our daughter, whom i call “nugget,” was conceived via ivf after a long, painful struggle with infertility.
now i’m a full-fledged attachment parenting, extended nursing, child-led weaning*, co-sleeping, green living, suburban dwelling, still infertile, stay-at-home mother of one.
*in may of 2008, i was diagnosed with hodgkin’s lymphoma. we had to stop nursing for chemotherapy. this is clearly not what i had in mind when i chose to practice child-led weaning.
i pumped through chemo and we were able to resume nursing after treatment. now i try to remember our nursing hiatus as just a bump in the road. a really, really huge, scary, awful bump that no one should ever have to endure.
sadly, my june 2009 scan showed the cancer was back. i had worked so hard to get back to “normal” and then the rug was pulled out from under me yet again.
i underwent an autologous stem cell transplant in november 2009. wow, that sucked.
my april 2010 scan finally showed what we were hoping for. nothing.
so, now we wait and hope and pray that it never, ever comes back.
you can read more about how i juggled cancer, chemotherapy and breastfeeding here: mother’s milk
please join me and my family as we forever stand up to cancer.
click here to join my su2c.org team.
bits of myself 
29 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 22, 2018 at 9:25 pm
Andrew Tait
Apparently my comment has listed at the top triggered the following:
this woman’s work | bits of myself
Andrew Tait 501-545-9979. Skype i.d. – theenvironmentalist. Reply · October 2, 2011 at 8:53 pm · Georgia. Hey there – Found your blog when I googled “Breastfeeding a child with leukemia.” Granted, it wasn’t *exactly* what I was looking for, but I really enjoyed reading your story. What a long road you’ve travelled. Happy to …
THE PROBLEM IS I NEVER STATED ANY OF THIS. Please assist by deleting my original comment along with this note. Not sure how this occurred and I’m sure it was just a computer glitch but I would like to eliminate the comment in the search since I never made the comment above that I copied into this note so again I really would appreciate it if you’ll delete the comment at the top along with this one. Thank you!
January 24, 2014 at 10:25 am
Andrew Tait
Hi Jenn,
I am very pressed for time but would like to connect with you about heading up a project for an all natural product that has amazing cancer cure data behind it. When you or one of your friends reads this please get to me asap. Linked In and I just sent an invite without a message.
We are preparing to launch the largest environmental, health and green tech platform of its kind so it is best NOT to email. Text my phone to determine my availability… but just get to me.
Cheers!
Andrew Tait
501-545-9979
Skype i.d. – theenvironmentalist
October 2, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Georgia
Hey there – Found your blog when I googled “Breastfeeding a child with leukemia.” Granted, it wasn’t *exactly* what I was looking for, but I really enjoyed reading your story. What a long road you’ve travelled. Happy to see that all this cancer crap is behind you – hope someday we can say the same. We are grateful every day for breastfeeding though!
June 25, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Kelly
What an inspiration you are! Not just for breastfeeding, mothering, blogging but for humanity in general.
Thank you for sharing your story with me…us.
May 11, 2010 at 2:05 am
Jill Marie
Hi! I’m glad to hear your hurdles are over & I pray they stay away forever! I have my first IVF appt tomorrow, as I am about to start ABVD for NS Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Thank you for sharing your story. It brings me comfort & reassurance to know someone else out there has survived the treatments! Enjoy your baby girl… You are a stunning family! xxxx
November 20, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Tiffany Little
I found this blog by googling lymphoma. I lost my mom a little over a year ago. She had both hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphoma back to back and she wasn’t in great health to begin with. I have also subscribed to your twitter. I just wanted to let you know that people that don’t even know you think you are amazing. I had to stop nursing my daughter when my mom died for a few days and when I came back from my moms funeral she was not interested anymore. It broke my heart. I know this is not the same that you are going through but seeing your post about nursing and having to stop makes me hurt for you. I am going to continue following you on here and twitter because I want to see someone kick the hell out of lymphoma! If anyone can do it it would be a mommy for her baby! Your little nugget (which just so happens to be what I call my little one) will give you strength you need to make it through. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers everyday! Kick ass and take names!!
April 28, 2010 at 11:34 am
bits of myself
tiffany,
i’m so very sorry to hear about your mom’s battle with lymphoma. thank you so much for stopping by. i just wanted to let you know that i kicked cancer’s ass just a little bit harder for you and in memory of your mother.
April 28, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Tiffany
This made my day! 🙂
September 23, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Stand Up! « Brain Candy
[…] else I know is going through the fight right now. My brother’s soon-to-be sister-in-law, Jenn is fighting Hodgkins Lymphoma for the second time in 2 years. It horrifies me she has to do this […]
August 22, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Candy
Hello Sweet Girl~
I have been very touched by your blog and I will pray for your family. You are amazing and what a blessing you are for many people.
I am a friend of Sariela and Joanne. I think I have a picture of you from Disney with my kids. Please let me know if this is you….from the Hunchback show, I think. I saw pictures on facebook and remembered how stunning you are, so I searched your name, not stalking, I promise.
I have been reading your blog and my heart goes out to you. Your family is beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your story and making memories for so many!
Candy
August 20, 2009 at 6:49 am
Wendy
Thank you for sharing your story! I was diagnosed with cancer last week and I plan on trying to nurse if at all possible when I am done with my treatment.
You are inspiring.
July 31, 2009 at 8:25 am
Frelle
This is my first visit to your blog. I wanted you to know that I am praying for your health and so grateful for this look into your life. I am an AP mom, and appreciate your talking through what happens when things don’t go the way you plan. SO many moms need to read things from that perspective!
July 31, 2009 at 10:19 am
bits of myself
i’m so happy you stopped by. thank you so much for your kind words and prayers!
May 20, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Carly
I work for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) of Kansas and am putting a pamphlet together about extended breastfeeding. I did a quick google search and found some of your fantastic nursing pictures. I was wondering if you would give me permission to use some of the photos. This pamphlet would be sent to the Kansas State WIC office for official approval before being distributed/displayed in county WIC clinics around the state. WIC is a big supported of breastfeeding and I’ve taken on a one woman quest to get more information out there to our bf moms about nursing beyond one year. It’s my personal belief that the more we nurse our toddlers in public, the less odd it becomes to those not participating in this sort of breastfeeding relationship – and the more it encourages other women to develop a positive view of extended nursing. Because of this, I’d like to put an image of a nursing toddler on the cover of this publication. Best of luck to you and thank you for your consideration.
Carly Tyler
May 8, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Laura B.
I LOVE that Disney shot! SO wonderful!
I referred someone to your website today. They have a family member who is a child who has leukemia. I said they should get milk!
February 20, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Bob
Hi, I found the image of your mediport when researching a presentation that I’m giving to student in the pharmacy school where I teach. I want to ask if I can use the image in class to show my students what one looks like.
But also, I started reading your site. We had a faculty colleague a few years ago who found out she had leukemia during her pregnancy with twins. It made me think of her and how hard she fought.
Keep going!! You’ve inspired a lot of people. I wish you the best.
February 20, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Laura Bailey
Hi, I am also VERY interested in relactation tips. I had to wean at 13 mos to receive chemo for stage II breast cancer. I have one more chemo left (yay!) and could use any and all advice and encouragement on relactation. My son is now 16 mos old (will be 17 mos old when I am clean to nurse) thank you, you are a true inspiration to all of us!
February 2, 2009 at 3:46 am
Mandi
Wow thanks so much for sharing a bit of yourself and your story. How are you? How are you feeling? Are things getter any better? I hope so. Your daughter is absolutely beautiful, what a blessing.
I felt compelled to write because my husband and I have been through the ringer with infertility and we were supposed to start the process for IVF in Dec when I became sick which has led to finding a tumor in my right lung. In an attempt to figure out what it is has been test after test but I am still a medical mystery. I just had a mediastinoscopy this week and hopefully will have some answers and treatment soon. This whole process both with wanting a child and getting sick is so hard to express unless someone else experiences it or something similar, so I just wanted to reach out to you.
I wish you much love and healing.
December 25, 2008 at 6:14 am
naama fadida
Hello
I am a student of Eduction in Oranim collage, Isreal.
I woulud like your permission to use the attachment picture, for eductionl web site. This site is intended for School pupils and Eductional students only.
Ode to you on any response.
naama fadida.
December 23, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Terri
I came across this site when I googled Roy’s name. I’m his Chicago connection. When he was here, if he wasn’t at his bro’s house, he was at mine. I knew Roy for 40+ years, and am still reeling that he’s not here with me – with us. His brothers and sis-in-law hosted a “Celebration of Life” party; both the Michalides’ and Patterson’s (mom’s side) were in attendance. It was a closure. I’m so glad I made the decision NOT to go to the services in FL; to see Roy so…..still – I’d have been placed in a padded room. Tell everyone from the time Roy was 11- 12 years old – he was always as nice and as good as he was a 54 years old. What you saw was what you got. He was a great boy, young man, man – and an even better best friend. I miss him terribly. My life will never be the same.
December 8, 2008 at 12:03 am
Jill
Hi JM. I wish we had gotten to say goodbye before you moved. I’m praying, chanting and doing an ancient tribal dance for good news for you tomorrow!
Hugs to you, Jules and Sophie!
November 1, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Jill
Hi JM. I’ve been thinking about you and would love to come visit you this weekend or next week some time. I’ll talk to you on FB soon. Let me know if you want some visitors!
Hugs…J
October 13, 2008 at 7:53 am
Christine
Hi…I just came across your blog a few days ago when I was researching Breastfeeding and Chemotherapy. I was diagnosed with a rare Ovarian Cancer and will most likely be starting Chemotherapy in November. Till this point I was nursing and was going to keep on nursing my 15 month old boy. He was sadly weaned cold turkey when I had emergency surgery to remove the huge tumor on September 28th. Now I am pumping three times a day to at least give him mama’s milk at night (through a bottle, ugh) till I start my treatment. Anyway I just wanted to say that you are an inspiration. I really hope that you are able to resume breastfeeding your daughter once your treatment is over. I had hopes of doing the same, but my son doesn’t seem to care about nursing anymore. It is heartbreaking and not the way I wanted it to happen.
I wish you the best and I hope you have a full recovery.
HUGS from one cancer fighting mama to another!
September 13, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Alexis
Hi, i came across your blog two days ago, i was looking for info on breastfeeding and toddlers. i am not a mother but i am babysitting a little boy who is still breastfeeding and i wanted some onfo on how to help him cope while his mom is at work…i also wanted to say that my dad is going through chemo right now he has cancer in his liver and i see how hard it is for him to just get out of bed. i hope that you get better and also i think your little girl is beautiful 😀 my best wishes to you.
August 21, 2008 at 12:50 am
Chris M.
Thank you for your kind remembrance of my Uncle Roy. I am the older of his two grown nephews. His sudden loss sent shock waves through our family, as it did his Disney family.
My wife works for the leading IVF clinic in Illinois. She’s seen the hardest-luck cases and they still experience success. Take heart in that assurance.
In your time of struggle, recall Roy’s bellowing laugh for support and comfort. Doing so makes me grin all the time.
Best wishes,
Chris
August 12, 2008 at 10:42 am
Diana
I didn’t want my email address to show up in the previous post so I didn’t enter it. But I see that you don’t publicize them. So it’s there now. Feel free to contact me to commiserate, encourage each other, share tips, whatever.
August 12, 2008 at 10:39 am
Diana
I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when I was pregnant with my son. After months of them telling me I had to wean him to do a radioactive iodine treatment, I finally caved to pressure and weaned him when he was 14 months old (they started pressuring me when he was 6 WEEKS old!). He’s now 17 months old and I’ve just started relactating (taking herbal supplements and domperidone and pumping like crazy). The only problem is, now that I’m making milk, my son doesn’t remember how to nurse and has no interest in resuming. My 3 year old has no problem resuming nursing. But I just can’t get my 17 month old interested. I wish I had a way to contact you directly so that we can share tips. If you do manage to get your daughter to nurse again, please post how you did it! Good luck. I know exactly what you are going though.
July 8, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Jessica Quiles
Hello
It was good to see you last week; just sad circumstances.
I didn’t know about this until I checked with Scott two days ago. I didn’t want to ask when I saw you…. It would seem a little cold.
If I would have known you would be going through this, I would have donated my hair to you! I’ve donated over 13 inches to Locks of Love twice now and my hair is getting long again so I just might.
I sincerely hope you get through this soon. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
With love, your ol’ time Luau friend,
Jessica
May 31, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Jocelyne Miller
Hey there Girly, I’ve been thinking about you and am so thankful Geri shared your blog address so I can see how you’re doing without intruding. Needless to say (but I will anyway) don’t hesistate to ask me for help. Kiss the nugget and nugget daddy for me.