Teen Mom Chose Son’s Birth Over Cancer Treatments, Passes Away Months After Losing Newborn


Life can turn on a dime sometimes and nobody understood that better than Brianna Rawlings. She was only 17-weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive blood cancer, NK cell leukemia.

Brianna was only half-way through her pregnancy and was faced with a difficult decision. She could terminate the pregnancy and get cancer treatment or carry the child to full term. She opted to keep her baby and forgo treatment. More than likely, she was hoping for a long, healthy life for her son.

Unfortunately, both of their lives were lost but before that took place, she was able to hold her baby and give him lots of love. Her son, Kyden, was only alive for 12 days but he was given more love than some people get in a lifetime.

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Posted by Brianna Rawlings on Wednesday, February 15, 2017

When you see Brianna, weakened and bony cradling her young infant, it is difficult not to shed tears. As far as mothers go, she was at the top of her class, making the decision to trade her life for his. In the end, however, she had more pain than she thought possible.

Her son died after only 12 days but she wasn’t going to give up. She promised her son she would fight, and she did. Although she was suffering extreme heartache and physical pain, she fought a brave fight against the disease that consumed her.

It was on December 29, only a few days after she turned 19 that Brianna succumbed to cancer. Her family is trying their best to deal with her loss and she gave them strength in the strength she showed.

“I am so lost for words… I can’t think without crying,” Brianna’s sister Kourt told Yahoo7. She later also wrote an emotional post on Facebook that read, “Family and friends, such a tragic way to end 2018 for us. Hold onto your loved ones and never stop expressing your love for them.”

????????29th Dec around 9pm – surrounded by many broken hearts – Our Beautiful Brianna reached the end of her journey with us…

Posted by Kourt Rawlings on Saturday, December 29, 2018

If Kayden had lived, he would have learned about all his brave mother had done in his behalf. She had contracted a blood infection and her doctors opted to take her son early via c-section rather than risk having it pass to him.

When Kayden was born, he was a fighter and showed that trait of his mother. Brianna said: “Those 12 days I was able to spend with my baby boy Kyden, holding him, counting his toes and fingers and talking to him like I would when he was in my tummy. They were just so special, they were the best 12 days of my life!”

Brianna fought her way through the pain and setback to have the privilege of experiencing motherhood. She said: “I was very happy and excited to be a mother – all I’ve ever wanted to have is a family. I was also scared of what the world had in store for me,” she shared. “It’s been very hard, long, exhausting and painful. Even though Kyden is no longer with us he gave me the strength to go on and beat this,” she said about her heartbreaking journey. “I want to beat this horrible disease. I believe I can do this and I made a promise to my son,” she said, insisting that her health was better than it ever had been.

It seemed at first as if her struggle was moving things in the right direction. She was working to regain strength in her legs and her blood levels were rising. She was even permitted to go on day trips but then things turned for the worse.

Even though she maintained her optimism, her condition began to go downhill. A bone marrow transplant she would have received from her brother was canceled and the doctors decided on a drug trial.

The problem was, the treatment cost $3000 every 3 weeks. He family got busy to raise the money for the treatment but only 2 treatments were given before the cancer got the better of her.

In the end, Brianna Rawlings only lived a short life but it was a life full of love. She teaches us much through her journey and leaves behind the strength that she showed, even in the face of heartbreak.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended Brees Celebration Of Life yesterday. It meant so much to our family to see so many friendly faces. Be sure to plant your seeds and watch them grow into beautiful Sunflowers! ???????? #queenb – ????nothing between us but space and time???? i love you so much my beautiful sister !

Posted by Kourt Rawlings on Friday, January 4, 2019


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