Holding her baby at last 'IT WAS ALL WORTH IT'

Cancer free, the brave mum can finally enjoy life with her girl

- Kasia Jillings

Marvelling at her precious fi ve-month-old daughter Lilah, Abi Johnston is overcome with joy and gratitude as she reflects on how far they’ve come together following her shock diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer while pregnant.

The Northland mum was just 27, and 26 weeks pregnant, when she learnt she had stage-three triple positive breast cancer requiring immediate treatment.

Medical professionals rallied to find the lowest-risk option for her then unborn baby and during chemotherapy, it was often the thought of being able to cuddle Lilah soon that kept her going.

Now beaming with pride as she talks about her daughter, Abi knows it’s all been worth it.

“The highlights of being her mum so far are really all of it,” enthuses Abi. “I just feel like being a mother is my calling in life. Seeing her light up and knowing I bring her so much joy with the simplest of things, and all the little cuddles are amazing.”

The Weekly first met the radiographer in April when she shared her story in the hope other women would be more vigilant with having symptoms checked as soon as possible.

Abi initially dismissed the lumps she found, believing they were probably due to hormonal changes in pregnancy. Not wanting to waste her doctor’s time, Abi waited several weeks before seeking treatment and still wishes she’d acted sooner.