Mother makes ultimate sacrifice for new baby
Pastor Dale Morgan
Mother makes ultimate sacrifice for new baby*
By Laura Clout
Last Updated: 2:35am GMT 26/01/2008
A UK mother who refused cancer treatment to give her baby the best
chance of life has died just weeks after giving birth.
Lorraine Allard, 33, was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer when she
was four months pregnant and was offered a termination.
But she refused and delayed her treatment, giving birth to Liam 15 weeks
prematurely.
She told her husband: "If I am going to die, my baby is going to live."
Mrs Allard, of St Olaves, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, spent just two
months with her son before losing her fight for life eight days ago.
Her husband Martyn, an oil field technician, yesterday paid tribute to
her as the "best wife and mum in the world".
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"Lorraine was so brave. I can't begin to describe how brave she was,"
34-year-old Mr Allard said.
"She knew all too well she didn't have long to live. So she put little
Liam's life before her own."
Mrs Allard had been uncomfortable throughout her pregnancy and doctors
suspected she had gallstones.
But scans showed she had two secondary tumours on her liver, one of them
5.1in (13cm) in diameter.
Although the primary cancer was never found, doctors believe it had been
growing undiagnosed in her bowel for years and told Mrs Allard she had
little hope of recovery. Mr Allard said his wife had hoped to live long
enough bring Liam home and would ring the hospital every day to check on
his progress.
However, her chemotherapy had little effect and she died on Jan 18. Liam
weighed just 1lb 11oz when he was born on Nov 18 in Norfolk and Norwich
University Hospital.
His father said Liam was now putting on weight, and was due to come home
in early March.
"It will be a massive boost to me and the whole family when we get Liam
home," Mr Allard said.
"He's a fantastic baby and a massive credit to his mum."
The couple also have three daughters, Leah, 10, Amy, eight, and
Courtney, 20 months. The Allards met when they were teenagers and had
been together for 17 years.
Mr Allard said: "Lorraine was my soulmate - we always thought we'd grow
old together. That wasn't to be sadly. But we've got four beautiful
children together. Every time I look at Liam I'll see Lorraine.
"We're all so very proud of Lorraine. She was a fantastic person and the
best wife and mum in the world. We'll never ever forget her. She'll live
on for ever in our four wonderful children."
Liam. who was born 15 weeks early weighing just 1lb 11oz
The baby is expected to leave hospital in March
He said his wife loved horses, karate, cars, decorating and sewing -
even knitting scarves for the nurses who were caring for her.
Mrs Allard's father Tom Berry said his daughter had lived life to the
full and was always thinking of others. "I was overwhelmed by the way
she took it. Lorraine has always been a superb girl and a grafter who
did not want to rely on anybody.
"She lived for her husband and her children. She was a big personality
with a heart of gold."
Mrs Allard's mother Muriel said her daughter could not have been "more
loved" and she was heartbroken for her four children growing up without
their mother.
The family had recently moved from nearby Hopton to the riverside home
in St Olaves which they shared with Mrs Allard's parents. Her funeral
will take place on Feb 4 in the church where the couple were married.