Each day we report on incredibly inspiring and courageous mums and dads from around the world, and Kim Vaillancourt is one of those people who deserves our support and love.
The mum-of-five has received an outpouring of love and well wishes this week, after revealing that she is postponing treatment for brain cancer, so as to give her unborn child the best possible chance of survival.
Kim’s ordeal began at Christmas, just days after she and husband Phil formally adopted three young girls to join their family of four. After enduring severe nausea, she decided to go and get herself checked out, and ended up being rushed to hospital for surgery.
The adoring mum was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and two tumours were removed from her brain and the base of her brain.
In an interview with CBS News, Kim credited her unborn child with saving her life. With five children at home for the holidays, she admitted that she would probably have just struggled on, but she was concerned that being unable to keep her food down would adversely affect her little one.
With glioblastoma, there is a high likelihood that the tumours will return, but Kim has bravely refused to undergo treatment for fear it would harm the tot.
“The baby saved me. Now it’s my turn to save him,” she told the news agency, while husband Phil added: “She’s going to do what she can to save the baby’s life and give it the healthiest life possible.”
Kim is planning to begin her cancer treatment two weeks after the birth of her baby, a boy, whom she has named Wyatt Eli.
We’re wishing Kim all the best with the rest of her pregnancy as well as her treatment.
