Young Derbyshire mum given choice of abortion or cancer treatment delay celebrates lockdown baby joy

A young north Derbyshire mum has revealed how she battled cancer while pregnant before giving birth to her beautiful baby girl amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Ellie Whittaker, 21, was told she had Hodgkins Lymphoma 16 weeks into her pregnancy and was given the agonising choice of having an abortion or delaying treatment for the condition.

Having suffered a miscarriage previously, Ellie bravely went ahead with the pregnancy – giving birth to little Connie Gina-Dianne Marriott just before lockdown on March 18 – and is now three rounds into a gruelling session of 12 rounds of chemotherapy to beat the cancer.

Ellie Whittaker gave birth to lockdown baby Connie Gina-Dianne Marriott after battling cancer during pregnancy.Ellie Whittaker gave birth to lockdown baby Connie Gina-Dianne Marriott after battling cancer during pregnancy.
Ellie Whittaker gave birth to lockdown baby Connie Gina-Dianne Marriott after battling cancer during pregnancy.
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“There was no way I was going to abort my baby,” Ellie, from Bolsover, said. “It has been emotional but the main thing is my baby is fine. She is growing phenomenally and is such a good baby, she doesn’t cry much at all.”

Shortly after suffering her miscarriage in April last year, Ellie began to feel unwell with several viral infections and a swelling appeared on her neck and collar bone.

“Doctors first thought it could have been tonsillitis and I was prescribed penicillin,” Ellie said. “But the lumps were still there in July 2019 when I found out I was pregnant again.”

Ellie underwent numerous scans and a biopsy before it was confirmed by the Macmillan Cancer Unit at Chesterfield Royal Hospital that she had Hodgkins Lymphoma.

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“Once I’d said I was not having an abortion, I was referred to a haematologist at the Hallamshire Teaching Hospital in Sheffield,” she said.

“They had only ever looked after one other pregnant lady with Hodgkins Lymphoma.

“They were not happy to treat me while pregnant as the baby would then be affected by all the symptoms like tiredness and feeling sick. So the chemotherapy was delayed.

“I was given another scan at 27 weeks and they could have given me the chemo then, but decided I didn’t need it at that stage.”

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Ellie gave birth at 37 weeks to Connie, who weighed 6.12lbs, and began her cancer treatment almost immediately despite the Covid-19 restrictions.

“Because of the lockdown, my fiancé, Kieran Marriott, has had to look after Connie while I’ve been at the hospital,” Ellie said. “He has been amazing with her as I’ve had times when I’ve been so tired from the treatment.”

Ellie says she is also grateful for the support of her mum and dad, Debbie and John Whittaker, sister Amy Whittaker, father-in-law Nicky John Marriott and his partner Melanie Andrew.

“They’ve all supported me in so many different ways,” Ellie said. “The charities that have helped me tremendously are Mummy’s Star, which is a charity for mums who have been diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy and also CLIC Sargent for the amount of help they’ve given me since my diagnosis.

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“Also, the amazing cancer team at Sheffield Hallamshire Teaching Hospital along with Dr Nick Morley who has been absolutely amazing during my whole pregnancy and through my current cancer journey.”

Ellie has started a blog on Facebook to help raise awareness of Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is called Ell’s Journey.

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