Baby joy is crushed by cancer find
A first-time Auckland mum who tried for years to have a baby has been left feeling robbed by the news she might only have months to live.
Rebecca Hyndman, 32, has been diagnosed with an “aggressive” type of cancer less than a month after giving birth to her long-awaited son Ben.
She was awaiting tests to see what type of cancer it was, but said “being realistic the life expectancy isn’t measured in years”.
“I felt a sorrow that you can’t put into words; fear and anxiety for my two boys, my friends and my family. But my primary fear was for my boys.”
The first sign of the cancer was the lingering nausea and lack of appetite she’d attributed to morning sickness.
However, a lump Mrs Hyndman found in her stomach was found to be a gastric tumour.
“Pregnancy masked the true symptoms,” she said. “Normal people get an appetite back, but I seemed to not improve.”
Mrs Hyndman said her 4-week-old baby, who she’d fondly nicknamed “Big Ben” was a “little angel” who was already fitting clothes for a 3-monthold, was smiling and “doing all the right things”.
“He’s a spitting image of his father, [Jeff] which is good, because he’s good-looking.”
But the support from her friends and family gave her faith her son would be well looked after.
“I have no fear that my baby will have the best care and will have a magical upbringing.”
She’s been “overwhelmed” at the support friends, family and strangers have given to the Givealittle page that has so far raised close to $40,000.
Mrs Hyndman said she’d normally never ask, but she needed to know her husband and son were taken care of before she left.
“Before I leave I have promised everything will be in order.”
Close friend Anna Seccombe, who’d established the fundraising page, said “at a time in their lives that should be the most joyful”, the couple had received the most “shocking news anyone could receive”.
“Rebecca had gone from being a blissfully happy new mum, to a new mum looking down the barrel of chemotherapy.
“She has been told she has only a few months left to live, possibly less if the blood clots in her lungs are not able to be removed successfully.”
Ms Seccombe said “true to form”, her friend was focused on her little family rather than herself.
“This girl, faced with such a frightening diagnosis and the enormous weight of knowing she is going to be leaving behind many people who love her so much, is still smiling.
“She is still cracking funnies, she is still the bright, loving soul we all know and adore. There is still fire in her belly.”
Another friend, Amber Bibby, said it was incredible to see the public support. “How people rally and support . . . it’s so meaningful.”
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