Mum’s 2nd miracle in 1 year
AT just 21 years of age, Annmarie Bowen’s world fell to pieces.
Her gut instinct was that something was wrong, but nothing could have prepared her for being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
For the Rhymney Valley hairdresser, however, it was one conversation in particular which caused unimaginable pain.
Sitting down with her consultant, she was told that, because of the intensive treatment she was about to receive, it was unlikely she would have children.
Now, in a turn of events which has left doctors mystified, she has defied the odds for a second time after giving birth to two “miracle” babies within less than a year.
“The day I was diagnosed it was a complete blur,” said Annmarie, now 29.
“For me what was almost worse than the fact I had cancer was the fact that I might not be a mother. It was always my dream to have children and to be told that at 21 – it was hard. My life fell to pieces.
“There was no one younger than me with breast cancer and there was no one anywhere near my age. The youngest person after me was 29 and that’s almost a decade difference.”
Using every ounce of her strength Annmarie threw herself into rounds of intensive and exhausting chemotherapy.
Looking back, the pain is still as strong today as it was then.
She said: “I don’t think that pain and hurt will ever go away. It’s been seven and a half years but it feels like it’s yesterday.”
In 2015, still one year away from receiving the all-clear, Annmarie and her family experienced yet another life-changing discovery.
For the mother-of-two it was utterly heart-breaking but at the same time the best news she could have ever hoped for. Without knowing it, Annmarie was going through two simultaneous pregnancies– one inside her uterus and the other outside.
“I had a heterotopic pregnancy and lost two babies and one of my fallopian tubes at the same time,” she said.
“For me, even though it was a sad time it was also a happy time in some ways as well, as I knew from tha t point I was able t o carry children. It gave me that hope for the future.” In 2016, no sooner had Annmarie received the all-clear she had been dreaming of than she discovered she was pregnant again. Doctors are still not sure how Annmarie’s pregnancy was even possible. At the time the hairdresser was taking Tamoxifen – a hormone blocker that prevents you from getting pregnant. But on November 15, Annmarie gave birth to a beautiful little girl called Pollyanna Mireille Williams, weighing 7lb 9oz. As far as she was concerned everything had fallen into place. But what happened next was a surprise even she struggles to comprehend. Annmarie said : “Pollyanna was three months old when I found out I was expecting Benny. I was just generally feeling quite ill so I thought I was better off taking a pregnancy test. I didn’t actually think I was pregnant – it was the only thing left and it came out positive.
“I burst out crying. I was on my own, I took the test by myself.
“Everyone was so shocked, one because it was so close together and two because for all those years I thought I couldn’t have children and then two came along.”
Throughout the pregnancy Annmarie and her consultants were very aware of what her body had already gone through. But through regular checks and appointments the team made sure everything went to plan.
She said: “In my eyes he’s a miracle as well.
“There were a few hiccups during the pregnancy which led to him being induced early but he was in absolute perfect health.
“I still pinch myself to make sure I’m still here and living my life with two children.
“They are my icing on the cake. They are the family I never thought I’d have.”
This month, Pollyanna will turn 19 months old and Benny eight months old.
Bursting with pride, Annmarie says: “I tell my story to everyone and one of the main reasons is to raise awareness.”
She isn’t completely out of the woods
She has now been put back on Tamoxifen, which can leave her feeling drained, but she hopes her treatment will be finished by the time her kids are up and running.
She said: “My kids are my strength and courage to carry on.”