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Ovarian cancer survivor miraculously expecting twins

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Tara Parsons is pregnant with twins after the lifesaving chemotherapy treatment she underwent destroyed her eggs. (Photo: asiawire, magazinefeatures.co.za)
Tara Parsons is pregnant with twins after the lifesaving chemotherapy treatment she underwent destroyed her eggs. (Photo: asiawire, magazinefeatures.co.za)

An ovarian cancer survivor is pregnant with twins after her final cycle of IVF.

Tara Parsons (31) from Toronto, Canada, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, is expecting twins following 13 cycles of fertility treatment which cost $35 000 (about R490 000).

The lifesaving chemotherapy treatment which destroyed Tara’s eggs after she was diagnosed with cancer when she was 24 years old, ultimately threatened her hopes of one day having a family.

“I was allergic to the chemotherapy so each round would take 24 hours with a high dose of steroids,” she recalled.

wire, magazinefeatures.co.za)

After struggling to conceive naturally for six months with her husband, David (31), they sought fertility treatment.

The registered nurse and her hubby already had one child, Aiden, and although she was grateful for their son, she never gave up her dream of wanting a bigger family.

“I was fortunate enough to have Aiden (19 months) who was conceived via the first round of IVF but when he was eight months old, I desperately wanted another.”

The pair, who met and fell in love while Tara was looking after David’s mother, spent all their savings on fertility treatments.

And despite doctors warning the risk of cancer returning due to the vast amount of hormones in each cycle following their fourth failed treatment, the couple remained faithful.

“We tried IUI [intrauterine insemination] but it failed nine times, I was heartbroken. All I wanted was a baby. My friends were having them and I couldn’t help but feel jealous,” explained Tara.

After four rounds of IVF, nine IUI – which involves placing sperm inside a woman's uterus to facilitate fertilisation – and one miscarriage, she’s finally pregnant with twins.

Now 17 weeks pregnant, Tara can’t believe her luck.

“I’m now the happiest I’ve ever been as my dream family is soon to be complete.”

Sources: Magazine Features

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