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You can always find Stephanie Partridge, a mother of four active boys, with a smile on her face. It's that smile coupled with a positive attitude that helped her and her family power through a very difficult year.
The year began with the pregnancy of her fifth boy. Near the end of her first trimester, Partridge felt a lump in one of her breasts. Her first thought was a clogged milk duct, and she brought this concern up to her doctor, who decided to run some tests. Sixteen weeks into her pregnancy, Partridge had an ultrasound, a biopsy and a mammogram. Results of those tests revealed she had invasive ductal carcinoma.
Partridge says she had no reason to believe it could have been breast cancer. "I was 32; I've always been really healthy. I have no family history of breast cancer or cancer for that matter."
The increased hormones from the pregnancy accelerated the cancer growth. Husband Brett Partridge says "the race was on because the same thing that helped it be easier to detect was now working against her."
Stephanie Partridge says, "Finding out you have cancer is hard for anyone to take, and it takes some time of mourning and coping with the fact before you can really move forward from it."
The cancer was so aggressive that Partridge had to immediately begin treatment while pregnant. She underwent a lumpectomy and shortly after began chemotherapy; a concoction nicknamed the "red devil." Chemotherapy was administered every other week for a total of six treatments.
On top of keeping up with four boys, Partridge now had chemotherapy appointments, oncologist appointments and OB/GYN appointments that left them relying heavily on family and friends. Brett Partridge says, "It's been a huge blessing for our family as far as how much we've bonded together and seen the neighborhood bond together. It changed the feeling in our home that was tangible at times."
A few weeks before delivery, Stephanie Partridge was given a break from treatments, allowing her body to heal and prepare to deliver. On Aug. 7, the Partridge family welcomed the seventh member of their family, little Brett.
"Two weeks after he was born, I started chemotherapy again. So I was able to have a few weeks with him feeling great," Stephanie Partridge says.
Ask Stephanie Partridge and she'll tell you, baby Brett is their miracle baby and his dad couldn't agree more. "It's because of him that we even found the cancer to begin with."
Stephanie Partridge still has a few years left of treatment and is preparing for a bilateral mastectomy in November. Looking back she says the most difficult part is behind her and shares her story in hopes to inspire others to do self-examinations every month. She also wishes to strengthen those who might be experiencing similar situations by reminding them to keep a positive attitude and know they are not alone.
"There's hope and there's help and there's always something to be happy about. Sometimes you need someone to look at and say if they made it through, I can make it through too," she said. Jenniffer Michaelson is a special projects producer who heads up the Your Life Your Health, Zero Fatalities and High 5 initiatives. For questions, feedback or possible story ideas, please email jmichaelson@ksl.com.
