My BRCA Journey

My dad passed almost exactly one month before my 35th birthday. My genetic counselors had advised me that it would be ideal to get pregnant around age 35. I had this set in my mind. Things worked out. Went off birth control that I had been on for 5 years – as had been recommended because of BRCA2 and 3 months later I was pregnant. Note: I was on a specific birth control because of my mutation – they told me there were a some options and I didn’t mind the first one, so I stuck with that.

Pregnancy brought a whole range of emotions. I had pushed on following my dad’s passing. I cried, but never fully mourned. I dealt with highs and lows of my hormones and missing my dad. I knew he would have been the absolute proudest grandpa and that really effected me through out my pregnancy and still 5 years later as to be expected. 

January 12, 2021 I gave birth to a sweet baby girl that I named Emily. My absolute favorite professor in college is named Emily. I did early admittance and met her that first day. To say she left a lasting impression doesn’t even begin to touch the surface. My dad’s favorite home health aide was also named Emily and she treated him with such dignity and respect when he was on hospice- it was a nobrainer. She had to be named Emily. 

Post-partum brought on a mess of mental health issues. The things I pushed aside from my dad’s passing came to light. The lack of sleep, hormonal fluctuations, nerve damage from pregnancy triggered me, etc pushed me to not being very functional. This wasn’t my first rodeo with a decline – I called in and got put on Zoloft and started having video therapy (firm believer everyone needs therapy). Things got better and soon I got a call to get my breast MRI, CA125 blood test, and Transvaginal Ultrasound done. The results looked good – some had dropped which I had been told for years could occur after giving birth.

It didn’t take long for me to talk to the OBGYN assigned to those of us who have genetic mutations and we had a long talk about if I wanted more children, what time frame I wanted to decide, etc. I already knew I only wanted my one and only so we had yearly calls and emailed back and forth every 3 months.