“They told me that it wasn’t the most viable embryo but they put him in the freezer anyway.”
Against all expectations, she fell pregnant and Harry was born last November.
“He is an absolute miracle,” she said. “Every time I look at him, I just think how lucky I am.
“I call him my little Nemo. In the film, Finding Nemo, Nemo was the last little egg left. So he’s my little Nemo. He’s my little miracle. He’s just so special.”
What is PMP?
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is a rare form of cancer that starts in the appendix as a polyp (a small growth of tissue).
This produces a jelly-like substance that can burst out – spreading cells and mucus around the stomach to the abdominal lining (peritoneum).
Rebecca Halstead, the lead colorectal and peritoneal oncology clinical nurse specialist at the Christie, who looked after Stacey, said: “PMP is rare, so many patients remain undiagnosed or receive incorrect and inadequate treatment before they receive the right diagnosis.
“Here at the Christie, we not only have the expertise and technology to treat these patients today, but we’re also doing research that will benefit patients in the future.”
Symptoms include a loss of appetite, unexpected weight gain and stomach pain.
UK
Epping council demands government ‘immediately’ close asylum hotel – as Home Office works to ‘restore order’
Epping council has unanimously voted to urge the government to shut a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of protests.
Epping Forest District Council in Essex passed a motion calling for the Bell Hotel to be “immediately and permanently” closed “for the purposes of asylum processing”.
Several demonstrations have been held outside the hotel since 13 July, after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl.
Police have arrested 18 people and charged nine in connection with the protests.
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Eight officers injured during migrant protest
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, from Ethiopia, denied sexually assaulting the 14-year-old girl at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court last week and will stand trial in August.
The Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has also reportedly urged the home secretary to review the use of the hotel for housing asylum seekers.
In a letter to Yvette Cooper, Roger Hirst said the hotel is unsuitable for housing migrants and is “clearly creating community tension”, the Telegraph reported.
Protests in Epping turned violent last week
Home Office ‘working to restore order’
The Home Office has vowed to “restore order,” threatening on Friday to make asylum seekers homeless if they refuse a change of accommodation.
Read more:
Epping: ‘Everyone’s on edge’
Epping the latest flashpoint of frustration
It said a new “failure to travel” policy is looking to tackle “non-compliance by asylum seekers” and will ensure individuals who are moved from hotels to suitable alternative accommodation must take it.
Those who refuse to move without a valid reason will now risk losing their housing and support, the Home Office said.
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Epping migration protest in focus
Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: “We are working to close hotels, restore order, and put fairness and value for money at the heart of our asylum system.
“This government is making those necessary decisions to protect the taxpayer and uphold the integrity of our borders.”
Asked specifically about the Epping Forest District Council vote, the Home Office said: “We’ll continue to work closely with local police and community partners, in Epping and across the country, as we fix this broken system.”
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Eight officers injured
Protests outside the Bell Hotel last Thursday began peacefully but escalated into what police described as “scattered incidents of violence,” leaving eight officers injured.
Police are braced for further protests, vowing to act swiftly if unrest spreads.
UK
There were ‘failings’ in care of ex-England cricketer Graham Thorpe in months before he died, coroner says
The actor who played PC Reg Hollis in hit TV series The Bill has been praised by officers after helping them arrest a shoplifter.
Jeff Stewart stepped in when a thief attempted to escape on a bicycle in Southampton on Wednesday.
In a statement, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: “The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.
“To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played PC Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect’s legs while officers put him in cuffs.
(L-R) Jeff Stewart, Roberta Taylor, Mark Wingett, Trudie Goodwin and Cyril Nri celebrating The Bill’s 21st anniversary in 2004. Pic: PA
“In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn’t on The Bill for this week.”
The Bill was broadcast on ITV between 1984 and 2010 and featured the fictional lives of police officers from the Sun Hill police station in east London.
Mr Stewart, who was among the original cast, appeared in more than 1,000 episodes as PC Hollis.
Police released footage showing their pursuit of a shoplifter in Southampton. Pic: Hampshire Constabulary
As the suspect falls to the floor, PC Hollis (aka Jeff Stewart) sits on his legs. Pic: Hampshire Constabulary
In praising Mr Stewart’s actions, the force said: “Long since retired from Sun Hill station – but he’s still got it.”
Police from the Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team were alerted by staff at a Co-op store in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter on Wednesday.
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Mohamed Diallo, 29, of Anglesea Road, Southampton, was subsequently charged with five offences of theft relating to coffee, alcohol and food from the Co-op and two other Sainsbury’s stores on three dates in April and July.
He pleaded guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and was bailed to be sentenced on August 29.
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