News

By Gudrun Schultz

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, July 31, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A woman who refused chemotherapy treatment to save the life of her ninth child is now dying of terminal cancer, reported the Catholic News Agency Friday.

Laura Alejandra Figeroa, 39, was diagnosed with breast cancer last March. Rather than risk the life of her unborn baby, she made the decision to postpone chemotherapy treatment until after his birth. Her son Pedro was born July 12th at 27 weeks gestation. The child weighed 2.4 pounds and is in intensive care with kidney and heart problems, according to CNA.

Figeroa’s cancer has now spread to her brain and is considered irreversible, the Argentinian Catholic weekly Cristo Hoy reported last week.

Figeroa told Cristo Hoy she hoped her decision would help the work of defending the life of the unborn, in an interview several months ago.

“Today, more than ever, there are people who are against life, who want to legalize abortion, which I consider an abominable crime, and therefore I ask that this testimony encourage those who read it to defend the unborn.

“I would like all women who are pregnant to remember that no situation, no matter how difficult, justifies taking the life of the baby in their womb. Not even in cases of rape or life of the mother.”

She made the decision in order to show her love “to this child that is coming in the same way that I have shown it to the other children I have. I want my child to know that I love him and that I will always love him, that I will give my life for him if necessary.”

“Of course I don’t intend to neglect my health, as I have the responsibility to protect my own life and that of my baby, but nevertheless, I avoid everything that, while helpful to my own health, might be detrimental to that of my child,” she said.

Christo Hoy has launched a prayer crusade for Fegeroa, inviting readers to “unite in prayer for this family and to pray especially for the health of this model of a mother and for her baby.”

Read coverage by the Catholic News Agency:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=7278

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Mother Dies of Cancer to Save Life of Her Unborn Child
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121402.html