My Sister Had My Twins

Cancer killed my baby dream… so Morgan stepped in By Maggie Paxton, 32, from Whittier, California

- Lianne La Borde/Marissa Charles

As I clutched her hand, my sister Morgan, then 23, pushed my niece into the world.

‘She is so beautiful,’ I said, cradling little Mykenzi.

It was February 2007 – and, with Morgan a single mum, I’d promised to be there every step. 

Just 13 months apart, we’d always been close. 

And I loved being an aunt.

‘I can’t wait to have my own kids,’ I told Morgan.

In November 2010, I met Daniel, an army medic. We’d chat on the phone for hours.

‘He’s The One,’ I told Morgan.

We married in June 2013, started talking about children.

Only, in December 2014, I noticed a strange discharge from my right nipple.

‘Go to the doctor to get it checked,’ Morgan urged.

I did, and was immediately referred for a biopsy.

Then, the hospital called with devastating news.

I had breast cancer. Stage 1.

I would need chemo, surgery.

Terrifying.

Two days later, Daniel and I saw my consultant. That’s when she dropped another devastating bombshell.

The tumour in my right breast was hormone receptive, she explained. 

So pregnancy hormones would fuel the tumour’s growth.

Put my life at risk. 

‘I’d advise you to never get pregnant,’ she said. 

Even if my cancer was cured, the risk of it returning in pregnancy was very high.

I broke down sobbing in Daniel’s arms.

The consultant handed me a leaflet on fertility treatment.