SMILING as Rose, eight, strokes her growing bump, Catherine Reeve looks like any other excited mother looking forward to welcoming a new arrival into the family.
But the everyday family scene is especially poignant as Catherine, 39, was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer five years ago.
When Catherine was told it was a glioblastoma, it came as an “utter shock”, after doctors put the teacher’s symptoms of headaches and vomiting down to stress and depression.
Before Catherine became ill, she and husband Steve, 44, were trying for another child to complete their family.
Doctors advised her against carrying on due to her treatment. She discussed the idea of having her eggs frozen but decided against it in case it delayed her treatment and recovery.
The devoted mother faced a heart-breaking dilemma, as she took on the most common aggressive brain tumour in adults – which affects 2,200 people a year in England.
“Doctors said I could possibly still get pregnant and I dearly wanted Rose to have a sibling but I also felt guilty that another child would be left without a mother,” said Catherine from Chelmsford.
Now joy and sadness go hand-in-hand as Catherine is expecting another daughter in October.
“We weren’t even sure if I could conceive after chemotherapy and I feel so blessed to be pregnant,” said the mum.
“But since my diagnosis, we’ve had such a tough, painful time that it’s almost like I’ve been scared to allow myself to be happy, I haven’t bought anything for the baby yet, although I’m in my third trimester.
“Steve said to me, ‘you’ve got to let yourself start enjoying your pregnancy’, and now I’m finally allowing myself to get excited. This baby gives us hope and something joyous and positive to focus on.
“I still can’t quite take it in that I’m pregnant with the baby I’ve wanted for so long. It feels like a miracle.”
And Rose is thrilled about becoming a big sister, after Catherine and Steve decided to tell her early.
“We sat down with Rose and said we had some good news.” said Catherine.
“I told her that I was pregnant and that she was going to have a little brother or sister. Her little face just lit up and she kept looking from me to Steve.
“She asked if we knew what sex the baby was and when we told her we didn’t yet, said, ‘I want a sister – baby boys are smelly!’”
Rose’s wish came true when the 20-week scan revealed the baby was a girl.
Catherine found out she was expecting the day before Valentine’s Day.
“I did a pregnancy test and couldn’t believe it when it said two/three weeks pregnant,” said Catherine.
“I came downstairs – Rose had her headphones on dancing away at a Zoom party and I asked Steve if he’d bought alcohol for Valentine’s Day.
“He said he’d bought me wine and I replied I wouldn’t be able to drink it.”
Aside from increased epilepsy medication, Catherine hasn’t had any other complications in her pregnancy.
“My medical team have been so supportive,” said Catherine.
“I had a scan in January 2021 just before I knew I was pregnant and I had another in May in my second trimester when they didn’t use the contrast dye, and both were stable.
“I’ll be having an elective Caesarean section in mid-October.”
Now Catherine is sharing her story through The Brain Tumour Charity to support its world-first UK trial of cannabis-based drug Sativex in treating glioblastoma.
The Brain Tumour Charity needs to raise £450,000 to fund the new phase II trial – backed by Olympic gold medallist Tom Daley whose dad died from brain cancer in 2011.
“Brain cancer is such a harsh disease and I am so angry at how under-funded it is – research is everything,” said Catherine.
“I am backing The Brain Tumour Charity’s Sativex trial because it is the first glimmer of hope in glioblastoma research for over 20 years.
“Being diagnosed with a glioblastoma and told there is no cure and you have 12-18 months to live was an utter shock.
“This trial finally gives the people a glint of hope of precious extra time to live – for people like me to see their children grow up, to spend more time with their families, making memories.”
