Mum, 28, gives birth while battling Covid and sepsis – and is now diagnosed with cancer

Student nurse Keisha Chadwick, 28, planned to go back to finishing her course just three weeks after giving birth but she was diagnosed with breast cancer when her daughter Milana was seven weeks old

A student nurse gave birth to her daughter while battling through sepsis and Covid only to be diagnosed with breast cancer weeks later.

Keisha Chadwick, 28, planned to go back to finishing her nursing course just three weeks after giving birth.

However, everything changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer when Milana was just seven-weeks-old.

Keisha, from Ashton-under-Lyne, told the Manchester Evening News that she first found a lump on her breast when she was about seven to eight months pregnant.

She didn’t think it could be cancerous and didn’t get it checked.

She said: “I never check my breasts so to find this lump was a real shock, but I thought it was something to do with the baby.”

Keisha Chadwick is a student nurse – but won’t be able to graduate this year because of her breast cancer treatment ( Image: Keisha Chadwick)

Keisha gave birth while battling Covid and sepsis ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

However, after she gave birth she realised the lump got bigger.

Keisha went to the doctor and he told her that it was probably something to do with milk over anything else – but she should still get a scan to be sure.

She was told the same thing about milk when she went for an ultrasound as staff said the lump was small – but she was sent for a biopsy to be absolutely certain.

Keisha said: “I was just getting on with my life – I was so convinced it was something to do with milk.”

Two weeks later, the new mum went to the hospital alone to get her results and received her cancer diagnosis.‘

She said: “I didn’t believe it at first. I never even considered that it could be cancer. I wasn’t prepared to hear bad news because I was so adamant that it wasn’t.”

Keisha had also battled sepsis and Covid during childbirth.

The sepsis was flagged by medical staff as Keisha was in labour and she actually had to hold off pushing to receive treatment.

It wasn’t known that she had Covid until after she had given birth, despite testing negative before going to the hospital.

Keisha spent her first moment with her baby alone as she had tested positive for Covid ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

Keisha with her pal Aimee Pritchard who has started an online fundraiser to help the new mum ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)DON’T MISS

However, Keisha started to feel unwell and when her test came back positive she and her newborn baby had to go into isolation alone.

She was so scared of passing the virus to the newborn she wore a mask at all times.

And because she was isolating she didn’t have anyone to show her how to care for the newborn.

She said: “It was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life. I had no one with me. No visitors. No one around to help me with my baby.

“And then when I got home I found out that I had cancer.”

Keisha now isn’t able to go on her final nursing placement because it’ll clash with chemotherapy.

Keisha Chadwick with her friend Aimee who is dedicated to supporting her pal ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

This means she won’t be able to graduate this year – and she won’t be able to start the job she’s got lined up on a vascular ward.

She’ll miss out on doing things with her daughter too, like taking her swimming for the first time or going to a play centre because of the high risk of infection.

Keisha said: “So much happened so quickly. It’s just something I have got to deal with.

Keisha Chadwick’s friend Aimee Pritchard started an online fundraiser to support her through her cancer treatment.

Her close friends have also organised a sponsored walk to and from The Christie hospital to raise money to support her.

The money will fund a quality wig as well as supporting her in everyday life as she’ll be left with no source of income.

Keisha plans to have her breast removed in the hope to recover more quickly and being able to spend more quality time with her baby girl.

If more money is raised, then it will go towards breast surgery in the far future to help restore her confidence.

To support the fundraiser, click here.

Keisha Chadwick, 28, planned to go back to finishing her nursing course just three weeks after giving birth.

However, everything changed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer when Milana was just seven-weeks-old.

Keisha, from Ashton-under-Lyne, told the Manchester Evening News that she first found a lump on her breast when she was about seven to eight months pregnant.

She didn’t think it could be cancerous and didn’t get it checked.

She said: “I never check my breasts so to find this lump was a real shock, but I thought it was something to do with the baby.”

Keisha Chadwick is a student nurse – but won’t be able to graduate this year because of her breast cancer treatment ( Image: Keisha Chadwick)

Keisha gave birth while battling Covid and sepsis ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

However, after she gave birth she realised the lump got bigger.

Keisha went to the doctor and he told her that it was probably something to do with milk over anything else – but she should still get a scan to be sure.

She was told the same thing about milk when she went for an ultrasound as staff said the lump was small – but she was sent for a biopsy to be absolutely certain.

Keisha said: “I was just getting on with my life – I was so convinced it was something to do with milk.”

Two weeks later, the new mum went to the hospital alone to get her results and received her cancer diagnosis.‘I had to have emergency C-section – my father-in-law thinks I’m too lazy to push’

She said: “I didn’t believe it at first. I never even considered that it could be cancer. I wasn’t prepared to hear bad news because I was so adamant that it wasn’t.”

Keisha had also battled sepsis and Covid during childbirth.

The sepsis was flagged by medical staff as Keisha was in labour and she actually had to hold off pushing to receive treatment.

It wasn’t known that she had Covid until after she had given birth, despite testing negative before going to the hospital.

Keisha spent her first moment with her baby alone as she had tested positive for Covid ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

Keisha with her pal Aimee Pritchard who has started an online fundraiser to help the new mum ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)DON’T MISS

However, Keisha started to feel unwell and when her test came back positive she and her newborn baby had to go into isolation alone.

She was so scared of passing the virus to the newborn she wore a mask at all times.

And because she was isolating she didn’t have anyone to show her how to care for the newborn.

She said: “It was supposed to be the happiest moment of my life. I had no one with me. No visitors. No one around to help me with my baby.

“And then when I got home I found out that I had cancer.”

Keisha now isn’t able to go on her final nursing placement because it’ll clash with chemotherapy.

Keisha Chadwick with her friend Aimee who is dedicated to supporting her pal ( Image: Aimee Pritchard)

This means she won’t be able to graduate this year – and she won’t be able to start the job she’s got lined up on a vascular ward.

She’ll miss out on doing things with her daughter too, like taking her swimming for the first time or going to a play centre because of the high risk of infection.

Keisha said: “So much happened so quickly. It’s just something I have got to deal with.

Keisha Chadwick’s friend Aimee Pritchard started an online fundraiser to support her through her cancer treatment.

Her close friends have also organised a sponsored walk to and from The Christie hospital to raise money to support her.

The money will fund a quality wig as well as supporting her in everyday life as she’ll be left with no source of income.

Keisha plans to have her breast removed in the hope to recover more quickly and being able to spend more quality time with her baby girl.

If more money is raised, then it will go towards breast surgery in the far future to help restore her confidence.

To support the fundraiser, click here.

Source: Mirror ByJosie Le VeyAlahna KindredNews Reporter