Newlywed couple both diagnosed with cancer the same year they had their first child

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A pair of newlyweds have mentioned their child is the “one shining mild” after they have been each identified with most cancers in the identical 12 months their daughter was born.

This time final 12 months Matt and Laura Lambert, from Derby, have been trying ahead to getting married and welcoming their first baby within the spring.

However in February their world got here crashing down when Matt, who had visited hospital a number of instances over the earlier two years with “excruciating” stomach pains, was identified with a uncommon kind of abdomen most cancers known as neuroendocrine tumours.

The couple, who’ve been collectively for 15 years and work in software program, didn’t let the unhealthy information destroy their life plans, and eloped to Las Vegas in March.

Two months later their daughter, who they don’t want to title, was born, however after giving start, Laura stored coughing and experiencing temperatures and night time sweats.

She mentioned docs initially thought these have been postpartum signs earlier than a chest X-ray in November revealed Laura, 38, had a 15cm mass in her chest cavity which was stage 3 lymphoma – blood most cancers.

Matt, 42, is scheduled to have an operation to take away his tumours in February, and Laura will begin “intensive chemotherapy” earlier than Christmas, however the pair are involved about shedding their house if they will not work and canopy the mortgage repayments.

Laura’s mom Karen has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe to assist the couple pay their payments and afford childcare as each will likely be compelled to cease working throughout therapy.

“I used to be considering, why us?” Laura mentioned.

“I’m shedding a lot treasured time not being a mummy to our stunning daughter.

“Even her first Christmas has principally been cancelled for us this 12 months.”

Matt added: “All these worries have been attending to me as a result of I don’t know the way are we going to maintain dwelling on this home with all the uncertainty forward.”

Matt and Laura met in a web-based chat room in 1999 the place they bonded over taking part in The Legend Of Zelda, a preferred action-adventure online game.

Matt, who was 19 on the time, was dwelling along with his household in Wellingborough, greater than 70 miles away from Laura, then aged 14, who was in Nottingham.

After a few months of messaging, their moms agreed to satisfy face-to-face midway and the pair quickly turned shut associates.

They then misplaced contact for a couple of years however in 2007, Laura messaged Matt on Fb out of the blue and the pair have been collectively ever since.

All had been going in accordance with plan till Christmas Day 2021 when Matt all of the sudden fell violently sick after ending his dinner.

“I used to be in agony,” he mentioned.

“I used to be bent over and throwing up as a result of I used to be in a lot stomach ache.”

The “excruciating ache” returned each three months for a couple of days.

“The ache goes away after 4 or 5 days after which I’m again to regular once more,” he mentioned.

“However it’s excruciating – you wouldn’t want it in your worst enemy.”

After a number of hospital visits, Matt was referred to a gastrointestinal specialist in Derby.

“I had been hospitalised like 5 – 6 instances [before being diagnosed],” he mentioned.

The specialist instructed Matt may very well be struggling irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), however he was not satisfied and requested whether or not there have been every other checks.

He was advised an MRI scan might assist make clear what was unsuitable.

“I mentioned to Laura, I haven’t received IBS, there’s one thing else unsuitable with me,” Matt continued.

In February, Matt suffered one other flare-up and was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

This time, he mentioned he insisted on having an MRI and found he had been dwelling with a uncommon kind of abdomen most cancers.

“The following time I used to be in hospital, I mentioned, are you able to give me an MRI as a result of I can’t maintain coming to hospital,” he mentioned.

“And that’s once they mentioned, oh, we’ve discovered one thing.

“That’s once they discovered my tumour.”

To forestall the flare-ups, Matt has been compelled to vary his weight-reduction plan and will be unable to get pleasure from Christmas dinner this 12 months – one in all his favorite meals.

“I can’t eat something spicy or too salty like bacon or sturdy cheeses,” he mentioned.

“So attempting to maintain it bland and really uninteresting – beige meals, principally.”

Regardless of the unhealthy information, Matt and Laura mentioned they tried to “keep on with life” and determined to not postpone their marriage ceremony, having already accomplished so as soon as due to Covid.

“We needed to elope and have a small marriage ceremony in Las Vegas so we simply took shut household,” Matt mentioned.

“It was quite a bit cheaper than having a marriage right here [in the UK].”

In Might, Laura gave start to a child woman and was trying ahead to being a mom when catastrophe struck for a second time.

“Ever since giving start she had a cough,” mentioned Matt.

“It simply stored going and I began to get involved.”

“I went to the GP three or 4 instances and so they dismissed it as postpartum signs,” added Laura.

When her situation didn’t enhance, she returned to the physician and voiced her frustration.

This time, she was despatched for a chest X-ray to see whether or not she was affected by pneumonia, and was advised to return again two days later to gather the outcomes.

When she did, Laura mentioned: “They requested if I had had a chest X-ray earlier than and seemed shocked.

“I might really see it – it’s a 15cm mass.

“They mentioned the GP would name me tomorrow, however he really known as later that day and mentioned it’s lymphoma.

“I knew precisely what that meant.

“It took a couple of weeks to course of and now I’m going to start out chemo and get it gone.”

Laura is anxious that her poor well being is getting in the best way of being a mum, and is because of begin chemotherapy on December 18.

“She’s not capable of do lots of issues,” defined her mom Karen.

“She needs she might do extra and looks like she’s lacking out on some issues, particularly presently of 12 months.”

Whereas Laura needed to have an emergency C-section, her daughter is completely wholesome.

“She is our one shining mild,” added Matt.

They’re additionally frightened about shedding their house if they’re compelled to take day off work and can’t afford to cowl their mortgage repayments.

“Clearly the price of dwelling is sort of excessive for the time being and my mortgage deal was about to expire this month,” mentioned Matt.

“I’ve received a brand new one now however I’m nonetheless £500 worse off, and with the uncertainty of the long run and our new child, I’m undecided we’ll be capable of keep on dwelling on this home.”

Matt was advised specialists ought to be capable of function on his tumour which is within the small gut.

His surgical procedure, which has already been postponed twice, is scheduled to happen in February.

To help Matt and Laura go to: www.gofundme.com/f/lambert-family-ordeal .