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Expectant Resiliance

Battling Cancer while pregnant

On June 5th, 2023, we received the joyous news that Atsumi was pregnant, following our unforgettable month-long journey across Japan. This trip was a highlight of our lives, and returning home to this pregnancy revelation was the most incredible gift we could have ever received. However, our happiness was short-lived when, on July 27th a call informed us that Atsumi had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of triple-negative breast cancer, necessitating immediate treatment. Every plan that we had crafted revolving around the the baby and and future steps was turned upside down and required an immediate pivot.

Although our primary focus was on the positive aspects of our days, this gallery is aimed to document the treatment steps as they unfolded, highlighting the contrast between Atsumi’s progress and the development of our baby. We embarked on this challenging journey with unwavering determination, a deep belief in the resilience of the human spirit, and the steadfast support of our loved ones, determined to show that even in the face of cancer, there is hope for a future filled with health and happiness.

This is the happiest time of our lives vising family in Japan. We have no idea about what is to come.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Undiagnosed
Seed
This is the happiest time of our lives vising family in Japan. We have no idea about what is to come.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Undiagnosed
Seed

''I'm so scared- why me?''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Aug, 5 2023
14 weeks
After Diagnosis
Kiwi
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Juju's Size
Nov, 2 2023
12 weeks
Chemo
Orange

''I've had the worst morning sickness, I hope I have a few days of feeling fine before everything gets started''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Aug, 5 2023
14 weeks
After Diagnosis
Kiwi
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Juju's Size
Nov, 2 2023
12 weeks
Chemo
Orange

''I need to take a pretty picture before treatment wrecks my body!''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Aug, 10 2023
16 weeks
Days before lumpectomy
Apple
''It's so hard to be brave when I don't know what to expect.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Aug, 10 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn

''It's so hard to be brave when I don't know what to expect.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Aug, 10 2023
16 weeks
Days before lumpectomy
Apple
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'The lumpectomy wasn't so bad- I'm just so tired.'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Aug, 15 2023
16 weeks
After lumpectomy
Avocado
'The lumpectomy wasn't so bad- I'm just so tired.'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Aug, 15 2023
16 weeks
After lumpectomy
Avocado

'My cats are really healing me'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Sep, 20 2023
20 weeks
1 Week before first chemo
Banana
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'I'm feeling so good!'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Sep, 24 2023
21 weeks
1 day before first chemo
Large Banana
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'I'm strong enough to pick up Noah again!'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Sep, 24 2023
21 weeks
1 day before first chemo
Large Banana
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Sep, 24 2023
21 weeks
Day before 1st chemo
Large Banana

'This is it, I hope I don't feel so bad later today!'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Sep, 25 2023
21 weeks
Morning before first chemo
Large Banana
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'Recovering in San Clemente with Henry's parents has made me feel so good'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Sep, 30 2023
22 weeks
A week after chemo
Papaya
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Sep, 16 2023
20 weeks
1st round of chemo
Papaya

'I wonder when my hair will fall out'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
Sep, 30 2023
22 weeks
A week after chemo
Papaya
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'Lets play with the cats'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 3 2023
22 weeks
1 weeks after chemo
Papaya
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'It begins...'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 8 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 6 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot

'This is kind of funny'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 8 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 6 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot

'Just a little bit is falling out'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 8 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 6 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot

'I thought I would be more sad'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 8 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 6 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot

'Why is this so funny'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 8 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
I thought I would feel worse after the Lumpectomy. Thankfully Noah is trying to heal me.
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 6 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot

'I still have hair'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 9 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'I wonder how long it will take to all fall out at this rate'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 9 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
/div>
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'I couldn't stop laughing when this happened'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 9 2023
23 weeks
2 weeks after chemo
Carrot
/div>
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'Now to clean everything up!'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 10 2023
23 weeks
3 weeks after chemo
Carrot
/div>
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'I thought I would be crying, but here I am laughing'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 10 2023
24 weeks
3 weeks after chemo
Ear of corn
/div>
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

'All gone!'
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Babies Size
Oct, 10 2023
24 weeks
3 weeks after chemo
Ear of corn
/div>
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

''Juju is kicking a lot more these days. It's good to know this isn't affecting him.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 12 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn
''Juju is kicking a lot more these days. It's good to know this isn't affecting him.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 12 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn

''This week was a difficult one. I'm happy to feel normal this morning.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 13 2023
23 weeks
Week 2 after first chemo
Large Mango
Is this the last time I will have a full head or hair?
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Cancer Status
Babies Size
May, 12 2023
2 weeks
Growing
Seed

''I wish I had less head freckles, I then I could be comfortable walking around bald.''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn
''I wonder how I will do after my next session?''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn

''I'm surprised I feel so good''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn
''I'm surprised I feel so good''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn

''I wonder how I will do after my next session?''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn
''I wonder how I will do after my next session?''
Date
Pregnancy Stage
Treatment Phase
Baby Size
October, 14 2023
24 weeks
Week 3 after first chemo
Ear of corn