The challenges of starting a young family mostly come in the form of sleepless nights and deciphering the cries and needs of the new life you have brought into this world. It’s unfair to add cancer into the mix when your baby is 6 weeks old, but sometimes life throws us these curve balls. Unexplained. Unexpected.

Precious baby years are suddenly awash with hospital visits, bedridden days, pain and sickness.

You are forced to face the fears that fill your mind for the future of your family and the dreams that may or may not be realised.

From somewhere you must find the strength to let your body recover from an operation that makes you unable to pick up your baby for far too long. Heart wrenchingly fighting a mothers instinct to pick up your baby when he cries. Nothing is more important to you in that moment.

At times like these you rely heavily on support from family and close friends, and charities like mummy’s star, who understand the difficulties of this uncommon situation, and is there to support families like mine.

I am Kathie, and this is my beautiful family. This photo was taken when Wilf was 8 weeks old, just before my chemotherapy started. As I write this, Wilf is 8 months old. We have high hopes for the future! 

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Mummy's Star is the only charity in the UK and Ireland dedicated to supporting pregnancy through cancer and beyond. Your donation means that women diagnosed with any cancer during pregnancy or within a year of a birth are able to reach Mummy's Star and the specialised support they offer. They help families to meet others in a similar position, offer small grants to relieve some financial burden, give support to partners and the wider family, promote awareness and support research. Thank you!