Let's support our pal Lisa!

To friends and family of Lisa,

We're raising funds to support our friend Lisa as she begins IVF to preserve embryos for a possible surrogacy journey in the future. This process comes with significant costs, and we're hoping to ease some of that burden by coming together as a community.

From Lisa:

In late October 2024, we were so excited to find out we were pregnant. At our first dating ultrasound in December things took a turn and I was rushed to emergency over concerns of a possible heterotopic pregnancy — a rare and life-threatening condition where a pregnancy exists both in the uterus and outside of it. After a week of waiting and a follow-up scan, we learned the pregnancy in my uterus was no longer viable, and a 4cm mass on my fallopian tube was believed to be “pregnancy tissue.” The miscarriage was difficult physically, mentally, and emotionally — but I found comfort in being told the mass in my fallopian tube wasn’t anything to worry about and we were clear to try again.

Fast forward to February: I returned from a week-long trip to Winnipeg and found myself in the ER again with severe rib and shoulder pain. I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in my left lung. Just a week later, I was back at the hospital again for another ultrasound, and this time it was noted that the mass had doubled in size.

That began a whirlwind of visits to ER, asking for referrals and trying to get a diagnosis. My CA-125 bloodwork — a marker for ovarian cancer — came back at 1435 (normal is under 35). My case was quickly referred to BC Cancer Agency and surgery was scheduled. On April 2nd, I had a laparotomy. They removed my right ovary, fallopian tube, and appendix. Initial biopsy results showed low-grade endometrial cancer, but the final pathology revealed something more serious — a small amount of high-grade serous carcinoma, a more aggressive form of cancer. Thankfully, the outside of the mass was clear, meaning it’s unlikely to have spread. However, high-grade cells were also found inside my uterus so I’ll need a full hysterectomy to remove it, followed by chemotherapy.

Before that happens, my amazing doctors have fast-tracked me for two rounds of IVF, giving me a shot at preserving embryos for a potential surrogacy journey down the road.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster, and coming to terms with the fact that I won’t be able to carry a child myself is heartbreaking. But I’m holding onto hope that we’ll get some embryos and that this unexpected detour will still lead to something beautiful.

I continue to be deeply grateful that we caught this before it got out of hand — and in a strange, bittersweet way, the pregnancy we lost ended up saving my life. Without the pregnancy, or the pulmonary embolism that sent me back to the hospital, we might never have discovered the mass in time… and that would’ve been nooo bueno.

The ER doctors and nurses in qathet, along with the medical team in Vancouver, have been absolutely incredible. The love and support from my family, friends, and community has made all the difference—I’ve felt held through every step. The journey isn’t over yet, but with a solid care plan in place, I truly believe I’m going to be okay.

My hope in sharing this is to raise awareness around women’s health and encourage others to trust their instincts and advocate for proper testing. One of the most powerful parts of this experience has been the incredible women who have come forward with their own stories and support. Their kindness, strength, and openness have made a world of difference and reminded me that I’m not alone in this. If my experience helps even one person feel less alone or take action for their own health, it’s worth it.