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Four years ago, doctors discovered a giant tumour in Lynsey McDonald’s abdomen as they were delivering her first baby via c-section. And she had to make a heartbreaking choice while still on the operating table.

The joy of having given birth to her son Lennox was completely overshadowed, as the Queensland mum was asked by the doctors if they had her permission to remove her right ovary, fallopian tube and the 14cm tumour.

“I just couldn’t make the decision,” Lynsey said.

So she asked her fiancé Matthew Thomson for support.

“Doctors wanted to remove my right ovary and Matt made the call and decided ‘You’re too important, take it off!’

“All I wanted was to have another baby and I didn’t know if that would be possible if I only had one ovary.”

Baby after ovarian tumour
Doctors discovered a 14cm tumour while performing Lynsey’s c-section.

 

The pregnancy had already been challenging for Lynsey, who was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. It was the reason obstetricians at Mater Mothers’ Hospital had decided to perform the emergency c-section.

“There I was in the midst of celebrating the birth of our first child when minutes later doctors were discussing the large mass that had been growing on my ovary,” Lynsey explained.

“If Lennox hadn’t been born via an emergency caesarean section that day, the tumour could have continued to grow. I really think Lennox saved my life.”

The ovarian teratoma was a non-cancerous Struma ovarii tumour, which usually causes abdominal pain, abdominal distention, abnormal menstrual cycles, vaginal bleeding, frequent and urgent urination, and deep vein thrombosis. But Lynsey had no symptoms.

The couple thought Lennox could well be their only child. He was a miracle, having grown beside the tumour for nine months.

But Lynsey and Matthew desperately wanted another baby, but they suffered multiple heartbreaking losses.

“We both really wanted another baby. Maintaining the pregnancies was difficult – we had four miscarriages back-to-back and it was a really difficult time for Matt and I.”

Genetic testing discovered that Matthew had a genetic abnormality called Robertsonian translocation, which can cause infertility.

Baby after ovarian tumour

Baby after ovarian tumour

Incredibly, Lynsey fell pregnant naturally last year with their second miracle boy – Evander, who was born in June this year.

“We are so happy we maintained the pregnancy with Evander and we are so, so grateful that we have our little family,” she said.

“I hold my boys in my arms and I just can’t believe it, my dreams have come true.

“I am so proud of my body, after such a tough time trying to maintain a pregnancy, we have another little miracle which we created with one ovary!”

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  • I know it would have been scary but I’m so glad that you had the tumour removed when you did. I know how devastating it is to have miscarriages but over the moon that you were able to have a second child. Congratulations to you both

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  • It is a matter of living out the life path you have been given. Congratulations on your two beautiful sons and always remember to thank Mother Nature, or karma or whoever you believe in that you have been given such a wonderful lives to bring up and nurture to their fullest. Cheers

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  • What a beautiful amazing story- they are truly blest!

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  • This story shows that miracles do happen !

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  • So happy for this lovely family. Dealing with cancer can be so overwhelming. God Bless them.

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  • Wow what a shocking and confronting situation to face at such a vulnerable time. I am so Happy you have your two precious children. Blessings to you all

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  • Always so scary when these things happen. Glad she was able to have her second!

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  • Glad to hear of a family of winners

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  • Wow….what a story but with such a happy ending.

    I was actually born with one ovary … I tell people im a mutant…haha

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  • Great news that it ended well.
    But so frightening. Congratulations on bub!

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  • Wow, that tumor was massive. I too had a tumor but it was no where near as big as that one. Two miracle babies it seems and I am so happy she was able to have another one naturally.

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  • My sister too had a large benign tumour grown on her ovary, which was successfully removed

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  • A lovely outcome after all they have been through.

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  • A good choice with a good outcome.

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  • It’s amazing how often huge tumors go unnoticed.

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  • Wow, that choice wouldn’t be a hard one. Take 1 ovary, you still got another one, leave it and you could lose your life

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  • Aww so happy forcthem all. Beautiful family.

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  • Congratulations. It’s great to hear a happy story.

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  • Wonderful how they got blessed with another child after the discovery of her tumour !


    • Glad the tumour was benign !

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  • What a brave mum, and beautiful family. Not many bubs save their mums life the moment their born!

    Reply

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