**Mother’s Determination Shines Through Cancer Battle During Pregnancy**
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Carrie Gallo, a 44-year-old woman from Franklin, Tennessee, has demonstrated remarkable resilience after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis while pregnant with her third child. Gallo’s journey began when she was five months pregnant and busy shopping for preschool supplies. Receiving the life-altering news from her doctor’s office, she managed to continue shopping moments later, but the gravity of the situation soon hit her when she returned home to an empty porch.
Prior to her diagnosis, Gallo had undergone a clear mammogram and ultrasound less than a year prior, so the stage 1 lobular carcinoma diagnosis came as a shock. This specific type of breast cancer is less detectable on standard mammograms, making her situation that much more surreal. Within days, she was in the care of a breast surgeon and preparing to begin chemotherapy.
Despite the overwhelming change to her life, Gallo was determined to maintain a positive outlook. With her mother’s experience with cancer as a guiding light, she set specific goals for herself: prioritising motherhood, delivering her baby safely, and navigating her treatment effectively. Reflecting on her mother’s battle with ductal breast cancer years earlier, Gallo credits her mother’s strength and resilience for shaping her own approach to coping with cancer.
However, upon receiving her diagnosis, Gallo delayed informing her mother. Understanding the weight of the news, she wanted to gather all the information imaginable before breaking the news to her mother, who herself had battled breast cancer. Once she did share, her mother quickly became a source of comfort and insight, providing Gallo with much-needed reassurance and strength.
Gallo’s pregnancy allowed her to begin chemotherapy relatively early, and she completed four rounds while still expecting her son, Rowen. Sadly, complications arose just weeks before his birth, landing her in the hospital for over a week due to a significant drop in her immune system caused by treatment. After giving birth prematurely, she resumed chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy and extensive radiation therapy.
Throughout her treatment, Gallo faced the difficulties of medical appointments alongside the demands of parenthood. “You’re so strong,” her friends would tell her, but Gallo remarked, “I didn’t have another option.” Her husband, Greg, alongside their friends, became invaluable support by managing household duties and ensuring the children’s needs were met. During a challenging period, Gallo found comfort in knowing that her children were surrounded by a community that cared.
As Gallo fought through her treatment, she worked to keep life as normal as possible for her children, Grady, 11, and Lucy, 8. However, when Lucy asked if she would be present for her high school graduation, the emotional weight of that moment resonated deeply with Gallo. It struck her with the same intensity as her mother’s vow to see her graduate. Gallo promised her daughter that she was doing everything in her power to ensure that she would be there for those pivotal moments.
Tragically, Gallo lost her mother in February at the age of 75, just after she had begun her treatment. Gallo expresses a belief that her mother’s strength helped her get through her own battle with cancer. “I think her body honestly held on long enough to get me through this,” she reflects.
After a rigorous journey through treatment, Gallo has now emerged cancer-free, concluding her treatment in summer 2024. While there is always an underlying fear of recurrence, she remains focused on positivity and gratitude for her life and family. Gallo encourages others in similar situations to embrace their emotions, acknowledging that it is okay to seek help and to express vulnerability.
“I tried to do my best to not get depressed. You have to have those moments where you get it all out,” she states, sharing her preference for releasing her emotions during long showers. Her mantra revolves around a commitment to be present for her children and to continue living with hope and strength. Gallo’s story serves as a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of support networks, and the unwavering bond of family during life’s most challenging moments.