First time mother dies just 10 WEEKS after giving birth because the pregnancy masked the signs of her terminal cancer

  • Laurel Cohen, 38, died of bowel cancer which had spread to her liver
  • She thought abdominal pain and constipation  were part of her pregnancy
  • It was only when the pain intensified that scans revealed a large growth 
  • Had daughter Ruby by Caesarean section and tragically died weeks later 

A first-time mother died just ten weeks after giving birth to her daughter after her pregnancy masked the symptoms of bowel cancer.

Laurel Cohen, 38, and her husband Dave, 40, were looking forward to the birth of their first baby after reaching the third trimester of an 'uneventful' pregnancy.

Mrs Cohen, from Golder's Green, London, experienced abdominal pain, shortness of breath and constipation but thought they were just a normal part of her pregnancy.

She and her baby had been judged healthy at every check-up and prenatal scan.

But in her 35th week of pregnancy, the pain in her abdomen got so bad she stayed off work and she was admitted to London's Royal Free Hospital on May 10 last year. 

Laurel Cohen, 38, died just 10 weeks after giving birth to her first child Ruby. She had suffered abdominal pain, shortness of breath and constipation but thought they were just a normal part of her pregnancy 

Laurel Cohen, 38, died just 10 weeks after giving birth to her first child Ruby. She had suffered abdominal pain, shortness of breath and constipation but thought they were just a normal part of her pregnancy 

When the couple, who were childhood sweethearts, pushed for more scans, doctors found to be the consequence lump on her liver.

Mrs Cohen, an occupational therapist at the oncology ward of University College London Hospital, had a Caesarean section four days later.

Ruby, who was born five weeks premature, was whisked off to neo-natal care just moments before surgeons biopsied her mother's tumour.

The tests confirmed she was suffering from terminal bowel cancer that had spread to her liver - and she died just ten weeks later, on July 26 last year.

'Laurel was an amazing woman. We met when we were just kids at summer camp and by the time we were teenagers I fancied her,' said Mr Cohen, an internet company team manager.

'She was always one to say she wasn't going to get married and she didn't want kids, but I won her over in the end.

'I had to ask her out about a hundred times before she said yes but then before I knew it we were getting married and couldn't wait to start a family together.

Mrs Cohen, pictured with Ruby and her husband Dave, recorded voice messages for her daughter to ensure she had a part in her upbrining

Mrs Cohen, pictured with Ruby and her husband Dave, recorded voice messages for her daughter to ensure she had a part in her upbrining

The couple met at a summer camp and had been married for five years when Mrs Cohen died

The couple met at a summer camp and had been married for five years when Mrs Cohen died

Her pregnancy had been 'uneventful' until she started suffering from bad abdominal pains and was admitted to hospital. Scans revealed she had a mass on her tumour

Her pregnancy had been 'uneventful' until she started suffering from bad abdominal pains and was admitted to hospital. Scans revealed she had a mass on her tumour

'There are no words to describe how difficult losing her has been and it all happened so fast.'

Mr Cohen said he found it impossible to prepare for her death.

Bur he has taken strength from their daughter. 

'Nothing could have prepared us for it. After her death I so wanted someone to blame but the doctors did everything they could. Every symptom she had was so easily explained by her pregnancy.

'Looking back now those last weeks are all just a blur of running between neo-natal to be with Ruby and the cancer ward to be with Laurel.

'In the last couple of days before she passed, I was allowed stay in her room with her and I could hear her in the night crying out in pain.

'I still miss her every single day. It's been a year of firsts - the first time I am having to do so many things on my own. But Ruby gives me strength.'

In the weeks before she died Mrs Cohen underwent four rounds of chemotherapy at the Royal Free Hospital - who extended their 'deepest sympathies' to her family.

Mrs Cohen started treatment after giving birth to Ruby but tragically she died when her firstborn was just 10 weeks old

Mrs Cohen started treatment after giving birth to Ruby but tragically she died when her firstborn was just 10 weeks old

Mrs Cohen recorded voice messages for Ruby and endeavoured to write birthday cards up until her daughter's 10th birthday - but sadly got too ill before she could finish

Mrs Cohen recorded voice messages for Ruby and endeavoured to write birthday cards up until her daughter's 10th birthday - but sadly got too ill before she could finish

Ruby has given her father Dave strength following their loss and he has now raised more than £7,000 for good causes in memory of his late wife

Ruby has given her father Dave strength following their loss and he has now raised more than £7,000 for good causes in memory of his late wife

But when her body stopped responding to the treatment, she was transferred to the Marie Curie hospice in Hampstead.

The couple spent their time making sure she would have an influence on Ruby's upbringing.

She recorded voice messages for Ruby and endeavoured to write birthday cards up until her daughter's 10th birthday - but sadly got too ill before she could finish.

'Whenever the bad news was delivered we would have a big cry and talk about how terrible it all was but then Laurel would redirect and we'd be back onto Ruby's future.

'Laurel was so strong and so calm. She was always the more level-headed one. I was just trying to take one day at a time and cherish every last moment.

Mr Cohen, who married Laurel six years ago, said of his late wife: 'Laurel was so strong and so calm. She was always the more level-headed one. I was just trying to take one day at a time and cherish every last moment'

Mr Cohen, who married Laurel six years ago, said of his late wife: 'Laurel was so strong and so calm. She was always the more level-headed one. I was just trying to take one day at a time and cherish every last moment'

Mr Cohen takes part in numerous charity runs with Ruby in the buggy to raise money in his wife's memory

Mr Cohen takes part in numerous charity runs with Ruby in the buggy to raise money in his wife's memory

'And I was also trying not be overwhelmed by the fact I had a new baby and absolutely no idea what I was doing - but the nurses and our families have been unbelievably supportive.

'I worry a bit about how I'm going to deal with helping her do her hair or talking about puberty and boys but we'll manage.'

Inspired by his wife's strength and determined to make his daughter proud, Mr Cohen has spent the last five months running a series of 10k races with Ruby in her pushchair to raise funds for a multitude of charities.

'I wanted to do something in Laurel's memory but also to fundraise for the amazing charities that are trying to raise awareness of cancer in pregnancy.

'We are doing the 10k runs as while it's not a challenging run alone, it is really challenging when you're also pushing a buggy.

'Ruby mostly sleeps the whole way so it seems she enjoys it. There was one time, our second race, where she cried the whole way - and we got our best time because I was desperate to get to the end for her.'

A spokesman for the Royal Free Hospital said: 'We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to Laurel's family and friends following this tragedy and our thoughts are with them.'

For information, visit Dave's JustGiving page here www.justgiving.com/teams/running4laurel

 

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