Beth Paterson, a cancer patient, has recently given birth to her daughter after spending nine weeks in a coma during her pregnancy. Ms. Paterson was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma that spread from her chest to her brain, which resulted in her staying unconscious. However, hospital staff monitored her while she completed chemotherapy in her unresponsive state and ensured that the treatment had no effect on her unborn child.
Following the delivery of her baby girl, Isabella, premature with a gestational age of 31 weeks and five days, Ms. Paterson recalls waking up and being aware of her pregnancy. Although she had lost her memories, mobility, and speech, she still had her hand on her stomach which indicated to her that she was still pregnant.
Ms. Paterson’s symptoms were initially attributed to morning sickness in October 2023, according to health workers. But, when she lost weight rapidly, became fatigued, and had visual hallucinations, she was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with cancer. During the 16th week of her pregnancy, a complication called encephalopathy caused her to fall unconscious.
Lymphoma nurse Lauren Duhig, who looked after Ms. Paterson, revealed that she had never given chemotherapy to a pregnant woman before. The specialists in neurology, oncology, and obstetrics held weekly meetings to coordinate treatment while keeping both the mother and unborn child in mind. Despite her coma and diagnosis, Ms. Paterson is now in remission from cancer and is slowly regaining her strength and memory while catching up on lost time with her two young sons
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