FAMILY GIVES ALL FOR BRAVE MUM
A TOWNSVILLE mum given the most precious gift by her sister continues to be overwhelmed by the love of her family as she fights a long- running battle against cancer.
Jane Illin, 36, was first diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago as a 24year- old.
She beat the disease and despite undergoing chemotherapy, was able to fall pregnant naturally with her husband Vin Illin.
It was during her pregnancy with her daughter Tinsley, in 2010, when doctors told her the cancer had returned, this time in her shoulder bone, and advised her never to become pregnant again.
“They said you’re going to be on treatment for the rest of your life and we don’t know how that’ll harm the unborn baby,” Jane said. The cancer has returned numerous times since then and has travelled to the membrane in her skull, sternum and lymph nodes.
During the middle of last year, the cancer appeared in Jane’s lungs.
“I haven’t had a break since … all my family is incredible, I truly, truly could not do it without them,” she said. “There are obviously hard times where there are tears and tears and tears and tears, but I get past that a week or two later and I’m fine and off we go.
“I’m happy for that to keep happening for the next 50 years.”
Jane’s sister Mel Egginton was determined her sister would be able to add another to her young family, so she carried and delivered Jane’s now four- year- old son Bay.
Jane tearfully said she was incredibly grateful for the gift her sister was able to give her.
“Words can’t say, it’s unbelievable, I’d love to be able to pay her back, but how do you pay her back? You can’t, it’s incredible, she’s amazing.”
Mel said her experience as a surrogate was “fantastic”.
“I loved being pregnant, so it was a no- brainer in the end … it just made sense, she’s my sister,” she said.
Vin said he had to be convinced to agree to the surrogacy.
“The risk to Mel, for our gain something could have happened and then we’d have to live with that ourselves,” he said.
“I was the last one and I was being pressured by these two.”
Jane said she and her husband loved and respected their “amazing” doctor so much.
Obstetrician and Queensland Fertility Group specialist Dr Ron Chang has been with Jane from the start of her journey.
“When I was 24 and just had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in his office bawling my eyes out, trying to cope with everything I was going through and he was just so kind,” she said.
He started Jane’s fertility treatment in 2007, was her obstetrician throughout her pregnancy with daughter Tinsley in 2010 and then oversaw her sister’s surrogacy pregnancy in 2013- 14.
Dr Chang said outcomes like Jane’s were positive, given the disappointment felt by many couples trying for a baby when undertaking fertility treatments.
“It’s wonderful, the sister delivered Jane’s baby and it was very emotional. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” he said.
“It’s such a beautiful thing. All of the staff had tears streaming down their faces.”
It’s 40 years since the first IVF baby was born in Townsville.
WORDS CAN’T SAY, IT’S UNBELIEVABLE, I’D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PAY HER BACK, BUT HOW DO YOU PAY HER BACK?
JANE ILLIN