At just 17 weeks pregnant, 18-year-old Brianna Rawlings was diagnosed with the aggressive blood cancer NK cell leukemia. Initially, doctors dismissed her symptoms as normal pregnancy discomfort, but once the diagnosis was confirmed, Brianna was faced with an impossible choice: undergo life-saving treatment that could harm her unborn baby or delay treatment to protect her son. Brianna chose to focus on delivering her baby, Kyden, who tragically lived only 12 days before passing due to prematurity.
Despite the heartbreak, Brianna cherished every moment with Kyden, calling those 12 days the best of her life. After his death, she vowed to fight for her life, determined to beat the disease for her son. Although she showed signs of improvement, her health deteriorated, and doctors canceled her bone marrow transplant. A trial drug, costing $3,000 per week, was started, but after two rounds, Brianna lost her battle with leukemia on December 29, 2018, at the age of 19.
Brianna’s story is one of unimaginable love, strength, and sacrifice. Our hearts go out to her family. Share her story to help raise awareness in the fight against cancer.
