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Mother of the Year Finalist Refused Abortion, Delayed Leukemia Treatments Until Daughter’s Birth

by Hilary White

PLYMOUTH, March 29, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A 31 year old British mother put off treatment for leukemia when her diagnosis and eagerly-awaited third pregnancy were confirmed on the same day in 2004. The BBC reports that Sarah Peck of Plymouth, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) .

Mrs. Peck said it was their haematologist’s agreement to manage the pregnancy that turned their decision away from abortion, or “termination” as it is called in England. "It's because he agreed to manage the pregnancy that we decided to go ahead,” she said.

The Pecks were informed, however, that delay could cause difficulties in treating Sarah’s illness. Dr. Simon Rule, a consultant haematologist at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, said, “If you delay (treatments) then the risk you run is that it can become acute at any time.”

After the birth of baby Charlotte 19 March 2005, Sarah was treated with bone marrow stem cells from her sister, Vicky. This week, while the Peck’s celebrated Charlotte’s first birthday, Sarah was informed that she was in the final five picks for the Daily Mail’s Mother of the Year award.

Sarah was informed a month ago that her illness is in remission. She told the BBC, “What I am really looking forward to now is spending quality time with my children. My family has always come first but now even more so. Every day is a gift now.”

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